Principal Engineer Building Structures

About WSP in the Middle East

WSP in the Middle East is a global firm seeking a Principal Engineer Building Structures to join our team in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This full-time position offers the opportunity to contribute to significant building projects and collaborate with professionals across the field. The company fosters a culture that values new ideas and diverse perspectives, providing a platform for career development.

The Principal Engineer Role

As a Principal Engineer in Building Structures, you will provide strategic technical leadership and oversight for complex building projects. This role involves setting design direction, ensuring compliance with international and regional standards, and driving innovation in structural engineering solutions. You will collaborate with senior stakeholders, lead multidisciplinary teams, and ensure projects are delivered to high standards of quality, safety, and efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the structural engineering function for major building projects from concept through completion.
• Define technical strategies and ensure alignment with project objectives, client requirements, and regulatory standards.
• Provide expert guidance and mentorship to senior engineers, graduate engineers, and BIM teams.
• Review and approve complex structural designs, calculations, and specifications for steel, concrete, and composite structures.
• Act as the primary technical authority in client meetings, offering strategic insights and resolving high-level engineering challenges.
• Oversee quality assurance processes, including audits, inspections, and compliance checks for structural works.
• Drive innovation by implementing advanced design methodologies and digital tools (*, BIM, parametric design).
• Ensure strict adherence to Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) standards across all structural activities.
• Manage stakeholder relationships, including clients, contractors, and regulatory authorities, to secure approvals and maintain compliance.
• Prepare executive-level reports and contribute to business development through technical proposals and presentations.

Qualifications and Experience

Candidates for this role should possess 5-10 years of experience in structural engineering, with a proven track record in leading and managing complex building projects. The position requires a strong understanding of international and regional structural design standards, coupled with the ability to apply advanced engineering principles.

Technical Leadership and Innovation

The Principal Engineer will serve as a primary technical authority, providing expert guidance and mentorship to engineering and BIM teams. A key aspect of this role involves driving innovation through the implementation of advanced design methodologies and digital tools such as BIM and parametric design, contributing to the evolution of structural engineering solutions.

Collaboration and Project Standards

This role demands effective collaboration with senior stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams. The Principal Engineer will manage relationships with clients, contractors, and regulatory authorities, ensuring project delivery adheres to the highest standards of quality, safety, efficiency, and compliance with all relevant regulations and project objectives.