Principal Project Controls Engineer

About Mott MacDonald

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 experts operating in more than 50 countries. The company focuses on delivering impactful work within the global industry. As an employee-owned business, Mott MacDonald invests in its employees' development and provides a supportive environment for professional growth.

The Opportunity: Principal Project Controls Engineer

Mott MacDonald is seeking an experienced Principal Project Controls Engineer or Principal Planner to lead project controls functions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This full-time role involves overseeing major infrastructure, transport, aviation, rail, urban development, and multidisciplinary programmes. The position requires 5-10 years of experience.

Role Overview

The Principal Project Controls Engineer will provide strategic leadership across multiple projects, ensuring effective planning, scheduling, forecasting, risk management, change control, and performance reporting throughout the project lifecycle. This role involves close collaboration with Project Directors, Programme Managers, Commercial Managers, Design Managers, and client stakeholders to establish and implement integrated project controls systems, governance processes, and reporting frameworks. The successful candidate will also act as a technical authority for project controls, supporting capability development and mentoring teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of project controls strategies, procedures, governance frameworks, and reporting systems across major projects and programmes.
• Establish and maintain integrated project controls systems covering schedule, cost, risk, change, and performance management processes.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to planning and project controls teams.
• Act as the technical authority for planning, scheduling, and project controls methodologies.
• Develop, review, and assure complex integrated master schedules using Primavera P6.
• Establish Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), Control Accounts, coding structures, progress measurement systems, and baseline programmes.
• Facilitate schedule development workshops with project teams, clients, and stakeholders.
• Perform schedule assurance reviews, programme audits, and quality assessments using recognised industry standards.
• Support continuous improvement and digital ways of working, sharing knowledge and lessons learned.
• Demonstrate safe, ethical, and inclusive behaviours aligned with Mott MacDonald values.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will possess 5-10 years of experience in project controls or planning, with a proven track record in leading functions for major infrastructure and development programmes. Strong technical expertise in Primavera P6 and integrated project controls systems is essential. The role requires an individual capable of strategic leadership, team mentorship, and effective stakeholder engagement.

Work Environment

This full-time position is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and involves working within a global community of experts. The role supports data-driven decision making and continuous improvement initiatives across the business.