SME - Senior Road Expert Highways Design

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Job Description:

Parsons are looking for an exceptionally talented Senior Highways Design SME to join their team!

The Senior Highways Design Subject Matter Expert (SME) will act as a technical authority and trusted advisor across multiple highway and road infrastructure projects and design stages.

The primary objective is to provide independent, senior-level highway engineering expertise to ensure that all highway designs are:

• Technically robust and compliant with applicable standards

• Safe, constructible, and well-coordinated with other disciplines

• Delivered efficiently to support approvals, construction, and overall program objectives

What You'll Be Doing;

• Act as the Client’s Highways Design Subject Matter Expert and technical authority on highway and road design.

• Provide expert advice on highway design principles, standards, and international best practice.

• Support the development, interpretation, and application of:

  • Highway design criteria
  • Typical sections and standard details
  • Basis of Design and technical guidance documents

• Review and advise on design departures, exceptions, and non-standard solutions, ensuring risks are clearly identified and managed.

• Undertake detailed technical review of highway design deliverables at all project stages, including:

  • Feasibility studies and Traffic Impact Studies
  • Concept, preliminary, detailed, and Issued for Construction (IFC) designs

• Review and provide guidance on: Horizontal and vertical alignments, road hierarchy and cross-sections, Junctions, interchanges, and roundabouts,Traffic signs and road markings, Pavement design (flexible and rigid), Road drainage, Road safety and roadside features

• Ensure compliance with applicable standards, including: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia standards (e.g. CFP, SHC, MOT, MoMRA, SBC)

• Approved international standards (e.g. AASHTO, DMRB, where applicable)

• Support Safety in Design processes and road safety reviews, contributing to risk assessments and mitigation strategies.

• Provide technical input to resolve interfaces between highway design and Traffic and transport planning, Utilities and drainage, Structures and bridges, Public realm and landscape, Construction staging and temporary traffic management

• Identify design risks related to safety, constructability, cost, and program, and recommend practical mitigation measures.

• Facilitate coordinated, integrated design solutions across disciplines.

• Support the Client in technical engagement with:

  • Government authorities and approval agencies
  • Plot developers and delivery partners
  • Design consultants and contractors

• Attend technical meetings, workshops, and coordination sessions as required.

• Assist in preparing and responding to authority comments and design submission queries.

• Provide technical oversight and challenge to highway design consultants and contractors where required.

• Attend site as necessary to support construction-related design queries and verify design intent.

• Support the Client with: Technical inputs to RFPs and scopes of work, Technical evaluation of tenders, where requested, Resolution of design-related RFIs and construction queries

• Support value engineering and design optimization initiatives to improve safety, performance, cost, and program.

• Share international best practice, lessons learned, and innovative design solutions with the Client’s teams.

• Provide mentoring, coaching, and technical guidance to Client staff involved in highways and infrastructure projects.

• Support continuous improvement of highway design standards, procedures, and design review processes.

What You'll Bring;

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering; Master’s degree preferred.

• At least 15 years of professional experience in highway and road design.

• Minimum 5 years’ experience on projects in the Middle East (KSA experience strongly preferred).

• Proven experience on major infrastructure and master-planned developments.

• Demonstrated technical expertise in:

  • Highway geometric design
  • Pavement engineering
  • Road drainage design
  • Junction and interchange design
  • Value engineering and design optimization
  • Road safety and roadside design

• Experience working with approving authorities and regulatory bodies in KSA or the wider Middle East.

• Proficient working knowledge of highways design and associated software tools, such as:

  • AutoCAD
  • Civil 3D
  • BIM platforms
  • AutoTURN or equivalent swept path analysis tools

Desired Skills;

• Chartered Engineer or equivalent professional engineering registration.

• More than 10 years’ experience in Middle East/KSA highway projects.

• Direct experience in supporting construction and delivery phases, including site-based coordination and resolution of construction-related design issues.

• Experience in client-facing advisory roles or secondments is an advantage.

Parsons equally employs representation at all job levels no matter the race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability or genetic information.

We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!

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