Principal Engineer – Mechanical – Aviation Buildings

WSP in the Middle East are seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead design and delivery of complex aviation and industrial buildings—aircraft maintenance hangars, corrosion control/paint shops, engine/APU workshops, and large-scale flight catering facilities.

You’ll be the mechanical technical authority across HVAC and specialist process systems (compressed air, ventilation for painting and welding, process cooling/heating, kitchen/cold-chain ventilation & refrigeration interfaces), driving concept-to-IFC outcomes that meet stringent safety, hygiene and performance standards.

• Lead mechanical/HVAC design from feasibility and basis-of-design (BoD) through detailed design, tender and construction support for aviation facilities.

• Own the environmental strategy for very large volumes (e.g., hangar bays): heating/cooling concepts, destratification, purge/exhaust modes, make-up air, and controls sequences—balancing energy, IAQ and safety. (UFC/ASHRAE/NFPA context).

• Engineer specialist ventilation for hazardous operations: paint spray booths/rooms, fuel-cell maintenance/purge ventilation, welding/fume extraction, VOC control, and hazardous-area interfaces with electrical/controls.

• Design and specify compressed air systems (instrument/process/breathing air): generation, drying, filtration, storage, distribution, point-of-use regulation, monitoring and quality classes (ISO 8573).

• Integrate process utilities common to MRO and workshops—vacuum, nitrogen, process cooling water, oil/water separation interfaces, and condensate management—coordinating with fire/life safety and electrical.

• Shape catering facility HVAC and hygienic air zones: kitchen exhaust & makeup air (NFPA 96), pressure cascades, temperature/humidity control for clean prep/packing, and cold-chain room interface with refrigeration and HACCP/ISO 22000 programs.

• Deliver BIM-led coordination (Revit/Navisworks) across architecture, structures, process, fire protection, and controls; lead clash resolution and model QA.

• Run calculations & simulations: loads, duct/pipe sizing, ventilation rates, smoke/fume capture, and (where needed) CFD to support the thermal comfort studies.

• Author technical documents: BoD, design reports, specifications, sequences of operation, control narratives, FAT/SAT/commissioning plans.

• Mentor and review the work of engineers/designers; lead design reviews, HAZOPs, and constructability/operability workshops.

• Engage stakeholders—airlines/MROs, airport operators, food safety teams, and authorities—to secure approvals and smooth delivery.

• Lead retrofit, refurbishment, and brownfield upgrade projects within operational airport environments—assessing existing systems, developing phased upgrade strategies, ensuring minimal disruption to ongoing operations, and integrating new systems with legacy infrastructure while addressing capacity, compliance, and energy performance improvements.

  Key systems & domains you’ll cover

• Hangars & workshops: general and emergency exhaust, purge ventilation for fuel system work, floor-level capture where required, destratification/HVLS fans, door air management, radiant/air systems, PCA (pre-conditioned air) and GSE interfaces.

• Paint/corrosion control: booth/room supply & exhaust, filtration, interlocks, LEL sensing, VOC abatement interfaces, hazardous-area zoning/ATEX/IECEx coordination with electrical teams.

• Welding & fabrication: local exhaust ventilation (LEV), fume extraction arms/hoods, booth/backdraft design, and general dilution ventilation aligned with OSHA/ACGIH guidance.

• Compressed air: oil-free/oil-lubricated selection, dryers (refrigerated/desiccant), filtration trains to meet ISO 8573 purity classes for tools/processes; breathing-air systems to OSHA Grade D (CGA G-7.1) when required.

• Catering facilities: high-duty kitchen exhaust & makeup air (hoods, MAUs, heat recovery), grease ducting, rooftop terminations, pressure zoning for hygiene, and interfaces to cold rooms/freezers and clean areas aligned to HACCP/ISO 22000.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

• Professional registration (e.g., CEng/PE) strongly preferred.

• 15+ years’ experience in building services (mechanical/HVAC), with significant aviation/industrial project delivery (hangars, MRO shops, paint/corrosion control, flight catering, or similar).

• Proven leadership as Lead/Principal Engineer on multi-disciplinary design projects.

• Deep knowledge of codes/standards typically applied on aviation assets such as

  • Aircraft Maintenance Hangars and Corrosion Control & Paint Facilities.

  • NFPA 409 (aircraft hangars), NFPA 33 (spray application), NFPA 96 (commercial cooking/kitchen exhaust).

  • ASHRAE 62.1 (ventilation/IAQ), with familiarity in 90.1/energy implications.

  • ISO 8573 for compressed air quality; OSHA 1910.134 / CGA G-7.1 Grade D where breathing-air is part of scope.

• Expertise writing BoDs, specifications, P&IDs, control sequences, etc.

• BIM fluency: Revit, Navisworks; competence with calculations (e.g., IES-VE/HAP/eQuest), and airflow network tools; CFD exposure preferred.

• Client-facing communication and team leadership; mentoring and QA/QC across multiple concurrent packages.

• Strong communication skills for effective client presentations, stakeholder workshops, and cross-functional coordination.

• Willingness to be based at Dammam Airport for the initial phase of the project (short-term assignment) and relocate to the main office upon project completion

Nice to Have

• Prior delivery in live airport environments (airside/landside interfaces, works phasing).

• Experience with PCA/GPU integration and hangar door infiltration strategies.

• Familiarity with food-safe HVAC zoning and cleanroom-adjacent spaces in food processing.