Senior Façade Engineer

Design high-performing, sustainable building envelopes as a Facade Engineer with Buro Happold in Riyadh.

Here at Buro Happold, expect the exceptional.

From the projects you will work on to the clients we work with. From career-defining opportunities to an inclusive and diverse practice where we all contribute to a more equitable world. From our reputation to our relationships. Wherever your Buro Happold career takes you, it’ll be anything but ordinary.

Your next role

Buro Happold has a clear strategic plan, strong learning culture and entrepreneurial mindset that will allow you to thrive.

You’ll be part of something bigger than us all where sustainability, equity, social and performance outcomes matter. All of Buro Happold is committed to doing the right thing, even when that’s the hardest thing. This is a genuine opportunity to make impact - and leave real legacy.

Your key duties

We are looking for an established Facade Engineer with strong technical capability and a practical understanding of facade design, construction and performance.

Based in Riyadh, you will join a collaborative multidisciplinary team and take a leading role in delivering facade engineering solutions for complex building projects. You will work closely with clients, architects, structural engineers, building services engineers, fire engineers, contractors and specialist suppliers to transform design intent into elegant, buildable and durable facade solutions.

This role offers the opportunity to further advance your career while developing expertise across all stages of facade design - from early concept and technical development through procurement, construction, testing and site support.

• Lead facade engineering delivery on medium-sized projects, with support from senior technical leaders where required.

• Work as part of single-discipline and multidisciplinary teams, attending and chairing meetings with clients, architects, contractors, consultants and specialist subcontractors in an advisory capacity.

• Develop facade designs from initial client requirements, architectural concepts or remediation proposals.

• Prepare and coordinate facade details, performance specifications, technical reports, calculations, schedules and tender documentation.

• Review contractor and supplier technical submissions, including shop drawings, material proposals, samples, mock-ups and testing documentation.

• Attend site visits to monitor and assess facade installation, workmanship, quality and compliance with the approved design.

• Support inspections and technical investigations of existing facade systems and contribute to repair, remediation or refurbishment recommendations where required.

• Attend project, site and technical meetings, providing clear advice on facade design, construction, performance and coordination matters.

• Support senior staff in providing design leadership on facade issues to the wider client and design team.

• Identify facade-related technical risks and develop practical, coordinated and deliverable solutions.

• Provide input to bids, design competitions, proposals and work-winning activities.

• Maintain strong and professional client relationships throughout project delivery.

• Work effectively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

• Mentor junior team members and contribute to technical knowledge sharing across the facade engineering team.

• Carry out other duties reasonably required to support the successful delivery of projects and the wider business.

Your skills and experience

We are looking for a technically competent and motivated engineer with a solid foundation in facade engineering. You will be confident applying design principles in a practical manner and comfortable working in a fast-paced, creative and multidisciplinary environment.

You will ideally demonstrate experience in most of the following areas:

• Facade design involving at least four of the following materials: aluminium, steel, concrete, stone, glass and timber.

• Robust knowledge of facade weather-performance requirements, including air permeability, water penetration, drainage, pressure equalisation, condensation control and long-term durability.

• Architectural component-detail design, with an understanding of aesthetic intent, technical performance and buildability.

• Working knowledge of building physics, including ventilation, solar-gain control, thermal insulation, overheating, glare control and occupant comfort.

• Understanding of structural design principles relevant to facades, including movement, tolerances, support, restraint, deflection and differential movement.

• Knowledge of glass structural design and glazing-system performance.

• Awareness of sustainability design drivers and the role of facade design in reducing energy demand and improving whole-life building performance.

• Solid understanding of passive fire-protection strategies, including cavity barriers, fire stopping, intumescent paint and facade fire-safety interfaces.

• Practical knowledge of handling, fabricating and installing typical cladding materials.

• Knowledge of common facade and cladding systems.

You will also have:

• Site experience involving at least five facade or envelope systems, such as traditional stick curtain walling, unitised curtain walling, precast systems, rainscreen cladding, steel framing systems and masonry construction.

• Good awareness of the interdependencies and constraints of architecture, structures, building services, fire engineering, acoustics and computational modelling.

• Comprehensive knowledge of international facade standards and industry best practice, including CWCT, EN, ASTM and AAMA standards.

• Knowledge of Saudi Building Code requirements relevant to facade design, procurement, testing and construction.

• Experience applying relevant standards through facade design development, technical review, procurement, testing and construction-stage support.

• Proficiency in AutoCAD, with strong 2D capability essential and 3D capability preferred.

• Experience using Revit; Rhino experience is also preferred.

• A high standard of written and verbal English communication.

• The ability to communicate technical concepts clearly through reports, presentations, design discussions, hand sketches and technical mark-ups.

Qualifications

• A degree in Structural Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Building Services/MEP Engineering or a related discipline.

• Chartered Engineer, Chartered Building Surveyor, Professional Engineer or equivalent registration with Engineering Council UK or another appropriate professional body is desirable.

• An MSc in Facade Engineering, relevant postgraduate qualification or PhD-level research would be advantageous.

• Experience on international projects, alongside domestic project experience, would be beneficial.

• Willingness to travel occasionally, where required by project needs.

What we offer you

• Bring your knowledge and expertise to one of the world’s most respected consultancies.
• Hybrid working arrangements
• Attractive salary and benefits package
• A strong commitment to your continuous development. Whatever stage in your career, we have a learning and development programme that will enable and empower you
• Entitlement to two memberships to professional bodies or subscriptions
• An international culture that wherever your career takes you at Buro Happold, you won’t be far from the exceptional.

At Buro Happold, everyone else’s extraordinary is just our everyday. Apply today and be a part of our legacy.

A place for everyone

Buro Happold values individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of the way you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers.

Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive.

We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment and are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing difference allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.

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