Mechanical Lead Engineer

Multiple High-End Projects in Africa & Europe

Position Overview

DOUMMAR MEP Contractors (D-MEP) has recently been awarded several new contracts and is recruiting multiple Mechanical Lead Engineers to head the mechanical package on each of them. Each Lead Engineer will be assigned to one premium development in Africa or Europe and will report to the project's Project Manager, working alongside the project's Electrical Lead Engineer. They will be the technical and managerial lead for the entire mechanical package: HVAC, plumbing and drainage, and firefighting, from design coordination and procurement through installation, testing, commissioning and handover.

D-MEP self-performs all of its works through its own in-house teams. At peak, site manpower on each project can reach several hundred direct labourers. The Mechanical Lead Engineer heads the full mechanical team, including site engineers, supervisors, foremen and skilled labour. They are accountable for the technical quality, progress, cost and accurate measurement of the mechanical package.

We are recruiting both French-speaking and English-speaking Mechanical Lead Engineers.

Starting compensation: EUR 60,000 annually plus comprehensive expatriate benefits package, detailed further below.

Working Conditions and Benefits Provided by D-MEP

• Full-time 2 to 3-year contract, site-based in the country of the assigned project
• Work permit and visa sponsorship
• Furnished company accommodation with utilities included, which may be shared with other team members
• Shared site transportation
• One return flight home per 12 months of service
• 21 calendar days of annual leave
• Contract renewal at project completion, subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of a suitable assignment
• D-MEP reserves the right to mobilise employees to different countries or projects based on group operational needs

Key Responsibilities

Package Leadership

• Lead the full mechanical team, including site engineers, supervisors, foremen and the skilled labour pool
• Plan the mechanical package against the project programme and allocate manpower across work fronts
• Report package progress, risks and resource needs to the Project Manager
• Enforce health and safety procedures across the mechanical teams, including hot works, confined space entry, pressure testing and working at height

Engineering, Submittals and Design Coordination

• Own all mechanical technical submittals, shop drawings, combined services drawings and method statements through to approval
• Draft and verify mechanical BOQs and quantity take-offs
• Lead design coordination with the consultant, raise technical queries and resolve clashes
• Coordinate interfaces with the Electrical Lead Engineer (power feeds to mechanical plant, generator fuel systems, fire alarm interfaces with firefighting systems, and BMS controls for mechanical plant) and civil works (sleeves, openings, plant room bases and fire-stopping). The Mechanical Lead Engineer specifies pump sets and packaged plant complete with their control panels; the Electrical Lead Engineer provides the power feeds to them.

Procurement and Materials

• Prepare procurement specifications for major mechanical equipment and materials: chillers, AHUs, FCUs, pumps and booster sets, fire pumps, sprinkler systems, hose reels and gas suppression systems, generator fuel storage and fuel piping, water treatment, pipework, ductwork, valves and fittings
• Evaluate vendors and technical offers, recommend suppliers to the Project Manager for approval, and obtain material approvals
• Plan orders around long-lead items and international shipping and customs lead times
• Travel internationally to attend factory acceptance tests (FAT) on major mechanical equipment

Measurement, Cost and Cash Flow Support

• Measure completed mechanical works accurately every month to support payment applications
• Identify changes that constitute variations, and prepare their technical substantiation and quantities
• Control material consumption and wastage against budgeted quantities
• Track package cost and productivity, and flag deviations to the Project Manager early
• Give the Project Manager monthly forecasts of the package's material, equipment and manpower needs as inputs to the project cash flow forecast

Testing, Commissioning and Handover

• Plan and supervise the installation, testing and commissioning of all mechanical systems
• Lead pressure testing, flushing, balancing, and system and integrated testing with the consultant
• Coordinate firefighting testing and approvals with the relevant authorities
• Close out snags, and deliver as-built drawings and operation and maintenance manuals for handover

Requirements

Must-Have

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering
• Minimum 8 years of professional experience. Your current or most recent employer must be an MEP contractor, and you must have spent at least 4 of the last 6 years with MEP contractors. Candidates who began their careers with consultants or design offices are welcome, provided they have since moved into MEP contracting. Candidates currently or recently working on the consultant, client or PMC side will not be considered.
• Experience leading a complete mechanical package (HVAC, plumbing and drainage, and firefighting) on a large-scale building for an MEP contractor, from submittals through testing, commissioning and handover
• Proven leadership of an in-house mechanical team of engineers, supervisors, foremen and labour
• Hands-on ownership of submittals, shop drawings, BOQs and procurement specifications, with proficiency in AutoCAD and/or Revit MEP
• Knowledge of international codes and standards (British, European, ASHRAE, NFPA)

Preferred

• Experience on premium or high-end developments such as bank headquarters, hospitals, hotels, shopping malls or large-scale residential compounds
• Experience on projects in Africa or Europe, or in other international or expatriate settings
• Experience attending factory acceptance tests on major mechanical equipment
• Chartered or Professional Engineer status

Language

Professional fluency in French or English is required. We are hiring for both French-speaking and English-speaking projects, and bilingual candidates are strongly preferred. D-MEP assigns Lead Engineers across its projects at its discretion, based on language and operational needs.

Assignment Readiness

• Commitment to a 2 to 3-year, site-based international assignment
• Willingness to be mobilised to any country where D-MEP operates, and to travel internationally for factory acceptance tests

How to Apply

Please submit your CV through the application form on doummar.com, with supporting documents for your project track record, such as reference letters or work certificates, and answer the screening questions for this position. Applications without answers will not be considered.