Senior Materials Engineer

The Senior Materials Engineer sits within the Program Management Office (PMO) of the RCRC Roads Program, providing technical oversight and quality assurance for all materials, mix designs, and testing activities across road construction and rehabilitation projects.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Materials Engineering & Quality Assurance
• Review and approve material submittals (aggregates, asphalt binders, cement, subgrade/subbase materials, geosynthetics) against project specifications and applicable standards (e.g., AASHTO, ASTM, or local equivalents such as Saudi Highway Code)
• Evaluate and approve mix designs (asphalt, concrete, stabilized layers) proposed by contractors
• Oversee source approval and qualification of quarries, batching plants, and material suppliers
• Monitor and audit contractor/consultant testing laboratories for compliance, calibration, and competency
• Program-Level Technical Oversight
• Provide materials engineering guidance across multiple concurrent road projects within the RCRC program
• Standardize materials testing protocols, acceptance criteria, and procedures program-wide
• Review non-conformance reports (NCRs) related to materials and recommend corrective/remedial actions
• Support design reviews and life-cycle material performance assessments
• PMO Coordination & Reporting
• Coordinate with client, PMCM, Contractors, Vendors, Third parties to ensure materials compliance is tracked and reported
• Prepare periodic materials reports, dashboards, and KPIs for PMO leadership and client reporting
• Flag materials-related risks, delays, or cost implications to the PMO risk register
• Support dispute resolution processes with technical materials input
• Field & Laboratory Oversight
• Conduct or oversee periodic field inspections, sampling, and independent verification testing
• Review laboratory test results (gradation, Proctor, CBR, Marshall/Superpave, compressive strength, etc.) for conformance
• Investigate materials-related failures or defects and recommend root-cause corrective actions
• Standards, Documentation & Compliance
• Ensure compliance with project specifications, national road authority standards, and international best practices
• Maintain and update materials specifications, test method registers, and approved supplier/material lists
• Support development of technical guidelines, SOPs, and training materials for site engineering teams
• Ensure environmental and safety compliance related to materials handling and testing
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Liaise with client representatives, consultants, contractors, and regulatory/testing authorities
• Represent materials engineering function in technical review meetings, design reviews, and audits
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior engineers and site materials staff

Desired Candidate Profile

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or Geology (Master's in Materials/Pavement/Highway Engineering preferred)

15+ years of experience in materials engineering, with significant exposure to road/highway construction programs

Strong knowledge of asphalt and concrete technology, geotechnical materials, and pavement design principles

Familiarity with AASHTO/ASTM/BS/EN or relevant international and regional standards

Experience working within a PMO or multi-project program environment is highly desirable

Strong report writing, communication, and stakeholder management skills

Technical rigor and attention to detail

Analytical and problem-solving mindset

Ability to manage multiple projects/priorities simultaneously

Strong interpersonal and cross-functional coordination skills

Sound judgment under time and budget pressure