Underground Structures Expert - High-Speed Rail
Posted date [2026-09-27]
(ID: 52603)
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AECOM is a global leader in infrastructure development, engineering, and project management solutions, dedicated to building a better, smarter, and more sustainable world. With unmatched expertise in construction, civil engineering, architecture, environmental consulting, and urban development, AECOM helps clients tackle complex challenges across water, energy, transportation, oil and gas, renewable energy, and smart city projects. As one of the world’s leading engineering and construction companies in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the wider Gulf region, AECOM partners with both government and private organizations to deliver innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective infrastructure solutions through every stage of the project lifecycle from advisory and design to engineering, procurement, and construction management. Headquartered in the United States and operating across the Middle East, AECOM is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of USD 16.1 billion in fiscal year 2024. Its projects shape skylines, transportation systems, and energy networks across major Gulf cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh, and Muscat. For those seeking engineering jobs in Dubai, construction management roles in the UAE, civil engineering careers in Saudi Arabia, or infrastructure project opportunities across the Middle East, AECOM offers a world-class environment for growth and innovation. Discover the latest AECOM Gulf and Middle East job openings at careersingulf.com, the region’s leading job portal for engineering, architecture, construction, and project management careers.... |
Job Description and Requirements
Underground Structures Expert - High-Speed RailJob Snapshot
Role: Underground Structures Expert
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Industry: Civil Engineering
Function: Civil & Structural Engineering
Experience: Extensive underground infrastructure and tunneling experience
Job Type: Full Time
Position Overview
AECOM is seeking an Underground Structures Expert in Abu Dhabi, UAE to provide specialist Civil Engineering leadership for underground infrastructure within a high-speed rail network. The role covers tunnels, underground stations, intervention and ventilation shafts, TBM operations, structural engineering, construction methodologies, fire and life safety, and multidisciplinary integration in complex urban environments.
Job Details
Country: UAE
City: Abu Dhabi
Industry: Civil Engineering
Function: Civil & Structural Engineering
Salary: Not disclosed
Gender: No Preference
Candidate Nationality: Not specified
Job Type: Full Time
Work Arrangement: On-site
Design and Engineering Responsibilities
- Lead the design and development of underground structures, including tunnels, underground stations, intervention shafts, and associated rail infrastructure.
- Develop engineering solutions for Tunnel Boring Machine
drives, launch and retrieval locations, and ventilation shafts.
- Provide specialist input into structural engineering for underground infrastructure in densely developed urban environments.
- Verify design compliance with applicable international standards, including AASHTO LRFD and Eurocodes.
- Apply geotechnical engineering principles to underground structural solutions, including soil-structure interaction and ground improvement considerations.
- Evaluate technical constraints and develop practical engineering solutions that meet project, safety, and environmental requirements.
Construction and Technical Oversight
- Oversee underground construction activities and monitor compliance with approved designs, technical specifications, and project schedules.
- Review contractor submissions and verify structural designs associated with underground works and related infrastructure elements.
- Provide technical guidance on construction methodologies, including TBM tunneling, cut-and-cover construction, and mined tunneling.
- Support resolution of complex design and construction issues affecting underground structures.
- Apply relevant lessons from international high-speed rail projects to improve design and construction approaches.
Safety and Risk Management
- Develop and support fire and life safety strategies for underground rail infrastructure.
- Address emergency egress, ventilation, accessibility, and space constraints associated with underground facilities.
- Contribute to project risk identification and mitigation for underground design and construction.
- Support sustainable construction approaches and measures designed to reduce environmental impacts.
Stakeholder and Multidisciplinary Coordination
- Coordinate with government agencies, private stakeholders, and other relevant entities regarding alignment, land availability, and infrastructure constraints.
- Work with architects, engineers, contractors, and multidisciplinary project teams to maintain integration across underground rail systems.
- Coordinate underground structural requirements with track alignment, stations, electrification, signaling, and rolling stock interfaces.
- Develop engineering approaches that minimize disruption to surrounding communities and ecological habitats during construction.
Technical Expertise
- Extensive experience with tunneling methodologies, including Tunnel Boring Machine and cut-and-cover techniques.
- Proficiency in structural analysis and design tools such as STAAD Pro and SAP2000.
- Experience with AutoCAD Civil 3D.
- Strong knowledge of geotechnical engineering principles, soil-structure interaction, and ground improvement techniques.
- Previous involvement in high-speed rail projects covering underground facilities, station design, or track alignment.
- Familiarity with rail electrification, signaling, and rolling stock integration.
- Experience managing large-scale infrastructure activities involving budgets, resources, and risk mitigation.
- Proven ability to coordinate multidisciplinary engineering and construction teams.
- Understanding of UAE-specific engineering considerations, including extreme heat, sand infiltration, and urban density constraints.
- Experience working with regulatory frameworks and local authorities.
- Knowledge of fire and life safety requirements for underground rail systems.
- Experience applying sustainable construction practices and environmental impact mitigation measures.
High-Speed Rail and Underground Structures Scope
The Underground Structures Expert will provide specialist technical leadership across the design and construction of complex underground high-speed rail infrastructure. The position combines structural, geotechnical, tunneling, station, safety, and systems-interface considerations to develop practical solutions for constrained urban environments.
The role requires particular expertise in TBM drives, underground stations, intervention and ventilation shafts, cut-and-cover and mined tunneling, soil-structure interaction, emergency egress, ventilation, and fire and life safety. Effective integration with wider rail systems and multidisciplinary infrastructure teams is essential.
Recruitment and Onboarding
Newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment. This requirement forms part of AECOM\'s secure recruitment process.
About AECOM
AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm providing professional services across transportation, water, environment, energy, and buildings. Its teams support public- and private-sector clients throughout the project lifecycle, including advisory, planning, design, engineering, program management, and construction management. AECOM reported revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025 and has a global team of more than 50,000 professionals.
- Provide specialist input into structural engineering for underground infrastructure in densely developed urban environments.
- Verify design compliance with applicable international standards, including AASHTO LRFD and Eurocodes.
- Apply geotechnical engineering principles to underground structural solutions, including soil-structure interaction and ground improvement considerations.
- Evaluate technical constraints and develop practical engineering solutions that meet project, safety, and environmental requirements.
Construction and Technical Oversight
- Oversee underground construction activities and monitor compliance with approved designs, technical specifications, and project schedules.
- Review contractor submissions and verify structural designs associated with underground works and related infrastructure elements.
- Provide technical guidance on construction methodologies, including TBM tunneling, cut-and-cover construction, and mined tunneling.
- Support resolution of complex design and construction issues affecting underground structures.
- Apply relevant lessons from international high-speed rail projects to improve design and construction approaches.
Safety and Risk Management
- Develop and support fire and life safety strategies for underground rail infrastructure.
- Address emergency egress, ventilation, accessibility, and space constraints associated with underground facilities.
- Contribute to project risk identification and mitigation for underground design and construction.
- Support sustainable construction approaches and measures designed to reduce environmental impacts.
Stakeholder and Multidisciplinary Coordination
- Coordinate with government agencies, private stakeholders, and other relevant entities regarding alignment, land availability, and infrastructure constraints.
- Work with architects, engineers, contractors, and multidisciplinary project teams to maintain integration across underground rail systems.
- Coordinate underground structural requirements with track alignment, stations, electrification, signaling, and rolling stock interfaces.
- Develop engineering approaches that minimize disruption to surrounding communities and ecological habitats during construction.
Technical Expertise
- Extensive experience with tunneling methodologies, including Tunnel Boring Machine and cut-and-cover techniques.
- Proficiency in structural analysis and design tools such as STAAD Pro and SAP2000.
- Experience with AutoCAD Civil 3D.
- Strong knowledge of geotechnical engineering principles, soil-structure interaction, and ground improvement techniques.
- Previous involvement in high-speed rail projects covering underground facilities, station design, or track alignment.
- Familiarity with rail electrification, signaling, and rolling stock integration.
- Experience managing large-scale infrastructure activities involving budgets, resources, and risk mitigation.
- Proven ability to coordinate multidisciplinary engineering and construction teams.
- Understanding of UAE-specific engineering considerations, including extreme heat, sand infiltration, and urban density constraints.
- Experience working with regulatory frameworks and local authorities.
- Knowledge of fire and life safety requirements for underground rail systems.
- Experience applying sustainable construction practices and environmental impact mitigation measures.
High-Speed Rail and Underground Structures Scope
The Underground Structures Expert will provide specialist technical leadership across the design and construction of complex underground high-speed rail infrastructure. The position combines structural, geotechnical, tunneling, station, safety, and systems-interface considerations to develop practical solutions for constrained urban environments.
The role requires particular expertise in TBM drives, underground stations, intervention and ventilation shafts, cut-and-cover and mined tunneling, soil-structure interaction, emergency egress, ventilation, and fire and life safety. Effective integration with wider rail systems and multidisciplinary infrastructure teams is essential.
Recruitment and Onboarding
Newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment. This requirement forms part of AECOM\'s secure recruitment process.
About AECOM
AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm providing professional services across transportation, water, environment, energy, and buildings. Its teams support public- and private-sector clients throughout the project lifecycle, including advisory, planning, design, engineering, program management, and construction management. AECOM reported revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025 and has a global team of more than 50,000 professionals.
