Structural Engineer – Building Survey & Structural Assessment

About SESC

S E S C is a specialist engineering services company providing MEP and civil survey, quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), and technical project support across complex projects and multiple industry sectors.

We are expanding our capabilities in existing-building surveys, structural assessments, and as-found documentation. We are looking for a technically capable Structural Engineer who can investigate existing site conditions, assess structural constraints, and support the development of accurate technical documentation where original design and as-built drawings are unavailable or incomplete.

Role Overview

The Structural Engineer will lead structural investigations and assessments for existing buildings,

including projects where the available documentation is limited concerning the suspended ceilings, dividing walls, and concealed structural conditions. The role involves a combination of site inspections, measurements, structural analysis where required, technical reporting, and client communication.

The successful candidate must be comfortable conducting practical site investigations, coordinating with other engineering disciplines, and translating observations into clear, technically defensible findings and recommendations.

Key Responsibilities

A. Site Inspection and Structural Investigation

• Conduct on-site inspections of existing buildings, including auditoriums, commercial facilities, and other operational or partially accessible environments.
• Investigate existing structural arrangements where original structural drawings and as-built documentation are unavailable.
• Examine accessible structural elements, suspended ceiling interfaces, dividing walls, and other relevant building components.
• Identify potential structural constraints, visible defects, unusual conditions, and areas requiring further investigation.
• Establish the measurements and information required to understand the existing structural configuration.
• Determine which structural conditions can be assessed visually and which require additional investigation, measurements, opening-up works, or specialist input.
• Assess the feasibility of proposed alterations, including whether existing walls or other elements may be structural or load-bearing, subject to appropriate investigation and verification.
• Identify any limitations affecting the reliability or completeness of the assessment.

B. Structural Assessment and Technical Recommendations

• Assess existing structural conditions and their implications for proposed modifications.
• Review the available drawings, site measurements, photographs, and information gathered by the project team.
• Carry out structural calculations and engineering analysis where required and supported by sufficient information.
• Identify whether further investigation is necessary before a proposed alteration can be considered feasible.
• Provide a clear technical recommendation on whether the proposed works can proceed to the next stage, require additional investigation, or should not proceed without further verification.
• Explain the technical basis, assumptions, limitations, and outstanding information associated with the assessment.
• Distinguish between observed site conditions, verified structural information, engineering assumptions, and conclusions derived from calculations.

C. Coordination with the CAD Engineer and MEP Team

• Lead structural site investigations and coordinate closely with the assigned CAD Engineer during site measurements and documentation.
• Provide structural guidance to the CAD Engineer when identifying relevant structural elements, wall configurations, ceiling levels, and other building interfaces.
• Coordinate with SESC MEP engineers to understand the arrangement of existing services and their relationship with the building structure.
• Review relevant measurements, photographs, sketches, and proposed as-found drawings for consistency with the structural observations.
• Identify discrepancies between observed conditions and any available drawings.
• Ensure that structural information included in the documentation is supported by site observations, available evidence, or clearly identified engineering assessments.

D. Client Communication and Technical Reporting

• Explain the findings of the site investigation to the client and discuss the implications for the proposed works.
• Prepare concise technical reports documenting the investigation, findings, limitations, and recommendations.
• Clearly distinguish an initial visual inspection from a detailed structural assessment.
• Recommend additional surveys, intrusive investigations, calculations, or specialist appointments where necessary.
• Support SESC in defining the technical scope, exclusions, deliverables, and resource requirements for similar future assignments.
• Assist with estimating the engineering effort and costs associated with additional investigation or design-related services.

E. Quality, Safety and Professional Standards

• Follow applicable UAE requirements, project specifications, site safety procedures, and relevant engineering standards.
• Identify site hazards and ensure appropriate precautions are taken during inspections and measurements.
• Work within the limits of personal competence and professional authority.
• Ensure that structural assessments, calculations, and any formal engineering certification are undertaken and signed by appropriately qualified and authorised professionals.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Approximately five or more years of relevant professional experience in structural engineering, building surveys, existing-building assessments, or related consultancy work.
• Practical experience inspecting existing buildings and assessing structural conditions.
• Understanding of structural systems, load paths, load-bearing walls, slabs, beams, columns, and relevant building components.
• Ability to identify when additional investigation or structural calculations are necessary before reaching a conclusion.
• Experience interpreting structural drawings and coordinating with architectural, MEP, and other technical disciplines.
• Ability to prepare clear technical reports and communicate engineering findings to clients.
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD and the ability to review technical drawings.
• Good command of written and spoken English.
• Ability to work on site, including night shifts where required by project access restrictions.
• UAE driving licence.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with existing buildings where original drawings are missing or unreliable.
• Experience in auditoriums, commercial buildings, fit-out projects, or similar environments.
• Experience investigating concealed building conditions and planning proportionate intrusive

investigations.

• Familiarity with structural survey methodologies, laser measurement tools, and digital site documentation.
• Experience coordinating structural investigations with MEP commissioning, QA/QC, or building-services teams.
• Familiarity with preparing or reviewing as-found drawings.
• Experience providing preliminary feasibility advice before a project proceeds to detailed design.

1. Key Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Sound engineering judgement and attention to detail.
• Practical, hands-on approach to site investigations.
• Ability to distinguish verified facts from assumptions.
• Clear technical communication and report writing.
• Ability to work independently while coordinating effectively with a multidisciplinary team.
• Professional integrity, particularly when communicating uncertainty, limitations, or structural risks.
• Flexibility to support both project delivery and the development of SESC's wider engineering services.

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate will deliver a technically sound assessment of existing structural conditions, identify the information required to make informed decisions, provide clear recommendations to the client, and help SESC develop a reliable approach to structural surveys and existing-building documentation. The engineer should be able to establish what is known, what remains uncertain, and what further work is necessary before a proposed modification can be considered safe and feasible.

Pay: AED7,000.00 - AED9,000.00 per month

Application Question(s):

• UAE MOFA attested 4-yearrelevant degree
• Are you an immediate joiner (no notice period)?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

License/Certification:

• UAE Driving Licence (Required)

Willingness to travel:

• 75% (Required)

Work Location: In person