Job Description

Head of Electrical Engineering | Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

Our client is an established UAE-based engineering and advanced manufacturing organisation that designs and produces sophisticated, customised electromechanical products for international aviation customers.

The Head of Electrical Engineering will lead the electrical engineering and automation function, with overall responsibility for approximately 30 employees and five direct reports. The appointment combines departmental leadership, resource planning and delivery accountability with the technical understanding required to oversee electrical design, automation and software/hardware integration.

Responsibilities

Lead a multidisciplinary electrical engineering and automation department, ensuring effective people management and reliable delivery across multiple concurrent projects.

• Provide leadership to five direct reports and a wider department of approximately 30, setting clear objectives, accountability and performance expectations.
• Develop engineering managers, team leaders and technical specialists through coaching, performance management, capability development and succession planning.
• Plan department capacity, allocate resources and manage competing engineering priorities against project schedules and manufacturing requirements.
• Provide technical oversight of electrical architecture, schematics, wiring, control-panel design and engineering documentation, including work produced using EPLAN.
• Oversee PLC-based automation and controls using Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation systems, including Studio 5000 and FactoryTalk View.
• Direct the integration of electrical hardware, embedded electronics, sensors, actuators and software-driven control systems; guide teams using C, C++, C# and Python where applicable.
• Work closely with mechanical engineering, software development, production, procurement and project management to ensure designs can be manufactured, integrated and delivered efficiently.
• Establish robust design reviews, verification, testing, engineering change control and documentation practices.
• Lead the resolution of complex technical, integration and production challenges, maintaining product quality, reliability and project delivery.
• Drive improvements in engineering processes, standardisation, manufacturability, team productivity and cross-functional communication.

Requirements

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Automation, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Ideally 8-10+ years of relevant engineering experience.
• Proven experience leading engineering teams, ideally including management of team leaders or senior engineers, with accountability for people, resources and project delivery.
• Solid engineering pedigree gained within a manufacturer of complex products; experience in aerospace, automotive, power systems, industrial automation, machinery or advanced manufacturing is particularly relevant.
• Strong understanding of electrical design, control-system architecture, automation and the integration of electrical hardware with software.
• Familiarity with EPLAN would be advantageous; AutoCAD Electrical or comparable electrical CAD experience will also be considered.
• Experience of Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation systems, ideally Studio 5000 and FactoryTalk View, is preferred; candidates with knowledge of comparable platforms such as Siemens TIA Portal will also be considered.
• Ability to lead teams working with C, C++, C# or Python and understand how software, embedded electronics and controls interact; hands-on expertise in every language is not required.
• Experience overseeing engineering from design and development through manufacturing, integration, verification, factory testing and delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to develop people, improve engineering processes, manage competing priorities and collaborate across technical and manufacturing functions.
• Clear communication skills, sound technical judgement and a practical, accountable leadership approach.
• This is an office based role in RAK, some international travel will be required.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be a credible electrical or automation engineering leader who has progressed from a strong technical foundation into the management of a substantial engineering function. They will understand electrical design, PLC-based automation and software/hardware integration well enough to challenge decisions and guide specialists, without needing to be the most hands-on programmer or CAD designer in the team. Above all, they will be able to develop people, establish accountability and deliver complex manufactured products reliably.

Thank you for your application. Only suitable candidates will be contacted.

Please note that by applying to this role, your profile will be searchable in our database. Our recruiters will contact you should another suitable role become available.