Lead Bridge Design Engineer

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the design of impactful road and access infrastructure, supporting connectivity and development across the Horn of Africa. The position offers exposure to multidisciplinary projects, practical engineering challenges, and professional growth within a leading UN organization.The role involves multidisciplinary coordination and exposure to both bridge engineering and hydraulic structure design

This position operates within a dynamic infrastructure environment, leading the design of bridges, culverts, and cross-drainage structures. The role is critical to ensuring safe, hydraulically adequate, durable, and cost-effective structures, integrated with road networks and aligned with hydrological, geotechnical, and environmental constraints.

Reporting to the Senior Project Manager-Infrastructure, the Lead Bridge/Structural Design Engineer will lead the design, analysis, and coordination of bridges and culverts, and cross-drainage structures ensuring compliance with UNOPS guidelines, national standards, and international best practices. The role ensures all structures are hydraulically sufficient, structurally sound, and constructible.

The contractor will be engaged on a retainer basis and will be required to provide services as and when needed

1. Site Assessment and Data Review

• Review site conditions including topography, terrain, and existing infrastructure to identify design constraints.

• Interpret topographic surveys, geotechnical reports, and hydrological data to support design decisions.

• Assess drainage patterns, flood levels, and catchment characteristics to determine design discharge.

• Evaluate soil conditions, bearing capacity, and risks such as scour, erosion, and settlement.

• Support feasibility studies and selection of appropriate bridge or culvert solutions.

2. Structural and Hydraulic Design (Bridges and Culverts)

• Lead structural design of bridges, including superstructure, substructure, and foundations under relevant load combinations.

• Design culverts (pipe, box, slab, or arch) and associated hydraulic components to ensure adequate flow capacity.

• Design inlets, outlets, headwalls, wing walls, and erosion protection measures.

• Ensure proper integration of drainage systems to prevent flooding and structural damage.

• Ensure compliance with international and national standards.

3. Design Deliverables

• Prepare drawings, design calculations, technical specifications, and BoQs for bridge and culvert works.

• Ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance of all design outputs.

• Respond to design review comments and update deliverables as required.

• Maintain proper documentation of all design work.

4. Procurement Support

• Prepare technical inputs for tender documents, including specifications and BoQs.

• Support clarification of technical queries during bidding.

• Assist in evaluation of technical proposals.

5. Construction Support and Quality Assurance

• Provide technical support during construction to ensure compliance with design and specifications.

• Review shop drawings, method statements, and material submissions.

• Support resolution of technical issues on site.

• Review as-built drawings and contribute to progress reporting.

6. Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement

• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams including road, geotechnical, and hydrology engineers.

• Ensure integration of bridge and culvert designs with overall infrastructure.

• Participate in technical meetings and stakeholder consultations.

7. Knowledge Management

• Maintain proper documentation of design outputs and reports.

• Contribute to technical knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.

• Support and guide junior technical staff when required