Senior Design Manager (Dams / Hydraulic structures / Tunnels) - Panama
Summary
Leads multidisciplinary engineering design for a major water infrastructure programme in Panama (dams, hydraulic structures, tunnels), coordinating civil, structural, geotechnical, hydraulic, and tunnelling disciplines and integrating design with constructability and construction delivery.
GateSource HR is seeking a Senior Design Manager for a major water infrastructure programme in Panama. The role will lead and coordinate multidisciplinary engineering design activities and ensure effective integration between design, constructability, and construction delivery.
Key responsibilities:
- Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary design teams.
- Manage design interfaces across civil, structural, geotechnical, hydraulic, tunnelling, and construction disciplines.
- Oversee design reviews, constructability assessments, technical compliance, and quality assurance.
- Coordinate design activities with construction planning and execution.
- Manage technical risks, design changes, value engineering, and stakeholder requirements.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Structural, Geotechnical, Hydraulic Engineering, or a related field.
- Master’s degree in an applicable engineering discipline, Construction Management, or a related field.
- Registered or licensed Professional Engineer, or an equivalent professional licence.
- At least 20 years of professional experience managing and coordinating the design of major infrastructure projects.
- Demonstrated experience integrating design with construction activities and constructability reviews.
- Participation in the design of at least two comparable projects, each with a construction value of US$100 million or more.
- Relevant experience in dams, hydraulic structures, tunnels, water infrastructure, or comparable heavy civil projects.
Highly preferred profile
- More than 30 years of professional experience.
- Design leadership experience on at least two comparable projects exceeding US$400 million each.
- Strong understanding of complex design interfaces, technical assurance, and design-build delivery.
- International project and multidisciplinary consulting experience.
- Professional working proficiency in English; Spanish is an advantage.