Materials Engineer

KEO is a creative enterprise, where innovation is a way of life. We are uniquely resourced with end-to-end services to take clients from inspiration – through conceptualization – to realization of planning, design or project delivery in the built and natural environments. For over 60 years we’ve led with vision, contributing to many of the world’s most ambitious projects, iconic places, remarkable experiences and prosperous communities.

As a highly integrated and agile AEP/PMCM firm, KEO is recognized by ENR as one of the Top 225 International Design Firms and one of the Top 20 International PM/CM Firms. We are also ranked by World Architecture as the 51st largest global architecture firm and the #1 Firm in the Middle East Region in their 2024 WA100 Survey.

We invite you to join us. Why?

When you join KEO, you’ll discover more than just a job – you’ll find a supportive environment that fosters your professional development through internal global mobility and career development and does so within a culture that supports company-wide health and well-being through on-demand counselling services and regular workplace clinics. You will be invited to celebrate community events such as sports days, fun-runs, in-house sports teams and beach clean ups. In addition to your competitive package and benefits you will have access to a suite of policies that include hybrid working arrangements, individual athletic sponsorship, study assistance sponsorship, employee referral rewards.

Our newest opportunity is for a highly experienced Materials Engineer to join our site supervision team in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Materials Engineer will act as part of the Site Supervision Consultant team and shall be responsible for the review, verification, approval, and monitoring of all materials incorporated into the Works during enabling and early works activities. This includes stockpile removal, mass grading, earthworks, temporary works, and construction of haul roads and associated infrastructure.

The role requires full-time site presence and close coordination with the Engineer, supervision team, contractors, approved laboratories, and relevant authorities to ensure all materials and testing regimes comply with the Contract, approved IFC documentation, project specifications, applicable standards, and regulatory requirements.

The Materials Engineer shall undertake duties including, but not limited to, the following:

• Review, assess, and formally recommend approval or rejection of Material Approval Requests (MARs), technical submittals, method statements, and manufacturers’ data sheets submitted by the Contractor
• Verify that all materials comply with Contract requirements, approved IFC drawings, project specifications, and applicable standards including ASTM, AASHTO, BS, SASO, and relevant local authority regulations
• Coordinate, witness, and oversee laboratory and in-situ testing carried out by approved independent laboratories in accordance with the Contract and approved inspection and test plans
• Monitor and verify material storage, stockpiling, handling, processing, and use on site to prevent contamination, degradation, or non-compliance
• Oversee materials associated with mass earthworks, cut and fill operations, stockpile processing and reuse, soil improvement, compaction layers, subgrade and pavement construction, utilities bedding, concrete works, asphalt works, and temporary works
• Review and interpret geotechnical reports, laboratory test results, field density tests, and material compliance data, providing technical recommendations to the Engineer and supervision team
• Verify suitability and compliance of processed excavated materials intended for reuse in fill, backfilling, or haul road construction
• Identify, record, and support the resolution of material-related non-conformances, including NCRs and corrective actions
• Liaise with the Contractor, suppliers, laboratories, and supervision team to ensure timely material approvals and compliance with testing frequencies and quality requirements
• Maintain accurate material registers, laboratory test records, inspection reports, and compliance trackers in accordance with the Site Supervision Consultant’s quality management system
• Prepare material compliance summaries, technical reports, and inputs to daily, weekly, and monthly supervision reports
• Support audits, inspections, and quality reviews undertaken by the Client, Engineer, or regulatory authorities

To be successful in this dynamic opportunity, we envision that you will bring a minimum of 10 years’ professional experience in materials engineering within infrastructure, enabling works, or heavy civil construction projects partnered with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering or Materials Engineering.

• Demonstrated experience on mass earthworks, stockpile handling and removal, material processing, and construction of temporary or permanent haul roads
• Experience working as part of a supervision consultant or Engineer’s team under FIDIC-based contracts is preferred
• Prior experience on large-scale developments or fast-track early works packages is highly desirable
• Strong knowledge of construction materials, laboratory and field testing procedures, and quality control systems
• Practical experience with soil classification, compaction control, aggregates, pavement materials, concrete, and asphalt
• Solid understanding of international standards and specifications relevant to infrastructure works
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements and construction practices within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Strong attention to detail with a structured and methodical approach to quality assurance
• Confident communicator able to coordinate effectively with contractors, laboratories, and multidisciplinary supervision teams
• Proactive, site-focused, and capable of managing multiple work fronts concurrently

Professional engineering registration is preferred

Registration with the Saudi Council of Engineers, or eligibility for registration, is advantageous

KEO’s performance is founded upon integrity, results, innovation, safety, and our people. We embrace diversity and recognize its’ contribution to client success wherever we work.

We are excited to hear how you can partner with our award-winning team and treat all expressions of interest confidentially.