Lead Mechanical Engineer
This is an excellent opportunity to lead mechanical engineering aspects of infrastructure projects within a dynamic and impactful environment. The position offers exposure to diverse projects across the Horn of Africa, contributing to sustainable development and enhancing the quality of life for communities in need.
Location: Addis Ababa
Organization: UNOPS
Deadline: 18-Dec-2025
Job Description
General Information
- Position Title: Lead Mechanical Engineer
- Job Category: Engineer
- Duty Station(s): Addis Ababa
- Seniority Level: Mid Level
- ICS Level: ICS 10
- Contract Type: ICA – LICA – Specialist – Retainer
- Contract Level: LICA 10
- Posting End Date: 18-Dec-2025
- Duration: One year, renewable based on satisfactory performance and budget availability.
About the Region
The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Supported by more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices—spanning North, West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa—the office advances national priorities through strategic initiatives in Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and Security, Middle-Income Country Support, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The Regional Office provides strategic leadership, operational support, and oversight in key areas including Partnerships, Communications, Management and Oversight, Infrastructure and Project Management, Health and Safety, and Security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure, transparent resource management, and a better quality of life for communities across the continent.
About the Country/Multi-Country Office
Based in Addis Ababa, the Horn of Africa Multi-Country Office (HAMCO) delivers project management, procurement, and infrastructure services across Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Sudan, with a primary focus on health, agriculture, and economic development. Established in 2009, HAMCO partners with governments and development stakeholders to implement impactful, results-driven initiatives that contribute to sustainable development. Since 2024, new projects have been aimed at expanding access to healthcare, education, energy, and livelihoods, particularly in underserved and conflict-affected regions.
HAMCO also provides human resource management services, supporting the effective implementation of development initiatives. Key efforts include equipping research facilities, strengthening education and health systems, building vaccine research capacity, and enhancing resilience in communities affected by crisis. Through these interventions, HAMCO contributes to inclusive growth, regional stability, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the Horn of Africa.
Job Specific Context
The Lead Mechanical Engineer will be responsible for delivering high-quality mechanical engineering designs that comply with local codes and international standards. The engineer will ensure mechanical systems are efficient, cost-effective, safe, and sustainable throughout the lifecycle of the project. The assignments include Building HVACs, water supply systems, pumping systems, PVs, sanitation, fire-fighting systems in line with UNOPS guidelines, National Building Code, Standards set by relevant government agencies and international practice for buildings and other infrastructures under the project and ensure quality in their implementation. The position requires frequent travel to project sites in all regional states of Ethiopia and other countries in the Multi-country office.
Role Purpose
Reporting to the Senior Project Manager, the Lead Mechanical Engineer will manage projects independently within existing frameworks, guidelines, and rules, providing authoritative advice on the application of established policies and procedures, and adapting existing policies, approaches, and models to meet emerging client or project needs.
Functions / Key Results Expected
1. Site Assessment
- Conduct needs assessments for mechanical systems and infrastructure, including HVAC, medical gas Systems, plumbing, fire fighting, and integrated building services.
- Review and manage requests for new construction or rehabilitation works, WASH projects, evaluating technical feasibility, risk, and resource requirements.
- Participate in feasibility studies and conduct on-site inspections and assessments of existing systems to evaluate performance gaps, operational efficiency, and compliance with applicable standards, preparing detailed reports with clear recommendations for follow-up actions.
2. Design Works
- Apply technical expertise to support the design development of mechanical systems, ensuring alignment with project technical objectives.
- Review and prepare mechanical design drawings, technical specifications, and Bills of Quantities (BoQs).
- Identify design gaps and provide practical guidance for improvements, ensuring efficiency, reliability, and resilience of mechanical systems.
- Outline design requirements for procurement of design services, including concept, preliminary, and final design stages.
- Ensure that all inspections, assessments, designs, specifications, and supervision activities comply with recognized national and international standards and guidelines, including Ethiopian Standards (ES/EN), ASHRAE, NFPA, UNOPS Guidelines, ISO standards, and FIDIC conditions of contract, as well as other relevant local or international codes of practice for mechanical systems, including HVAC, medical, and sanitary installations.
- Provide technical guidance to the procurement team in the preparation of tender documentation, bid evaluation, and compliance verification.
3. Construction Supervision and Quality Control
- Supervise mechanical construction works according to contractual provisions, design specifications, and quality standards.
- Ensure quantity, quality, and timeline consistency in project execution, reporting any deviations promptly.
- Monitor integration of HVAC, medical, sanitary, and electrical systems, ensuring coordinated implementation across disciplines.
- Enforce Health and Safety compliance on-site, reporting irregularities and providing technical solutions to mitigate risks.
- Conduct progress monitoring and quality control, preparing periodic supervision reports to ensure on-time delivery of project milestones.
4. Leadership, Coordination, and Stakeholder Engagement
- Coordinate with multidisciplinary design and construction teams, including civil, electrical, sanitary, and bio-medical engineers, to ensure integrated system functionality.
- Liaise with government authorities, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders to ensure compliance with standards and project alignment with policies.
- Provide technical leadership to contractors, consultants, and site teams, fostering problem-solving, accountability, and professional excellence.
5. Knowledge Management and Capacity Building
- Develop and maintain technical manuals, guidelines, and standards documentation for mechanical systems, ensuring alignment with standards , and other relevant codes.
- Document lessons learned, project reports, and technical recommendations for future reference and institutional learning.
- Provide training, coaching, and mentorship to local engineers, contractors, and operational teams to strengthen technical capacity and sustainability of mechanical systems.
- Support capacity-building initiatives, mentoring junior engineers and technical staff on best practices in mechanical engineering and integrated systems design.
Skills
Education Requirements
Required
-
Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited university, professional certification in mechanical engineering, or equivalent with 5 years of relevant experience.
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Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent with 7 years of relevant experience.
- Practicing Professional Mechanical Engineer Certification.
Desired
- License/Board Certification in Mechanical engineering
- Knowledge of sustainable and resilient approaches to mechanical engineering and green technologies.
Experience Requirements
Required
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At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in mechanical engineering with strong knowledge of industrial equipment and machinery and heating/cooling systems, particularly in the design and installation of HVAC systems is required.
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5 years experience in AutoCAD– for 2D/3D mechanical design drawings is required.
Desired
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Knowledge of sustainable and resilient approaches to mechanical engineering and green technologies
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Some experience in the UN system organizations and/or a developing country
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Revit / BIM tools, and skill of related software skills for sanitary work.
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Understanding of and experience in the development infrastructure sector is desired.
Language Requirements
| Language | Proficiency Level | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| English | Fluent | Required |
| Amharic | Fluent | Required |
