The O&M Specialist will be responsible for supporting the planning, development, integration, and operational readiness activities for an express railway system from an Operations & Maintenance (O&M) perspective. The role will ensure that operational, maintenance, reliability, maintainability, and lifecycle requirements are fully considered throughout the project lifecycle, from concept and design through procurement support, testing, commissioning, and handover. The O&M Specialist will support the development of operational strategies, maintenance concepts, asset management requirements, and operational readiness plans to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable railway operations. 

What You'll Be Doing:

• Support the development and implementation of Operations & Maintenance strategies and operational readiness activities across all project stages for an express railway system. 

• Develop operational and maintenance concepts, maintenance philosophies, lifecycle strategies, and asset management requirements for railway systems and infrastructure. 

• Support the definition of operational requirements, maintenance requirements, reliability targets, maintainability criteria, and operational performance indicators. 

• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure railway systems, rolling stock, depot facilities, OCC systems, and operational interfaces are designed to support efficient operations and maintenance activities. 

• Support integration between railway operations, passenger systems, depot operations, and external operational interfaces including airport-related systems where applicable. 

• Review and support development of Design and Construct tender documentation including operational requirements, maintenance requirements, performance specifications, and operational readiness criteria. 

• Support Systems Engineering activities including requirements management, verification, validation, and operational acceptance processes from an O&M perspective. 

• Develop and support operational readiness plans including staffing strategies, training requirements, maintenance planning, spare parts strategies, emergency response planning, and trial operations support. 

• Support testing and commissioning activities including FAT, SAT, SIT, integrated testing, trial operations, operational simulations, and handover readiness activities. 

• Coordinate with designers, contractors, operators, stakeholders, and authorities to ensure alignment with operational and maintenance requirements. 

• Identify and manage operational, maintenance, and lifecycle risks associated with railway systems and infrastructure and implement mitigation measures. 

• Ensure compliance with project specifications, operational standards, maintenance requirements, safety standards, and international railway best practices. 

• Provide technical support and operational expertise to the Project Manager and multidisciplinary teams throughout the delivery of large-scale rail and infrastructure projec 

What Required Skills You'll Bring:: 

• Relevant Engineering Degree from a recognized University. 

• Minimum 15 years of experience in the AECO industry or relevant field. 

• Minimum 10 years of experience in rail projects and/or rail operations in Dubai, the GCC, and/or internationally. 

• Professional certification or membership with a recognized engineering, railway, operations, or maintenance institution is preferred. 

What Desired Skills You'll Bring:  

• Extensive knowledge and demonstrable experience in railway operations, maintenance planning, operational readiness, and asset management for large-scale rail and infrastructure projects, including express railway systems. 

• Relevant expertise in rail operations, depot operations, OCC coordination, operational interfaces, passenger systems, and lifecycle maintenance planning. 

• Strong understanding of railway operational requirements, maintenance strategies, reliability, maintainability, and asset management principles. 

• Experience coordinating with multidisciplinary rail systems including signalling, rolling stock, traction power, communications, OCC systems, and depot facilities. 

• Experience with airport-related operational interfaces and passenger integration requirements is highly desirable. 

• Proven experience supporting operational readiness, trial operations, handover activities, and operational acceptance processes for mega rail or infrastructure projects. 

• Familiarity with international railway operations standards, maintenance best practices, and operational safety requirements. 

• Demonstrable communication and leadership skills, with the ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams and engage effectively with stakeholders. 

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to identify operational and maintenance risks and implement practical mitigation measures. 

• Ability to operate effectively in complex, fast-paced, multi-stakeholder environments and support delivery across all project stages.