AVP Engineering – Mechanical & HVACR

We’re Hiring: Assistant Vice President – Mechanical & HVACR | Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC)

Location: Dubai World Central (DWC), UAE

Department: Engineering

Seniority: Senior Leadership Role

Emirates Flight Catering is building one of the world’s largest and most advanced fully integrated, food production ecosystems at Al Maktoum International Airport (AMI) — and we are looking for an accomplished AVP – Mechanical & HVACR to lead the end-to-end Mechanical, Utilities, Plumbing, and HVACR strategy for this landmark mega-project.

This is a senior engineering leadership role at the heart of EKFC’s future operations. You will shape the mechanical infrastructure underpinning a 500,000-meal-per-day, highly automated, food-safe production facility spanning 421,000 sqm — one of the most ambitious developments in the region.

If you’re looking for a role where engineering complexity, scale, and innovation meet — this is it.

What You Will Lead

As the AVP – Mechanical & HVACR, you will be responsible for:

• Acting as the technical authority for Mechanical, HVACR, Utilities, and Plumbing systems — ensuring compliance with ASME, ASHRAE, IIAR, UAE regulatory frameworks, and HACCP/ISO food-safety standards
• Leading the full lifecycle of all mechanical systems, from concept → detailed engineering → procurement → installation → commissioning → handover
• Designing mission-critical cold chain systems including industrial refrigeration, ammonia/CO₂ plants, blast chillers, freezers, and precision-controlled high-care environments
• Integrating mechanical systems seamlessly with architecture, structure, production equipment, and BMS platforms
• Defining engineering principles to maximise reliability, redundancy, maintainability, and system resilience across a 24/7 high-volume operation
• Championing sustainable engineering, including heat-recovery cycles, energy-optimised utilities, natural refrigerants, predictive maintenance analytics, and environmentally responsible infrastructure
• Leading the mechanical scope for LEED Platinum certification, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 compliance
• Overseeing FAT/SAT for major equipment — chillers, steam boilers, refrigeration compressors, evaporators, water treatment, compressed air networks, fire systems and central utility plants
• Managing large-scale CAPEX and ensuring value engineering, cost optimisation, and risk mitigation across multi-year mega-projects
• Collaborating with regulators, consultants, contractors, and cross-functional EKFC teams to deliver world-class operational readiness

Why This Role Matters

This position plays a pivotal role in building and maintaining the mechanical backbone of EKFC’s current and future operations — supporting a workforce exceeding 18,200 employees by 2032 and enabling the next generation of aviation catering excellence.

You will operate within a fast-paced, highly regulated environment where innovation, safety, and reliability are non-negotiable. The work you do will directly shape the performance, sustainability, and efficiency of one of the world's most complex food production facilities.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, HVACR, or a related engineering discipline (Master’s preferred)
• PMP + Safety Certifications are mandatory
• Chartered Mechanical Engineer is highly desirable
• 9+ years of Mechanical/HVACR engineering experience, with 7+ years in leadership roles
• Strong experience in large-scale industrial facilities; aviation, airport, or food production exposure is a plus
• Strong command of AutoCAD, BIM, Revit, Primavera or similar platforms
• Proven leadership of large, multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and decision-making skills
• Ability to manage multiple large-scale projects within fast-paced environments

Ready to Shape the Future of EKFC?

If you excel in delivering complex, high-stakes mechanical and HVACR engineering projects — and want to build something iconic — we want to hear from you.

Apply now and help build the future of aviation catering at Emirates Flight Catering.