Roles:
A Planning Engineer is a specialized engineering professional responsible for defining, developing, monitoring, and maintaining the timeline and project controls of a project from initiation to completion. Operating primarily within the construction, infrastructure, oil and gas, and manufacturing sectors, they ensure that projects are delivered on schedule and within scope. They bridge the gap between technical project specifications (like Bills of Quantities and design drawings) and high-level management timelines.
Key Responsibilities
Schedule Development (Baselines): Breaking down project components into a structured format (Work Breakdown Structure or WBS) and setting up Level 1 to Level 4 schedules using the Critical Path Method (CPM).
Progress Tracking & Reporting: Routinely tracking actual vs. planned progress, generating predictive tools like S-curves and resource histograms, and publishing dashboards for stakeholders.
Resource Optimization: Analyzing data for resource loading, identifying operational bottlenecks, and performing resource leveling to distribute labor and equipment efficiently.
Risk & Mitigation: Conducting "what-if" scenario modeling to find delays early and outlining recovery or acceleration programs.
Claims & Extension of Time (EOT): Quantifying impacts of unforeseen delays and creating systematic delay analyses to support commercial claims.
Core Skills & Tools
Software Mastery: High proficiency in enterprise tools such as Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, and data processing software like Advanced Excel or Power BI for customized reporting.
Analytical Thinking: Evaluating complex metrics like Earned Value Management (EVM) to predict variance trends.
Cross-Functional Communication: Acting as a central liaison to coordinate schedules fluidly between design, procurement, construction teams, and clients.
Certifications: Advancing in this career generally benefits from acquiring credentials like the AACE International Planning & Scheduling Professional (PSP) or the Project Management Professional (PMP) designation.
Academic Qualification:
Bachelor’s Degree: A university degree in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering is universally required. Civil engineering is the most requested discipline for construction projects, while Mechanical or Electrical is preferred for oil, gas, or power plant projects.
Professional Registration: In Saudi Arabia, you must be formally registered with the Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) to practice and be legally hired as an engineer.
Technical Competencies & Software Expertise Scheduling Software: Mastery of enterprise-level project controls software is mandatory. You must be fully certified or highly proficient in Primavera P6 (standard in oil, gas, and construction) or Microsoft Project (commonly used in smaller or civil IT projects).
Data & Analytics Tools: Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, macros) and data visualization tools like Power BI or Tableau to create automated progress dashboards.
Engineering Literacy: The ability to accurately interpret technical blueprints, architectural drawings, and Bills of Quantities (BOQ) to build an accurate Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).
Professional Certifications (Industry Benchmarks)
While a degree gets you an interview, professional certifications prove your specialized mastery in project controls
PSP (Planning & Scheduling Professional): Issued by AACE International, this is the gold standard credential specifically for planning engineers.
PMP (Project Management Professional): Issued by the Project Management Institute (PMI), this provides a broad, globally recognized foundation in overall project management.
PMI-SP (PMI Scheduling Professional): A specialized certification from PMI focusing entirely on schedule development and maintenance.
📈 Functional Experience & Methodologies
Project Controls Methodologies: A deep, functional understanding of Critical Path Method (CPM) scheduling, Earned Value Management (EVM) for cost/schedule variance, and S-curve generation.
Delay Analysis: Knowledge of forensic delay analysis methods (e.g., Time Impact Analysis) to qualify for Extension of Time (EOT) claims.
Industry Experience: Most mid-level positions require 3 to 5 years of field experience on actual project sites (e.g., as a site engineer) before transitioning into a pure planning role, as you cannot sequence activities effectively without knowing how tasks are executed in reality.
Experience: 15-20 years Gulf Experience
Candidates available in Riyadh Kindly send your cv on the given mail ID
[email protected]
Kindly mention these details as well
1. Gulf Experience in years
2. Nationality
3. Language known
4. Expected Salary Package in the new firm
5. Valid iqama or not
6. Iqama Expiry Date
7. Valid Saudi Driving license
8. Current Place in KSA