Assistant Professor In Architectural Engineering

Role Title: Assistant Professor in Architectural Engineering

Grade: G7

Salary: AED 280,000 – 320,000 per annum including accommodation allowance (Depending on Experience)

FTE and working pattern: Full-time (1FTE); 35hrs per week

Contract Type: Teaching and Scholarship

Department: School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS)

Location: Dubai Campus

The School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society

The School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society is one of the UK's leaders for multidisciplinary research and teaching in areas critical to economic development and societal equity. On our Dubai campus we teach civil engineering, architectural engineering, architecture, construction management and quantity surveying. We offer a high-quality educational experience underpinned by practical and laboratory teaching and informed by contact with professional practice. Our degree programmes hold the appropriate accreditation from the relevant professional body. This educational philosophy ensures excellent employment prospects for all of our graduates.

The Institute of Sustainable Built Environment (ISBE) conducts pioneering research aimed at driving technological innovation and shaping government policy on critical global challenges such as climate change, sustainable development, infrastructure degradation, energy management, and digital transformation. Our team provides innovative undergraduate and postgraduate education across built environment disciplines, including Architecture, Architectural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, and Quantity Surveying. These programmes equip future graduates with essential skills in sustainability, design, and management within the built environment. Research at the Institute of Sustainable Built Environment focuses on critical themes, including future infrastructure, innovative construction materials, urban energy, nature-based solutions, public health, environmental engineering, and digital construction technologies. We offer a world-class, inclusive research environment, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to support and advance research.

The Architectural Engineering Programme

The Architectural Engineering programme at Heriot-Watt University Dubai is a distinctive undergraduate degree that integrates core engineering principles with architectural design to address the performance, sustainability, and functionality of buildings. The programme is specifically designed to develop expertise in energy use, carbon emissions, and building systems, while also linking these technical aspects to spatial design and human interaction with the built environment. A strong foundation is provided in mathematics and building science, alongside key areas such as construction technology, environmental design, and engineering systems, ensuring graduates are equipped with the multidisciplinary knowledge required for modern architectural engineering practice.

The curriculum is structured around key themes including energy and sustainability, whole-building systems design, and human behavior in buildings, with an overarching focus on designing low-carbon, climate-responsive environments for the future. It combines theoretical learning with practical, industry-relevant applications through projects, laboratory work, and interdisciplinary design activities, preparing students for roles in building services, design consultancy, and sustainable construction. The programme is further strengthened by professional accreditation by the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and the Energy Institute (EI). A strong emphasis on global and industry engagement is at the heart of the programme, positioning graduates to contribute effectively to the evolving built environment sector in the UAE and internationally.

Detailed Description

Heriot Watt University is looking to expand our global team of academics working in the field of sustainable built environment. Consequently, the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society is seeking to appoint an Assistant Professor in Building Services Engineering to be a part of the Architectural Engineering programme faculty. The successful candidate will be based at the University's Dubai Campus but will engage closely with a team that spans our global footprint.

This is an exciting opportunity to develop a leading role in the development and delivery of innovative teaching and scholarship. Heriot-Watt University is known for its research-informed course delivery and the global multi-campus education it provides. The successful applicant will have a student-centred approach to pedagogy and curriculum design and will be encouraged to innovate.

This is an exciting time to join an already successful team. It is expected that the applicant will have expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Energy and sustainability of buildings
• Services systems and whole building design
• Human behaviour and interaction with buildings

Previous teaching experience and a commitment to the student experience are essential. Evidence of innovation in teaching delivery is desirable. Applicants must also possess demonstrable teamwork and communication skills. The candidate must hold an internationally recognized honors degree in Engineering, alongside a PhD in Sustainability, Energy, Low-Carbon Buildings, or a relevant discipline, while professional accreditation from CIBSE (Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers) or a relevant UK Engineering Council body is desirable.

Education, Qualifications and Experience (i.e. Person Specification)

Essential

• PhD in Building Services Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Energy, or a cognate discipline
• First degree in Engineering or a cognate discipline
• Knowledge and experience in building physics, low carbon design, thermofluids, sustainability, fluid dynamics and/or energy management in buildings.
• Ability to operate at the cross-disciplinary boundaries of design, engineering, sustainability and energy.
• Evidence of delivering innovation through your teaching or research
• A good working knowledge of relevant digital technologies (for example, one or more of: IES-VE, ANSYS Fluent and/or Autodesk Revit)
• An understanding of the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) criteria and experience of teaching or learning on a CIBSE validated course OR international equivalent.
• Ability to lead a small team across disciplines, work independently and /or as part of a team
• A clear research interest aligned with the programme academic position and the research institutes within the school
• Demonstrable oral, drawn representation and written communications skills.

Desirable

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) qualification from the UK Engineering Council.
• Fellow or Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy (HEA)
• Experience or knowledge of a wide range of: (a) thermal performance and heat transfer principles (b) assessment methods (BREEAM, LEED, Estidama etc.) (c) building auditing and energy management or (d) low carbon/energy principles in building design
• Experience in or at least an enthusiasm for novel pedagogical approaches
• Experience of teaching in a higher education environment
• A developing track record in teaching and/or research innovation
• Relevant industrial experience

Interested applicants must submit via the Heriot-Watt Careers page. (1) Cover letter describing interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full up-to date CV