Chief Specialist- Transportation Systems

Job Purpose:

Drive planning, implementation and evaluation of autonomous and smart public transport projects to advance innovative mobility systems in Dubai. Coordinate strategies, partnerships, research and risk assessments to strengthen performance and long-term value of RTA self-driving and aerial initiatives.

Roles & Accountabilities:

Strategy

• Monitor and ensure implementation of autonomous mobility strategies covering land, air and sea autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles and self-driving public transport in alignment with approved policies and strategic directions.

• Prepare and develop executive and operational plans to activate smart public transport systems and required infrastructure, including autonomous and innovative systems, in coordination with concerned departments.

• Benchmark the performance of self-driving and innovative transportation systems against leading international practices and propose initiatives for continuous development, particularly for aerial self-driving transport.

• Lead business analysis to identify change requirements in innovative and self-driving projects and recommend work plans and solutions to the senior management team.

• Provide expert advice on processes and issues related to innovative and self-driving projects to surface key strategic issues early and protect RTA long-term strategic interests.

• Study the financial, social and economic impacts of advanced mobility projects and initiatives to assess overall benefits and recommend way forward options.

Operations

• Manage projects and their impact on customers, operations, procedures and assessments, recommending specific modifications during implementation to meet project needs and stakeholder expectations.

• Coordinate and follow up with developers, startups and smart public transport service providers on smart transportation services to ensure effective collaboration and service delivery.

• Seek partnerships with leading companies and academia to develop sustainable and innovative smart mobility projects that support Dubai’s strategic objectives.

• Plan and deliver awareness workshops for employees and stakeholders on smart public connectors and systems and propose future initiatives to enhance adoption and understanding.

• Drive experiments in operating and developing autonomous and smart public transport means and systems with concerned departments, partners and international research centers in line with approved policies and procedures.

• Prepare reports and presentations on advanced mobility projects for higher RTA management and provide bilingual Arabic and English progress reports on project and initiative performance.

• Prepare and review press release content on innovative and autonomous mobility projects, ensuring accuracy, alignment with RTA messaging and necessary approvals in coordination with the Marketing Department.

• Lead the preparation and governance of RFI, RFQ, and RFP documentation for autonomous mobility initiatives, working closely with Procurement and Finance to define robust technical specifications, financial structures, and evaluation methodologies that support strategic, operational, and innovation-driven requirements.

Product / Process Improvement

• Review and enrich research and studies on smart public transportation systems, assessing their contribution to efficiency and effectiveness with Planning and Business Development and relevant entities.

• Review and analyze data and reports to identify causes of challenges facing RTA aerial and self-driving projects and develop evidence-based recommendations and solutions for improvement.

• Conduct robust risk assessments for projects under remit, monitor identified risks through periodic reviews and escalate significant issues to management when required.

Physical Working Conditions

• Work primarily in an office environment with frequent meetings and workshops, occasional site and event visits, and possible extended hours during critical project milestones, trials and major conferences.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical or Transportation), Master’s degree in Engineering or Management, or Administrative disciplines.

Experience:

3+ years in case of Ph.D. (6+ years in case of Master's degree, 8+ years in case of Bachelor's degree).

Required Nationality: UAE National Only.