Engineering Manager - AHU Manufacturing

Daikin Middle East & Africa is a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd. and the leading provider of heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification, and refrigeration technology. The company designs, manufactures and brings to market a broad portfolio of equipment, as well as tailor-made solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). To date, Daikin EMEA has over 12 000 employees across more than 59 consolidated subsidiaries. It has 12 major manufacturing facilities based in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Austria, and the UK. Our aim is to drive sustainable and effective solutions, sparking a good climate for the generations to come. And all this can only be achieved because of our People.

About the Role

The Manufacturing Engineering Manager - Air Handling Unit (AHU) is based at the Sudair industrial city, located on the outskirts of Riyadh, and is responsible for leading all engineering activities related to Air Handling Unit (AHU) manufacturing operations, including order engineering, manufacturing engineering, product support, and new product introduction (NPI). The role ensures accurate engineering deliverables, optimized Bills of Materials (BOM), product standardization, and manufacturable designs aligned with Daikin’s quality, cost, and delivery objectives.

This position acts as the technical bridge between Sales, Application Engineering, Production, Procurement, Quality, and Supply Chain to ensure efficient execution of customer requirements while continuously improving product performance, manufacturing efficiency, and engineering capability.

How You Will Make an Impact

You will play a critical role in strengthening Daikin Saudi’s manufacturing excellence by driving engineering accuracy, product innovation, manufacturability, cost optimization, and operational efficiency across AHU production operations.

Order Engineering & BOM Management

• Review customer orders received from Sales and Application teams to ensure technical completeness, compliance, and manufacturability.
• Lead the preparation and validation of accurate and optimized Bills of Materials (BOM) for production execution.
• Ensure engineering outputs are aligned with factory standards, production capability, lead time requirements, and quality expectations.
• Establish robust engineering review and validation processes to minimize errors, NCRs, and production rework.
• Drive standardization of components, assemblies, and engineering practices across all AHU product lines.

Product Development & New Product Introduction (NPI)

• Lead product development initiatives aligned with market requirements, localization strategy, and Daikin global standards.
• Manage the industrialization and factory implementation of new AHU products and product enhancements.
• Coordinate cross-functional activities with Production, Procurement, Quality, Supply Chain, and Sales teams to ensure successful product launches.
• Drive value engineering initiatives to improve product performance, manufacturability, reliability, and cost competitiveness.
• Support product certification activities and compliance with regional and international HVAC standards.

AHU Application Engineering & Technical Support

• Provide technical leadership and engineering support to Sales and Application teams for AHU selection, optimization, and technical compliance.
• Ensure proposed solutions are technically sound, commercially competitive, and aligned with customer specifications and project requirements.
• Support resolution of technical clarifications during pre-order, execution, and post-order stages.
• Participate in customer meetings and technical discussions when required.

Manufacturing Engineering & Continuous Improvement

• Work closely with Production teams to ensure custom AHU designs are practical, manufacturable, and optimized for factory execution.
• Drive engineering process improvements to reduce lead time, improve productivity, and enhance operational efficiency.
• Establish engineering best practices, design standards, and controlled documentation processes.
• Lead initiatives for component standardization, modularization, and inventory optimization.
• Improve engineering-to-production workflow integration to support lean manufacturing objectives.

Technical Governance & Product Lifecycle Management

• Maintain accurate technical documentation, engineering standards, datasheets, and product specifications.
• Ensure proper revision control and engineering change management across all products and components.
• Monitor product lifecycle performance and implement continuous product improvement initiatives.
• Ensure engineering compliance with company policies, HVAC industry regulations, safety standards, and quality management systems.

Supplier Development & Cost Optimization

• Collaborate with Procurement and Supply Chain teams to identify, qualify, and develop new suppliers and alternative components.
• Support localization and cost reduction initiatives through supplier optimization and alternative material selection.
• Drive BOM cost optimization while maintaining product quality, reliability, and compliance.
• Support inventory reduction initiatives through engineering standardization and effective material utilization.

Team Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the engineering team to strengthen technical competency, accountability, and performance.
• Establish clear KPIs, development plans, and performance expectations for all engineering personnel.
• Promote a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, collaboration, and operational excellence.
• Ensure effective manpower planning, workload balancing, and succession development within the engineering function.

What You Need to Succeed

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering a related engineering field?
• Minimum 10 years of experience in HVAC manufacturing, with strong exposure to AHU systems and factory engineering operations.
• Proven experience in manufacturing engineering, product development, order engineering, and NPI management within HVAC manufacturing environments.
• Strong knowledge of AHU design, HVAC systems, psychometrics, manufacturing processes, and international HVAC standards.
• Experience with ERP systems, BOM management, AutoCAD, and engineering documentation systems.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes including sheet metal, coil systems, insulation, assembly, and testing of AHUs.
• Experience in value engineering, localization, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Strong leadership, team management, and cross-functional coordination skills.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Familiarity with ISO quality systems, product certifications, and factory compliance requirements is preferred.

Good climate starts with people 
Our employees are the beating heart of our company. At Daikin, you get to work in a positive environment backed by trust, creativity and continuous improvement. Together, we create our top-quality solutions by empowering talented teams. You will get plenty of opportunities to learn and grow. We are deeply committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace culture that reflects the communities we serve. Good climate starts with people.