Senior Mechanical Engineer (Retainer)

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  • Retainer
  • Remote

UNOPS

Senior Mechanical Engineer (Retainer) – Remote | UNOPS

Organization: United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Position Title: Senior Mechanical Engineer (ENG/ES/PT) – Retainer (Multiple Positions)
Vacancy Code: VA/2025/B0059/30372
Job Category: Engineering
Duty Station: Home-based
Contract Type: International ICA (Retainer)
Contract Level: IICA-3 (ICS-11 Equivalent)
Application Deadline: 13 July 2025 (CET)

About UNOPS

UNOPS is the operational arm of the United Nations, supporting peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects across more than 80 countries. With expertise in infrastructure, procurement, project management, and more, UNOPS helps partners achieve sustainable development goals. Its workforce includes over 4,000 personnel and 7,000 partner contractors globally.

UNOPS emphasizes diversity, professional growth, and work-life harmony, promoting inclusive recruitment policies and flexible working arrangements.

About the Retainer Pool

This position is part of the UNOPS Corporate Retainer Pool, designed to provide flexible, short-term technical expertise. Retainers are called upon for specific deliverables on an ad-hoc basis. The work is generally remote and varies in scope and duration.

This specific role supports the Design Review Team within the Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG).

Key Responsibilities

As a Senior Mechanical Engineer (Retainer), your main tasks include:

1. Design Review

  • Evaluate mechanical engineering drawings, specifications, and BOQs

  • Ensure compliance with international standards, codes, and UNOPS policies

  • Suggest practical improvements to enhance design quality and performance

2. Design Development Support

  • Guide country offices and project teams in developing mechanical designs

  • Contribute technical input to meet operational needs and safety requirements

3. Professional Judgement

  • Apply expert judgment in balancing technical requirements with field realities

  • Recommend engineering solutions aligned with UNOPS contexts

4. Integrity & Independence

  • Provide unbiased and technically sound recommendations

  • Operate independently without conflict of interest

5. Monitoring & Reporting

  • Track assignment progress and quality

  • Submit regular updates to supervising teams

Required Qualifications

Education

  • Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (required)

  • Bachelor’s degree with 2 additional years of experience may be accepted

Experience

  • Minimum 7 years of professional experience in mechanical engineering

  • At least 1 year designing complex mechanical systems (required)

  • Preferred experience in:

    • Design and installation of HVAC systems, especially for healthcare and TB treatment facilities

    • Water/wastewater pumping and treatment systems

    • Energy-efficient and green technologies (e.g., wind systems)

    • Mechanical systems in developing countries

Certifications

  • Professional Engineer membership (e.g., Chartered Engineer, Eur Ing) is an asset

Languages

  • Fluency in English is required

  • Fluency in Spanish and/or Portuguese is required

Application Instructions

Interested candidates must submit:

  • A CV outlining relevant mechanical engineering experience

  • A cover letter highlighting qualifications related to healthcare design, HVAC systems, or sustainable engineering

  • Applications must be submitted through the UNOPS recruitment portal before 13 July 2025 (CET)

Apply via UNOPS Job Portal

Notes

  • This is a retainer contract: work is assigned on-demand, and availability may vary

  • Assignments may range from 16 to 32 hours each and are typically remote

  • Some travel may be requested with mutual agreement

To apply for this job please visit jobs.unops.org.

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