Principal Architect - Airport

Job description

A proactive, site‑based Principal Architect with at least 15 years of relevant experience and a strong aviation background. Leads architectural and interior design across all stages from concept to detailed design and delivery. Provides technical and design leadership for airport modernization, refurbishment and expansion programmes. Represents the architecture discipline in client meetings, design workshops, technical reviews and submissions. Makes discipline‑level design decisions and responds proactively to multidisciplinary coordination requirements. Coordinates with lead architects, interior designers, landscape, façade and lighting teams. Develops terminal layouts to support efficient passenger flows, operational needs and service levels. Integrates local cultural considerations, placemaking and wayfinding to enhance regional identity and passenger experience. Ensures designs comply with building codes, fire and life safety, accessibility and aviation requirements. Develops design and phasing strategies for works within live operational airport environments, minimizing disruption. Reviews architectural drawings, specifications and deliverables for quality, durability, constructability and suitability for high‑traffic airport settings. Coordinates architectural interfaces with structural, MEP, ICT, landscape, façade and specialist airport systems. Provides architectural oversight across interior and specialist design interfaces for an integrated approach. Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to resolve design and coordination issues throughout project delivery. Offers technical guidance, design reviews and mentoring to architectural team members.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture
• Minimum 15 years of experience in architectural design
• Minimum 5 years of architectural design experience within airport or aviation projects
• Proven experience in planning and designing airport passenger terminals, including modernization, refurbishment or expansion
• Strong understanding of passenger flows, terminal processes and airport planning principles
• Experience in interior design, material specification and placemaking in high‑traffic public environments
• Experience coordinating landscape, façade, lighting, interior design and other specialist design interfaces
• Proficiency in BIM‑based architectural design and multidisciplinary coordination
• Demonstrable experience delivering design within live operational airport environments with phased implementation
• Familiarity with international aviation requirements and airport design standards
• Strong stakeholder management, presentation and communication skills
• Experience working across multidisciplinary architectural and engineering teams
• Experience of culturally responsive design within the GCC/Middle East is advantageous
• Proactive, solutions‑focused approach with ability to manage multiple architectural and specialist design interfaces.

Skills