Principal / Associate Architect – Aviation

WSP in the Middle East is currently seeking an experienced Principal / Associate Architect – Aviation to join our team and support the design and delivery of major airport projects across the region.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 15 years’ relevant experience, with strong aviation design capabilities and a proven background in airport projects. The role requires the ability to lead architectural and interior design delivery, with a strong understanding of airport planning, terminal design and operational requirements, while providing coordinated oversight across landscape, façade, lighting, engineering, and other specialist design interfaces.

• Lead architectural and interior design across all stages, from concept through detailed design and delivery.
• Provide technical and design leadership for airport modernisation, refurbishment and expansion programmes.
• Represent the architecture discipline in client meetings, design workshops, technical reviews and submissions.
• Make discipline-level design decisions and respond proactively to multidisciplinary coordination requirements.
• Coordinate with lead architects, interior designers, landscape, façade and specialist design teams, including lighting.
• Develop terminal layouts that support efficient passenger flows, operational requirements and appropriate levels of service.
• Integrate local cultural considerations, placemaking and wayfinding principles to enhance regional identity and passenger experience.
• Ensure designs comply with applicable building codes, fire and life safety requirements, accessibility standards and relevant aviation requirements.
• Develop design and phasing strategies for works within live operational airport environments, with a focus on minimising disruption to passengers and airport operations.
• Review architectural drawings, specifications and design deliverables for quality, durability, constructability and suitability for high-traffic airport environments.
• Coordinate architectural interfaces with structural, MEP, ICT, landscape, façade and specialist airport systems.
• Provide architectural oversight across interior design and specialist design interfaces, ensuring an integrated design approach.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to resolve design and coordination issues throughout project delivery.
• Provide technical guidance, design reviews and mentoring to architectural team members.

• 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 the planning and design of airport passenger terminal buildings, preferably including modernisation, refurbishment or expansion of operational terminals.
• Strong understanding of passenger flows, terminal processes and airport planning principles.
• Experience in interior design, material specification and placemaking within 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, including phased implementation.
• Familiarity with relevant 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 would be advantageous.
• Proactive, solutions-focused approach with the ability to manage multiple architectural and specialist design interfaces.

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