Description
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.
Responsibilities
- 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.
Qualifications
- 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.