Principal / Associate Architect – Aviation

Role Overview

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

Role Purpose

Lead architectural and interior design delivery for major airport projects across the Middle East, providing coordinated oversight of all design disciplines from concept through detailed design and construction, while ensuring compliance with aviation standards and operational requirements in live airport environments.

Key Responsibilities

Architectural Leadership & Design Delivery

• 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.
• Make discipline-level design decisions and respond proactively to multidisciplinary coordination requirements.
• Review architectural drawings, specifications and design deliverables for quality, durability, constructability and suitability for high-traffic airport environments.

Terminal Planning & Passenger Experience

• 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.
• Develop design and phasing strategies for works within live operational airport environments, with a focus on minimising disruption to passengers and airport operations.

Compliance & Standards

• Ensure designs comply with applicable building codes, fire and life safety requirements, accessibility standards and relevant aviation requirements.
• Familiarise with relevant international aviation requirements and airport design standards.

Multidisciplinary Coordination

• Coordinate with lead architects, interior designers, landscape, façade and specialist design teams, including lighting.
• 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.

Stakeholder & Client Engagement

• Represent the architecture discipline in client meetings, design workshops, technical reviews and submissions.
• Provide strong stakeholder management, presentation and communication.

Team Leadership & Mentoring

• Provide technical guidance, design reviews and mentoring to architectural team members.

Qualifications & Experience

• 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.
• Demonstrable experience delivering design within live operational airport environments, including phased implementation.
• 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.
• Experience of culturally responsive design within the GCC/Middle East would be advantageous.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of passenger flows, terminal processes and airport planning principles.
• Proficiency in BIM-based architectural design and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Proactive, solutions-focused approach with the ability to manage multiple architectural and specialist design interfaces.
• Experience working across multidisciplinary architectural and engineering teams.