Principal Consultant - Aviation (Airport Planning)

WSP USA; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global engineering firm is seeking a Principal Consultant in Dubai to drive innovative aviation projects. You will focus on airport planning, deliver analysis of operations, and lead stakeholder engagement for major projects. The role requires 8-12 years in airport or transport planning, strong analytical skills, and the ability to present findings to diverse audiences. Join a community of talented professionals committed to enhancing airport infrastructure and operational efficiency.

Qualifications

• 8–12 years of experience in airport planning, capacity assessment, forecasting, simulation modelling or airport masterplanning.
• Proficient in leading workstreams and managing multiple tasks independently.
• Experience in client and stakeholder engagement within aviation sectors.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to concept-level airport planning and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Develop and evaluate planning options and sustainability strategies.
• Engage with airport operators and stakeholders to align planning criteria.

Skills

Analytical modelling

Scenario development

Data interpretation

Communication skills

Excel proficiency

Education

Degree in Aviation Planning, Transport/Civil Engineering, Architecture, or Aviation Management

Tools

AutoCAD

GIS

Job description

We are seeking an Principal Consultant to contribute to concept-level airport planning, functional spatial design, multidisciplinary coordination, stakeholder engagement, and design-focused project support across major aviation projects.

The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping the future of airport design, delivering world-class facilities that enhance operational efficiency, passenger experience, and environmental sustainability.

The Principal Consultant will be an integral member of the Middle East Aviation Business responsible for winning prospects and projects, ensuring the successful delivery of innovative and efficient design solutions.

• Supporting project delivery of various scopes of work with an initial focus for the delivery of the Concept of Operations for DWC phase 2.

• Lead analytical assessments of airport operations, including traffic profiles, flight schedules, dwell times and operational KPIs.

• Deliver and interpret capacity and Level of Service (LoS) assessments across terminal, airside, apron, landside and support facilities.

• Develop robust multi-scenario demand forecasts for passengers, aircraft, cargo and GA operations.

• Build and operate simulation models (CAST, AirTOP, AviPlan analytics or equivalent) to evaluate flow performance, system efficiency and operational resilience.

• Translate model outputs into clear, actionable recommendations that guide planning decisions and infrastructure priorities.

• Ensure data, assumptions and modelling workflows remain validated, traceable and auditable.

• Contribute to the development of airport masterplans and long-term strategic frameworks, providing evidence-based planning inputs.

• Define functional and spatial requirements for terminals, airside, landside and support facilities based on demand, ConOps principles and regulatory standards.

• Develop and evaluate planning options, phasing strategies, expansion triggers and performance trade-offs.

• Consider sustainability, resilience, airspace constraints and operational innovation in all planning scenarios.

• Provide structured planning guidance to downstream design teams to maintain alignment with the agreed masterplanning vision.

• Client & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Work closely with airport operators, airlines, regulators and internal WSP teams to align on planning criteria, analytical assumptions and study methodologies.

• Present capacity results, modelling outputs and planning insights in workshops and multi-stakeholder meetings, ensuring complex concepts are communicated clearly and accurately.

• Facilitate technical discussions, address stakeholder queries, and integrate feedback into updated forecasts, simulation scenarios and planning deliverables.

• Coordinate proactively with multidisciplinary teams—including terminal designers, airside engineers, operations and digital specialists—to ensure planning outputs are consistent, integrated and technically robust.

• Design-Focused Project Support & Tender Preparation

• Support proposal preparation by contributing planning methodologies, scopes, level-of-effort estimates, case studies and modelling insights that strengthen aviation bids.

• Contribute to enhancing WSP’s internal planning practice by refining templates, improving analytical workflows and sharing practical lessons learned from projects.

• Provide informal technical guidance to junior planners, helping them understand planning frameworks, modelling approaches and project requirements while supporting overall team capability building.

• A degree in Aviation Planning, Transport/Civil Engineering, Architecture, Aviation Management or a related discipline.

• 8–12 years of experience in airport planning, capacity assessment, forecasting, simulation modelling or airport masterplanning.

• Proficiency in analytical modelling, scenario development and data interpretation, supported by strong Excel skills and familiarity with AutoCAD/GIS.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present technical findings to clients, multidisciplinary teams and senior stakeholders.

• Experience working with airport operators, airlines, regulators and cross-disciplinary design teams, demonstrating balanced professional judgment.

• A proactive, organised and accountable mindset—comfortable leading workstreams and managing multiple tasks independently.

• Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all. Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world. With us, you can. Apply today.