Relocate to Australia: Associate Director - Project Architect (NSQEP)

AECOM; Plymouth; Hybrid; GBP 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Global well-being program

Industry-leading technology & flexible

Hybrid work options

Extra annual leave (up to 6 weeks)

Flexible public holidays

Professional development & study leave

Job summary

AECOM is seeking an Associate Director - Project Architect to lead the design and delivery of complex defence, research and nuclear facilities. You will guide multidisciplinary teams from concept through delivery, balancing design excellence with safety and regulatory requirements.

Your leadership will shape project direction, manage interfaces and ensure design integrity while engaging clients and stakeholders to align objectives across delivery stages. This role offers hybrid work options.

Qualifications

• Accredited architecture degree with Australian registration or eligibility.
• 10–15+ years of architecture experience, including leadership on complex, safety-critical projects.
• Proven experience as Project Architect and/or Principal Consultant on medium to large-scale projects.
• Experience in defence, laboratories, pharmaceutical, healthcare, or nuclear facilities.
• Strong knowledge of Defence design standards, government delivery frameworks, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience applying safety-in-design, human factors and complex systems integration in high-hazard environments.
• Australian citizenship or eligibility for AUKUS clearance; NSQEP recognition/postgraduate qualifications valued.

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural design and delivery of complex defence, research, and nuclear infrastructure projects.
• Act as Project Architect, maintaining design intent across all project stages.
• Oversee multidisciplinary design coordination across architecture, structures, services and systems.
• Translate regulatory requirements into architectural design responses with SME input.
• Ensure compliance with Defence, NCC, IAEA and nuclear frameworks.
• Lead client and stakeholder engagement to align objectives.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and drive delivery excellence.

Education

Architecture degree with Australian registration

Job description

Job Description As an Associate Director - Project Architect you will lead the design and delivery of complex facilities within highly regulated environments including defence, research and nuclear infrastructure. You will provide architectural leadership across multidisciplinary teams, guiding coordinated design outcomes from concept through to delivery while maintaining strong alignment with safety and operational requirements. The role requires a balance of strong design capability, technical leadership and stakeholder engagement with responsibility for shaping project direction, managing interfaces and ensuring design integrity is maintained throughout all stages of delivery.

How you'll make a difference:

• Lead the architectural design and delivery of complex defence, research, and nuclear infrastructure projects within highly regulated environments
• Act as Project Architect, maintaining design intent and ensuring coordinated, high-quality outcomes across all project stages
• Lead multidisciplinary design coordination, integrating architectural, structural, services, and specialist systems into cohesive solutions
• Translate nuclear safety case and regulatory requirements into robust architectural design responses in collaboration with subject matter experts
• Oversee design development, technical documentation, and compliance with relevant standards including Defence, NCC, IAEA, and applicable nuclear frameworks
• Lead client and stakeholder engagement, building trusted relationships and ensuring alignment across project objectives and expectations
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and guidance to project teams while driving continuous improvement and delivery excellence

Qualifications & Experience

• Accredited degree in Architecture with registration as an Architect in Australia (or eligibility for registration)
• 10-15+ years' experience in architecture, including leadership roles on complex, safety-critical projects
• Proven experience acting as Project Architect and/or Principal Consultant on medium to large-scale projects
• Demonstrated experience in highly regulated environments such as defence, laboratories, pharmaceutical, healthcare, or nuclear-related facilities
• Strong understanding of Defence design standards, government delivery frameworks, and regulatory compliance requirements
• Experience working with safety-in-design principles, human factors, and complex systems integration in high-hazard environments
• Australian Citizenship (or eligibility for AUKUS clearance) is required; NSQEP recognition and/or postgraduate qualifications are highly regarded

Our global portfolio of work comprises the design of iconic and award-winning buildings and landscapes. From strategic planning through to project realisation, the connections we make among people and place provide sustainable outcomes for our clients and the communities we serve. We place a premium on investing in digital capabilities and innovations which bring a unique consistency and efficiency to our scalable work. Together with our clients, we are working to evolve and elevate the built environment across sectors including social infrastructure, transit, technology and logistics, and commercial and corporate real estate, while focusing on solutions that promote long term health and wellbeing for all.

Everyone belongs at AECOM

We're committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging - because great ideas come from diverse perspectives. AECOM is proud to be a Fortune 500 Most Admired Company , a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality , #Work180 Equitable Workplace Awards 2025 Winner and an AWEI Bronze Tier LGBTQ+ Inclusive Employer . We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, additional health or mental health needs, and/or neurodiverse conditions. If you require any adjustments during the hiring process, please let us know.

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At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

AECOM acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we, our clients and our communities live and work around Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures and to their Elders - past, present, and emerging. We are committed to connecting to Country in our work through meaningful engagement with First Nations peoples and businesses. Find out more about our Australian Reconciliation Action Plan here:

About AECOM

AECOM is the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle - from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you're working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion - a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

Benefits and Perks

• We also provide a robust global well-being program.
• Access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility.
• Flexible work arrangements, including alternative start/finish times, full-time, part-time, job-sharing and hybrid work options.
• Purchase up to 6 weeks additional annual leave per year.
• Flex public holidays - swap Easter or other holidays for ones that suit you better.
• Continuous learning and growth - lunch and learns, professional development courses, financial study assistance, 5 days paid study leave, global career opportunities.