Senior / Principal Architect - Aviation

Greenhouse Software, Inc.; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company car or cash allowance

Up to 6% matched contributory pension

25 days annual leave + buy‑extra

Discount scheme (gym, phones)

Family friendly policies

Job summary

BakerHicks is seeking a Senior/Principal Architect to lead aviation projects in the UK, delivering designs from concept through to construction. You will guide multi-disciplinary teams, mentor early-career staff, and ensure technical excellence and regulatory compliance across Heathrow/Gatwick standards.

You will manage client relationships, coordinate with civil, structural and services disciplines, and contribute to bid work while maintaining the highest quality standards in design

Qualifications

• Registered Architect (RIBA/ARB) with aviation project delivery experience.
• Experience delivering projects at RIBA Stage 4 in aviation and Heathrow/Gatwick standards.
• Strong communication and presentation skills; ability to simplify complex ideas.
• Ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience with design, technical detailing and specification writing.

Responsibilities

• Provide architectural design services under direction of line manager.
• Produce design deliverables, site surveys, and client liaison; manage cost and progress.
• Check drawings for quality and compliance.
• Lead design reviews and peer audits.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to deliver buildable solutions.
• Prepare enquiry plans, tender reviews, fee estimates, scopes, change controls.
• Liaise with customers and end-users on feasibility, planning, environment, budget.
• Direct, coordinate, and manage project delivery.
• Input to cost of further works and resource plans.

Skills

Leadership

Communication skills

Mentoring

Design delivery

Education

Registered Architect (RIBA/ARB)

Tools

Autodesk Revit

Autodesk AutoCAD

NBS Chorus Specifications

Job description

Portfolio Submission

Please upload your portfolio as part of your application.Your application cannot be fully considered without a portfolio.

Why this role?

Our Architects play a key role in shaping some of the UK’s most complex and high-profile aviation projects. From major airport infrastructure and terminal developments to specialist operational facilities, we support clients in delivering safe, efficient and future-ready environments that keep the aviation industry moving.

As a Senior or Principal Architect, you'll work within a highly collaborative multi-disciplinary team, delivering innovative architectural solutions across a diverse portfolio of aviation projects. You'll have the opportunity to lead design development, influence project outcomes and work closely with clients, stakeholders and technical specialists throughout the project lifecycle.

We are looking for an experienced Architect with a strong aviation background, including detailed design experience and a sound understanding of Heathrow and/or Gatwick standards. You'll play a key role in managing project delivery, mentoring team members and ensuring the highest standards of technical quality and compliance are achieved.

Our teams work across RIBA Stages 0-7, collaborating with architecture, civil & structural, building services, project management and CDM specialists to deliver integrated design solutions. Alongside exciting projects, we offer a supportive culture, genuine career development opportunities and a strong focus on work-life balance.

About You

You will be a registered Architect (RIBA/ARB) with a proven track record of delivering aviation projects and experience leading teams within a multi-disciplinary environment.

You'll bring strong design, technical detailing and specification writing expertise, combined with the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively. Building and maintaining long-term relationships comes naturally to you, and you'll enjoy working collaboratively with clients, project stakeholders and internal teams.

As a leader within the team, you'll support the development of Architects, Technicians and Early Careers professionals while helping drive continuous improvement and design excellence across our aviation projects.

Key Purpose

• Design and specify all aspects of architectural work in line with current standards, regulations and project deliverables.
• Contribute to the development and mentoring of our Early Careers population and the continuous improvement of departmental capabilities
• Manage Architectural involvement in multi-disciplinary projects, including time, cost, quality and client relationship management and delivery.
• Lead and coordinate architectural input into multi-disciplinary aviation projects, ensuring successful delivery against time, cost and quality objectives.
• Champion quality, technical excellence and compliance across project teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide architectural design services and consultancy work on behalf of Baker Hicks under the direction of the line manager.
• Produce design deliverables (including drawings, specifications and reports), site surveys, construction stage duties, client liaison with members of design/construction teams, project management, costing and ensure progress against the project brief
• Check production of detailed drawings to ensure architectural designs meet appropriate quality and compliance controls, project brief and customer requirements.
• Design and technical reviews including providing a peer group audit function of the designs of other team members.
• Collaborate closely with multi-disciplinary members of the design team to deliver safe, efficient and buildable solutions.
• Contribute to the preparation and management of enquiry plans, tender reviews, fee estimate sheets, scopes of work and change controls as required.
• Liaise with the customer, project end-users and other construction professionals about the feasibility of a proposed project, including any constraining factors such as planning legislation, environmental impact and project budget
• Responsible for directing, coordinating, and exercising functional authority for planning, organisation, control, integration, and completion of assigned projects.
• Input to the Management of Cost of Further Works and resource plans.

Knowledge, Experience and Qualifications

• Registered Architect (RIBA/ARB).
• Demonstrable experience of delivering projects at RIBA Stage 4 in the aviation sector and understanding of Heathrow and / or Gatwick standards
• Confident communication and presentation skills with the ability to simplify complex ideas.
• An ability to develop relationships with both internal and external stakeholders that deliver long term benefits.
• Considerable design, technical detailing and specification writing experience.
• Experience of contributing to bids, proposals and tender specifications.
• Fully conversant with the basics of British Standards and Eurocodes with respect to Architectural design, sustainability and specification.
• Ability to organise a team to develop designs from RIBA 0 through 7
• High level of proficiency in the use of Autodesk Revit 3D software and a working knowledge of Autodesk AutoCAD 2D as a minimum.
• Ability to produce NBS Chorus Specifications
• Knowledge of CDM regulations
• Experience managing and mentoring Architects, Technicians, Graduates and Apprentices.
• Understanding of the commercial aspects of project delivery.
• Experience collaborating with external design organisations and stakeholders.
• Appreciation of business fundamentals and commercial performance objectives.

Many of the positions within our company are subject to security clearance or security assurance levels.

The successful candidate must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of security clearance or assurance level for this role, in line with client and sector requirements.

In some cases, additional nationality or residency criteria may also apply due to specific client or national security obligations.

We’ve been innovating in design, engineering and project delivery since 1957 and operate from 14 locations for a truly European reach. For more about our company story, see: About | BakerHicks .

Whatever your discipline, you’ll be alongside some of the most talented people in the industry. Our network of offices are appealing, friendly and comfortable spaces, easily accessible by car or public transport. And our salary and benefits packages are some of the best in the industry.

What you get will depend on what you do, with individual performance-related rewards also on offer in addition to:

• Company car or cash allowance
• Up to 6% matched contributory pension plan
• 25 days annual leave plus ability to buy additional leave
• Discount scheme (including gym membership, mobile phones etc)
• Family friendly policiesEmployee assistance

BakerHicks is an equal opportunity employer. We care about creating an inclusive atmosphere and are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion throughout.

BakerHicks is an inclusive organisation welcoming talent from all backgrounds. Applicants are assessed on the basis of personal merit and qualifications.