Principal Architect – Airport

WSP; Dammam; On-site; SAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP is seeking a proactive, site-based Principal Architect with 15+ years of experience, including airport/aviation projects, to lead architectural and interior design across all stages. The role requires coordinating landscape, façade, lighting, and other specialist interfaces while ensuring compliance with aviation standards and live terminal environments.

The candidate will develop terminal layouts, manage multidisciplinary teams, and provide design leadership in client meetings and technical

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Architecture.
• 15+ years of architectural design experience.
• 5+ years in airport/aviation projects.
• Experience with planning and design of airport passenger terminals.
• Coordination of landscape, façade, lighting, interior design interfaces.
• Proficient in BIM-based design and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Experience delivering design in live airport environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural and interior design across all stages from concept to delivery.
• Provide technical and design leadership for airport modernization projects.
• Coordinate with landscape, façade, lighting, MEP, ICT and other interfaces.
• Develop terminal layouts that support passenger flows and operational needs.
• Ensure compliance with codes, accessibility and aviation requirements.
• Mentor architectural team members and lead design reviews.

Skills

Architectural design

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Multidisciplinary coordination

BIM coordination

Presentation skills

Site-based delivery

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture

Tools

BIM (Revit)

Job description

A proactive, site-based Principal Architect with a minimum of 15 years’ relevant experience and a strong aviation background, capable of leading architectural and interior design delivery while providing coordinated oversight across landscape, façade, lighting 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.

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