Principal Architect – Airport

WSP in the Middle East; Dammam; On-site; SAR 380,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP in the Middle East seeks an experienced Principal / Associate Architect – Aviation to lead architectural design for major regional airport projects. You will guide the aviation discipline through concept, detailed design, and delivery, coordinating with multidisciplinary teams to ensure high-quality, phased implementations in live airport environments.

Ideal candidates have 15+ years in architecture, with 5+ in airport projects, strong stakeholder management, and expertise in BIM-based

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture required.
• Minimum 15 years of architectural design experience.
• 5+ years in airport/aviation projects.
• Experience planning design for airport passenger terminals.
• Strong knowledge of passenger flows and terminal processes.
• Experience coordinating multiple interfaces (landscape, lighting, interiors).
• Proficient in BIM-based design and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Ability to work in live airport environments with phased implementation.
• Familiarity with international aviation requirements and standards.
• Strong presentation and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural and interior design across all stages from concept to delivery.
• Provide technical and design leadership for airport modernisation and expansion.
• Represent architecture in client meetings and design reviews.
• Coordinate with landscape, façade, lighting and other teams.
• Develop terminal layouts supporting passenger flows and operations.
• Ensure compliance with codes, safety standards and aviation requirements.
• Develop phasing strategies for works within live airports.
• Review drawings and specifications for quality and constructability.
• Provide oversight across interiors and specialist interfaces.
• Mentor architectural team members and resolve coordination issues.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Design coordination

Architectural design

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Architecture

Tools

BIM (Revit)

Job description

Job Description

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

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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