Senior Principal Airport Planner

Mott MacDonald Group; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 500,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee ownership

Medical insurance

Annual leave

Maternity leave

Membership support

Career development

Inclusive culture

Job summary

Mott MacDonald, a global engineering and development consultancy, seeks an experienced Senior Principal - Airport Planner in Riyadh. You will lead complex airport planning projects, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and drive client relationships to secure new work.

You will also contribute to business development, mentoring aviation teams, and leveraging global design capabilities to deliver technically excellent outcomes across the region.

Qualifications

• Degree in aeronautical engineering, civil engineering, architecture, air transport management, airport planning, or a related discipline.
• Significant aviation industry experience with leadership in airport planning projects.
• Experience across airport planning disciplines: airfield, apron, terminal, landside, utilities, and airspace planning.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage medium to large projects or workstreams.
• Strong project and programme management skills, including commercial and contractual awareness.
• Excellent communication with clients and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver airport planning and aviation projects.
• Act as Technical Lead ensuring technical excellence, quality, and compliance.
• Perform technical reviews and provide guidance for project delivery.
• Coordinate design engineering activities, stakeholder engagement, budget control, and reporting.
• Serve as primary technical contact for clients and maintain relationships.
• Identify risks and opportunities, implement mitigation, and report to leadership.
• Develop capabilities of aviation teams within Saudi Arabia and leverage global design centres.
• Support business development, proposals, and work-winning initiatives in aviation.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Client relationships

Verbal/written communication

Team coordination

Education

Aeronautical/civil engineering degree

Tools

AutoCAD Civil 3D

AviPlan

InfraWorks

Navisworks

Revit

Power BI

Job description

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy committed to delivering impactful work that shapes the future. We are a team of over 20,000 experts working across the world in more than 50 countries. We are proud to be part of an ever-changing global industry, delivering transformative work that’s defining our future. It’s our people who power that performance. As an employee-owned business, we invest in creating a space for everyone to feel safe and valued and empowered with the right tools and support. Whether you want to pursue excellence in your specialism or broaden your experience with flexible roles across our business, you’ll be connected to a community of global experts championing you to be your best. Join us and shape your story with Mott MacDonald, where everyone has the opportunity to be brilliant.

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Principal - Airport Planner to join our Aviation team in Saudi Arabia, reporting to the Aviation Client Director. In this role, you will lead and deliver complex aviation projects, working closely with multidisciplinary teams, clients, and stakeholders to achieve technical excellence and successful project outcomes.

Alongside project delivery, you will play a key role in developing the aviation business by supporting proposals, building client relationships, winning new work, and developing the capabilities of our team in Saudi Arabia. This is an opportunity to influence major airport planning projects across the region while leveraging Mott MacDonald’s global expertise and design capabilities.

Key responsibilities and duties are listed, but not limited to, the below:

• Lead multidisciplinary teams to successfully deliver airport planning and aviation projects.
• Act as Technical Lead on projects, ensuring technical excellence, quality, and compliance with Mott MacDonald Business Management Systems.
• Undertake technical reviews and provide guidance to support successful project delivery.
• Manage and coordinate design engineering activities, including stakeholder engagement, budget control, and project reporting.
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for clients and maintain strong client relationships throughout project delivery.
• Identify project risks and opportunities, implementing mitigation measures and communicating key issues to project leadership.
• Develop and strengthen the capabilities of aviation teams within Saudi Arabia.
• Harness global design centres and specialist expertise to support project delivery.
• Support business development activities, proposal preparation, and work-winning initiatives across the aviation sector.
• Promote Mott MacDonald’s aviation capabilities and actively contribute to securing new opportunities.
• Support continuous improvement and digital ways of working, sharing knowledge and lessons learned.
• Demonstrate safe, ethical and inclusive behaviours aligned to Mott MacDonald values.

Candidate specification

Essential

• Degree in aeronautical engineering, civil engineering, architecture, air transport management, airport planning, or a related discipline.
• Significant aviation industry experience with the ability to demonstrate leadership in airport planning projects.
• Professional experience across multiple airport planning disciplines, including airfield and apron planning, terminal planning, landside infrastructure, operations, utilities, and airspace planning.
• Proven professional experience.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage medium to large projects or workstreams.
• Strong project and programme management skills, including commercial and contractual awareness.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to engage confidently with clients and stakeholders.
• Ability to develop client relationships, identify opportunities, and contribute to winning new work.

Desirable

• Chartered status or qualifications aligned with a recognised professional institution.
• Experience growing and developing teams within project or organisational environments.
• Knowledge of airport planning software and digital design platforms such as AutoCAD Civil 3D, AviPlan, Infraworks, Navisworks, and Revit.
• Experience with airport simulation and modelling tools for terminal and airfield capacity and demand analysis.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Power BI.

Your Benefits And Rewards

• Rewards and bonuses: we are owned by our people (no external investors) and through our employee ownership model success is shared through annual bonus opportunities and longer-term participation as your career grows (subject to local plan, eligibility and business performance).
• Medical insurance and life insurance as per local plan (standard and enhanced coverage may vary by country and policy).
• Annual leave in line with local policy (competitive within the market).
• Maternity leave above and beyond local provisions and paternity leave provisions where applicable.
• Professional membership/ institution subscription support.
• Learning and career development through project variety, technical networks and structured development opportunities.
• An inclusive culture: we’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported.

Location(s):

Riyadh, SA

Contract Type: Permanent

Work Pattern: Full Time

Market: Transport

Discipline: Aviation

Job Ref: 17314