Senior Project Manager - Aviation

Jacobs; Riyadh Region; On-site; SAR 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Jacobs in Riyadh, KSA is seeking a Senior Project Manager/Technical Manager to lead planning, design and delivery of major aviation and airport programmes across the kingdom. You will coordinate multidisciplinary teams, manage budgets, schedules and client expectations, and drive execution from concept through detailed design to implementation.

The role requires a strong track record delivering complex airport projects in the GCC, excellent leadership and stakeholder management, and a practical,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Airport Engineering or a related discipline.
• Professional Engineer (PE), Chartered Engineer (CEng), PMP or equivalent accreditation is highly desirable.
• Experience in engineering, design and project delivery, with substantial aviation/airport project experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, management and technical delivery of major aviation projects, ensuring alignment with client objectives, budgets, schedules and quality.
• Manage multidisciplinary design teams across aviation, architecture, civil/structural engineering, MEP, airport systems and related disciplines.
• Provide technical leadership and oversight through all project phases, ensuring compliance with international best practices and client requirements.
• Develop project execution plans, resource strategies and delivery programmes for successful outcomes.
• Coordinate design interfaces between airside, landside, terminal, cargo and ancillary facilities.

Skills

Project management

Technical leadership

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Budget & risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering / Architecture / Airport Engineering

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Our Aviation team in the Middle East is experiencing significant growth and is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager/Technical Manager based in Riyadh, KSA. In this role, you support the delivery of major airport infrastructure, terminal, landside, and aviation development projects across the kingdom.

The successful candidate will provide technical and project leadership across multidisciplinary teams, ensuring the successful planning, design, coordination, and delivery of complex aviation projects from concept through detailed design and implementation. This role requires a strong blend of technical expertise, project management capability, stakeholder management, and commercial awareness.

Here’s What You’ll Do

• Lead the planning, management, and technical delivery of major aviation projects, ensuring alignment with client objectives, budgets, schedules, and quality standards.
• Manage multidisciplinary design teams across aviation, architecture, civil engineering, structural engineering, MEP, airport systems, and specialist disciplines.
• Provide technical leadership and oversight throughout all project phases, ensuring compliance with international best practices, aviation standards, and client requirements.
• Develop project execution plans, resource strategies, and delivery programmes to ensure successful project outcomes.
• Coordinate design interfaces between airside, landside, terminal, cargo, and ancillary facility developments.
• Drive technical reviews, design coordination workshops, value engineering studies, and risk management activities.
• Monitor project performance, proactively identifying and mitigating technical, commercial, and delivery risks.
• Manage project budgets, forecasting, change management processes, and commercial performance while ensuring contractual compliance.
• Lead client engagement activities, acting as a trusted advisor and primary point of contact for project stakeholders.
• Support business development initiatives including proposal preparation, technical submissions, interviews, and client presentations.
• Foster strong relationships with existing and prospective clients, identifying opportunities for future aviation projects and strategic growth.

Here’s what you'll need

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Airport Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Professional Engineer (PE), Chartered Engineer (CEng), PMP, or equivalent professional accreditation is highly desirable.
• Experience in engineering, design, and project delivery, with substantial experience on major aviation and airport development projects.
• Proven experience delivering complex airport programmes including terminals, landside infrastructure, airfield support facilities, cargo developments, and associated transportation infrastructure.
• Strong understanding of airport planning, terminal design, landside infrastructure, aviation systems interfaces, and operational requirements.
• Demonstrated experience leading large multidisciplinary design and project delivery teams.
• Strong client-facing, stakeholder management, and leadership capabilities within complex project environments.
• Solid understanding of project controls, commercial management, contract administration, and risk management principles.
• Experience delivering aviation projects within the GCC and Middle East region is highly preferred.

From our inclusive employee networks to our positive mental health champions – we’re committed to driving a culture of caring where you can be you. Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally - and together, our diverse perspectives and unique backgrounds power our collective strength. We collaborate and share! By supporting one another, we all succeed.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits and opportunities to do good too – from participating in our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place.

No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture and achieve your goals – all at a single global company.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.