Senior (Aviation) Professional Engineer / Project Manager, Transportation - Airfield Infrastructure

Tkda; Riverside (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

TKDA’s Aviation Engineering Team seeks a Senior Civil Professional Engineer / Project Manager with aviation project expertise and strong client management skills. You will lead airport and airfield projects and FAA-funded initiatives while developing proposals and delivering client presentations.

The role supports relocation from San Bernardino to Riverside by October 2026. Requirements include a Bachelor's in civil engineering, California PE license, 15+ years in aviation or related design, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering is required.
• CA Professional Engineer license is required or must be in process.
• Minimum 15 years of design experience in aviation, airfield, or FAA-funded projects.
• At least 2 years of project management experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and planning for complex airfield and site development projects.
• Lead project teams including scope, schedule, budget, and technical requirements.
• Mentor less experienced professionals on design standards and QC.
• Serve as technical expert in collaborative engineering environment.
• Travel to project sites up to 20% to build client relationships.
• Collaborate with engineers, designers, technicians, and planners for airports across the country.
• Attend conferences and trainings to strengthen expertise and client networks.

Skills

Project management

Client relations

Proposal development

Written & verbal communication

Mentoring

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering

Professional Engineer (CA)

Tools

Civil 3D

AutoCAD

ArcGIS

Job description

TKDA’s Aviation Engineering Team brings expertise in airfield / airport engineering & planning, integrated solutions, and comprehensive services. We are seekinga Senior Civil Professional Engineer / Project Manager who has expertise in Aviation (airfield, airport and/or commercial airline) projects and client management expertise who has expertise in Aviation (airfield, airport and/or commercial airline) projects and client management expertise witha demonstrated history of leading airport, airfield, FAA-funded, and aviation infrastructure projects.

As shown by our extensive portfolio, TKDA has a proven history of developing long-term and sustainable aviation planning and design solutions for diverse clients, from large international airports to general aviation airfields and military bases.

We take a “Seller-Doer” approach to business development.

You will collaborate with the Vice President of Aviation to further advance our services and enhance our reputation by contributing to the development of marketing plans, cultivating / maintaining relations with clients and agency representatives, tracking prospective opportunities, developing proposals, and delivering client presentations.

TKDA is currently located in San Bernardino with plans to relocate to Downtown Riverside

by October 2026. Additional information about the exact location of our Riverside office will be communicated by late May 2026 through a formal press release or ‘News’ post.

• Lead design and planning for a variety of complex site development and airfield design projects
• Lead project teams and managing project scopes, schedules, financials, and technical requirements.
• Coach/ mentor less experienced professionals with an emphasis on technical design standards and quality control
• Serve as a technical expert in collaborative engineering environment
• Travel to project sites to develop strong rapport and ongoing relationships with current and potential clients
• Collaborate with passionate engineers, designers, technicians, and planners to provide engineering services to airports across the country including small general aviation airports, large international commercial airports, and military bases
• Attend industry related conferences, trainings and other events to strengthen expertise and foster relationships with potential project partners and clients.
• Bachelor's Degree in civil engineering
• Registered as a Professional Engineer in the State of California
• Minimum of 15 years of design experience related to aviation, transportation, site development or municipal projects; well-versed in the design of roadways, utilities, site grading, drainage and storm water management
• Prefer minimum of 15 years of civil engineering design experience, including significant experience with aviation, airport, airfield, or FAA-funded infrastructure projects.
• Minimum of 2 years of project management experience
• Reside within or open to relocate to the Riverside, CA area
• Prior business development experience demonstrated by a track record of maintaining client relations and securing new project opportunities
• Proficiency preparing plan sets, specifications, and construction cost estimates
• Ability to apply effective written and verbal communication when developing proposals, preparing technical reports, participating in or leading project team meetings, and delivering client or public presentations
• Flexibility to travel as needed (up to 20%) for team meetings, client consultations, public meetings, site assessments/visits, marketing presentations/interviews, conferences, etc.; Occasional overnight travel may be required
• Must possess a valid Driver’s License with a clean driving record

• 5- 15 years of Aviation project experience
• Previous training or experience with Civil 3D and/or AutoCAD
• Previous training or experience with ArcGIS
• Previous design experience with airfield or airport infrastructure projects
• Previous experience preparing proposals and contract documentation
• Familiarity with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and procedures

Upon acceptance of a conditional offer of employment, the selected candidate will be required to complete a standard pre-employment background screening, which consists of Social Security verification, educational verification, review of criminal convictions, and driving history.

In addition,