National Aviation Civil Engineering Practice Leader

National Aviation Civil Engineering Practice Leader

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Réalis.

We are seeking a National Aviation Civil Engineering Practice Leader to join our team.

• Provide leadership to a large team made up of multiple design groups for the aviation civil engineering practice, including airfield, airfield electrical, and landside engineers, among other subject matter experts.
• Inspire and mentor a multidisciplinary team of engineers, project managers, and technical staff, championing a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous professional development.
• Develop and implement national strategies for aviation civil engineering projects that align with organizational goals, industry trends, and regulatory frameworks.
• Build and structure technical delivery teams with appropriate skills for effective project delivery.
• Identify key industry talent and hire key staff based on market strategy.

• Expand upon existing strategies to drive organizational growth across the U.S. aviation market.
• Build personal relationships with partner firms, clients and contractors in support of strategic initiatives.
• Advise leadership on capabilities of resources that enable market growth and improve geographic reach.
• Identify gaps in resources that inhibit growth and develop plans to address them.

• Lead all phases of airport infrastructure projects—including planning, budgeting, design, permitting, and construction—ensuring high standards of quality, safety, and timely delivery.
• Support project management in accountability of financial performance and productivity during project delivery.
• Work closely and coordinate with Regional Managers, Project Directors, Project Managers, Commercial Managers, Legal/Contract and corporate finance during project delivery.

• Ensure full compliance with applicable FAA, ICAO, TSA, and other federal, state, and local regulations, including environmental and safety standards.
• Maintain training of staff on design requirements and regulatory compliance.

• Serve as the primary liaison with the aviation industry partners such as AAAE, ACI-NA, and other organizations that support the aviation engineering practice.

• Serve as the primary liaison with airport operators, federal agencies (e.g., FAA), state DOTs, consultants, and contractors to foster strong, collaborative relationships.

• Provide expert guidance and approvals on complex design elements such as pavement engineering, grading and drainage, utility coordination, and airside/landside integration.

• Proactively identify and mitigate risks throughout project planning and execution, including environmental, geotechnical, and construction-related challenges.
• Work in close collaboration with commercial, contracts, finance, legal on the oversight and management of change management, scope in the course of delivery.
• Demonstrate familiarity with typical contracts, legal and commercial terms impacting delivery of design work.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering required;
  Master's degree or MBA preferred.
• Licensure:
  Professional Engineer (PE) license required; eligibility for licensing in multiple states preferred.
• Experience:
  
  Minimum 15 years of civil engineering experience with at least 8 years in aviation infrastructure; prior experience in a national or regional leadership role strongly preferred.
• Technical Knowledge:
  Deep understanding of FAA design standards (e.g., Advisory Circulars), pavement design, airfield safety, environmental assessments, and CAD/BIM technologies.
• Skills:
  
  Exceptional leadership, communication, and negotiation skills; strong analytical and decision‑making abilities.

At Atkins

Réalis, our values—Safety, Integrity, Collaboration, Innovation, and Excellence—are more than just words. They are the foundation of who we are and how we work. These principles shape our culture, guide our decisions, and inspire us to create an environment where every team member feels empowered to grow,…