Associate Director - Airport Civil Engineer

Shape the Future of our cities and environments.

Are you ready to take on a senior leadership role shaping the future of major airport infrastructure? Join our Airport Engineering Team and play a pivotal role in defining, leading, and delivering some of the most complex and high-profile aviation projects in the UK and internationally. In our inclusive and collaborative environment, your leadership, expertise, and ideas will directly influence how we solve our clients’ most critical challenges.

As an Associate Director – Airfield Civil Engineer, you will be a key senior figure within the business, responsible not only for technical excellence but also for strategic direction, client relationships, and team leadership. You will lead the delivery of complex airfield infrastructure projects across major UK airports—including Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester—as well as an established portfolio of international commissions.

This role is suited to an individual with several years of design experience within the Airfield Engineering discipline, who is ready to take ownership of project delivery, mentor and develop teams, and drive business growth. We also welcome candidates whose experience may not exactly match this range but who can demonstrate the leadership capability and technical authority required at this level.

Your Role

We are seeking a Chartered Civil Engineer with a proven track record of leading airfield infrastructure design from concept through to detailed delivery. You will bring:

• Strong leadership and management skills, with experience coordinating and guiding multidisciplinary teams.
• Credibility and confidence to engage with senior stakeholders, including airport operators, airlines, contractors, and regulatory bodies.
• A track record of delivering high-quality, compliant, and innovative design solutions.
• A proactive approach to client engagement, work-winning, and business development.

About you

• Provide technical and strategic leadership across airport civil engineering projects.
• Demonstrate expert knowledge of either Airport or Highways pavement design, materials specification and maintenance with an appreciation of principles and application of UK and international pavement design methods.
• Apply strong analytical capability to airfield pavement design and assessment, translating complex technical data into practical, deliverable engineering solutions.
• Lead and mentor teams, fostering professional development and high performance.
• Own client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor to key aviation clients.
• Drive innovation in engineering design and delivery approaches.
• Support business growth, developing bids, proposals, and market development.
• Ensure successful project delivery, balancing technical excellence, commercial performance, and client satisfaction.

This is a unique opportunity to establish yourself as a discipline leader within a growing aviation business, where your influence will extend beyond project delivery into shaping future strategy, capability, and client partnerships.

Reward & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance.  If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance. 

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.

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