Associate/Associate Director - Airport Civil Engineer

Job Description

Overview

 

Apply Your Expertise to Shape the Future of our cities and environments.

At AtkinsRéalis, our Design & Advanced Technology practice brings together some of the UK's most diverse engineering and design expertise to tackle the most complex challenges facing our clients and communities.

We are seeking an Associate or Associate Director Civil Airport Engineer to join our growing Aviation team. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced airport engineering professional to play a key leadership role within the business, combining technical excellence with strategic direction, client leadership, and business growth. Operating across major UK airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, as well as an expanding portfolio of international commissions, you will help shape the future of aviation infrastructure while contributing to the growth of one of the industry's leading airport engineering practices.

You will join a business founded on deep technical expertise, operational understanding and a collaborative, solutions-focused culture. We are well established across the UK's major airports and continue to expand our international presence across Europe, the Middle East and beyond.

You will lead the planning, design and delivery of complex airport infrastructure projects, including airfield, landside and terminal-related developments, helping clients enhance operational performance, increase capacity, improve resilience and achieve their sustainability objectives. As a senior leader, you will play a key role in shaping our airfield civil engineering capability, leading major commissions, strengthening client relationships, and supporting the long-term development of our people, services and technical excellence.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a highly experienced engineer with a strong industry profile and proven leadership capability. Whether your strengths lie in technical leadership, project delivery, client development or business growth, the role offers significant scope to influence major investment programmes, shape strategic outcomes for clients, and contribute to the continued success of our aviation business.

You’ll benefit from:

• Influencing nationally significant airport infrastructure projects across the UK and internationally.
• Working on a diverse portfolio of airfield, terminal and landside developments at major airports including Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary aviation specialists across the UK and globally.
• Shaping project outcomes and client strategies from master planning and feasibility through to delivery.
• Opportunities to lead major commissions, strengthen client relationships and contribute to business growth.
• A culture that promotes innovation, technical excellence and professional development.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements that support work-life balance.
• Clear career progression pathways and professional development opportunities.

We offer hybrid working which involves 3 days per week being office/site based. This position can be based from our offices of London Nova, Epsom, or Manchester.

 

Your role

 

At Associate Director level, you will have accountability for technical excellence, client leadership, and commercial performance, alongside line management and mentorship responsibilities.

• Providing strategic leadership on complex UK and international airport civil engineering projects, acting as Project Director or Technical Lead as appropriate. 
• Acting as a trusted advisor to airport operators, regulators, and stakeholders, building long‑term client relationships and repeat business. 
• Leading the development and delivery of airfield infrastructure projects, including pavement designs, materials specifications, maintenance plans, and condition assessments, translating complex technical data into practical, deliverable engineering solutions. 
• Overseeing demand forecasting, capacity assessment, and data‑driven decision‑making, ensuring robust, defendable outputs. 
• Taking overall responsibility for the quality, consistency, and timely delivery of technical reports, presentations, and client‑facing outputs. 
• Chairing and leading senior design reviews, client workshops, and stakeholder meetings. 
• Playing a central role in work winning and business development, including shaping opportunity pipelines, leading bids and tenders, and supporting market strategy. 
• Contributing to the growth and direction of the airfield civil engineering discipline, including development of tools, guidance, training material, and innovation initiatives. 
• Providing line management, mentorship, and career development support to senior and junior team members, building a strong succession pipeline. 
• Actively engaging with and contributing to the global aviation and infrastructure network, sharing knowledge and best practice across regions. 

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About you

 

We're seeking technically strong, commercially aware engineers who enjoy collaborative working and take a proactive approach to solving complex challenges. You will be confident leading multidisciplinary teams, developing client relationships, and delivering high-quality solutions while supporting and mentoring less experienced engineers.

You’ll ideally bring:

• A degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline.
• Chartered status with Institute of Civil Engineers or an equivalent institution OR extensive industry experience with a proven track record of delivering value.
• Extensive professional experience in Airport or Highways pavement design, with strong understanding of material specifications and maintenance with an appreciation of principles and application of UK and international pavement design methods.  
• Demonstrated experience leading large, complex, and multi-disciplinary design teams on airfield infrastructure design projects from concept through to detailed design, delivering high‑quality outputs on time and within budget.  
• Proven ability to operate effectively at senior client and stakeholder level, influencing decision‑making and managing risk. 
• Solid understanding of commercial, contractual, and financial aspects of consultancy project delivery. 
• A clear track record of successful business development, including leading bids, winning work, and growing client accounts. 
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced consultancy environment with a strong sense of accountability and ownership. 
• Willingness to travel periodically for short‑term project assignments.  ​

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.

Rewards & 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.

Rewards and benefits – Careers at AtkinsRéalis

 

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. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.

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Worker Type

Employee

Job Type

Regular

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.