Aviation Senior Project Director

About the role

AECOM is looking for an Aviation Senior Project Director in Madrid, a senior technical and project leadership role responsible for leading major aviation design programmes across Europe. The role fronts flagship aviation programmes and major pursuits, typically involving CAPEX values in excess of €500M, complex regulatory environments and multi-partner delivery models within live operational airports. It works closely with Market Sector Leadership and Client Account Managers across the Europe and India region, focusing on project leadership, delivery assurance and bid credibility.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of large-scale aviation design and engineering programmes, including greenfield and live operational airports, ensuring quality, safety, innovation and client satisfaction.
• Oversee multidisciplinary coordination across architecture, structures, MEP, fire, security, digital and specialist transportation systems.
• Ensure compliance with aviation regulations, airport development and terminal planning principles, passenger flow strategies, security requirements and operational and commercial constraints.
• Be responsible for AECOM risk, project governance, technical reviews and quality processes.
• Act as the primary senior interface with airport authorities, operators, concessionaires, developers, contractors and regulatory bodies.
• Influence early-stage strategy, terminal and station concepts, optioneering and masterplanning decisions.
• Represent AECOM in workshops, steering groups, executive reviews and project governance forums, and build long-term client relationships.
• Drive innovation in digital delivery including BIM, computational design and digital twins, and champion sustainability and low-carbon solutions.

Required profile

• Recognised and highly experienced Aviation Architect or Engineer with a strong industry profile and the gravitas to represent AECOM at executive client and stakeholder level.
• Portfolio of successfully delivered major airport projects and experience developing and managing client accounts in the aviation sector.
• Experience delivering large-scale projects (€500M+) with multidisciplinary teams and proven leadership in high-pressure, complex environments.
• Credibility to act as Project Director on flagship aviation programmes, with demonstrated success in bids, client leadership and market-facing roles.
• Full professional competency in English, spoken and written.
• Preferred: experience at major international airports, interfacing with contractors under DfMA, ECI and Design & Build, and 20+ years of aviation engineering and project management experience.

Required skills

• BIM-based workflows and familiarity with computational and digital tools.
• Understanding of complex airport environments and highly regulated settings such as DCO processes and security compliance.

What we offer

• Benefits depending on employment status, which may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D and disability benefits, paid time off, flexible work options, well-being resources, an employee assistance programme, business travel insurance, a retirement savings plan and an employee stock purchase plan.
• Training and development programmes and a global team working on projects of local and global scale.