Aviation Design Lead/Civil Design Lead

Aviation Design Lead/Civil Design Lead

Location: Dulles, VA 20166

Salary Range: $200-250K/year + 10% Bonus

Relocation: Yes

Work Schedule: Hybrid (3 days a week in office)

Client is seeking a lead for Aviation Design. The ideal candidate would also provide leadership of the Civil Design Division to oversee winning and delivering design services and sustaining and growing the team.

The Aviation Design Lead/Civil Design Lead will oversee and manage design delivery and provide technical support and guidance to Project Managers. They will manage resources, assign responsibilities and organize the team as needed to ensure the quality delivery of work. The Design Lead will be the primary representative of Alpha with our clients, including MWAA. The ideal candidate would have relationships with MWAA, constructors, architects, and other firms with whom we would partner to win and deliver work. Although it is not necessary to bring all those relationships, as long as the candidate has a resume and relevant experience to position for and win work to grow the practice.

The Design Lead will track upcoming opportunities, position for wins, and work with the Marketing team and others to develop proposals and interview to win work. The ideal candidate will serve as both a technical leader and practice manager responsible for planning, design, permitting, and delivery of airport and transportation infrastructure projects. This individual will lead multidisciplinary teams, manage client relationships, oversee project performance, and mentor engineering staff while serving as a key contributor to the continued growth of Alpha's aviation practice.

Key

Responsibilities

• Division Management

• Lead the Aviation/Civil Design Division, developing growth plans aligned with Alpha's business objectives.

• Manage the Division to meet revenue, profit and utilization performance goals.

• Lead business development to meet sales performance goals.

• Oversee airport and aviation-related infrastructure projects from planning through design and construction.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, stakeholders, and project partners.

• Manage the Division to control project scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk of individual projects.

• Lead multidisciplinary teams including civil, structural, environmental, and utility design professionals.

• Collaborate with other Alpha divisions to deliver other related services to aviation clients, including Project Controls, Transportation Design, Structural Design, and Construction Management.

• Civil Engineering Design and Technical Leadership

• Lead site civil design for airport projects, as well as civil design for federal, state, local and private clients.

• Develop and oversee design teams involving:

• Site grading and drainage

• Stormwater management systems

• Utility infrastructure

• Hydrology and Hydraulics

• Roadway and landside improvements

• Airfield support infrastructure

• Erosion and sediment control

• Review engineering calculations, technical reports, plans, specifications, and cost estimates.

• Establish and maintain division-wide design standards, technical review procedures, and quality assurance and quality control practices.

• Review engineering calculations, technical reports, plans, specifications, and cost estimates for technical accuracy, constructability, and coordination across disciplines.

• Guide permitting strategies and coordinate with reviewing agencies, utility providers, and other stakeholders to support project approvals and delivery.

• Ensure compliance with applicable MWAA, FAA, VDOT, local jurisdictional, and environmental requirements.

• Business Development & Client Relations

• Build and maintain strong relationships with MWAA, airport stakeholders, and transportation agencies. (Depending upon the candidate, may manage other client relationships as well.)

• Lead proposal preparation, interviews, and strategic capture efforts.

• Track capital plans and identify opportunities for work and expansion of existing client relationships.

• Participate in industry organizations and aviation-related professional activities.

• Leadership & Mentoring

• Recruit, hire, and develop engineers and Project Managers to support the Civil Design Division's current workload and long-term growth.

• Lead workforce planning, establish clear responsibilities and performance expectations, and provide ongoing feedback and performance management.

• Mentor junior engineers and emerging project leaders in technical design, project delivery, client service, and business development.

• Promote collaboration, knowledge sharing, innovation, and professional development across the aviation and civil design teams.

• Required

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from an ABET-accredited institution.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.

Experience

• 15+ years of progressive civil engineering experience.

• Demonstrated experience leading a civil engineering design team or practice, including responsibility for staffing, workload planning, and project financial performance.

• Experience managing site civil or transportation infrastructure projects and delivering projects for airports.

• Experience leading and managing multidisciplinary design teams and providing technical oversight and quality reviews.

• Demonstrated client management, business development, and proposal leadership experience.

• Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of site grading and drainage, stormwater management, utility coordination and design, hydrology and hydraulics, permitting and regulatory compliance, and construction document preparation.

• Ability to guide engineering decisions, resolve technical issues, and establish consistent design and quality standards across a civil design team.

• Preferred Qualifications

• Experience serving as a Project Manager for multi-disciplinary infrastructure programs.

• Direct experience with MWAA projects at Washington Dulles International Airport and/or Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

• Existing relationships within MWAA, Maryland Aviation Authority or other airport authorities

• Experience leading a civil design division or practice with responsibility for business planning, financial results, staff development, and growth across multiple client markets.

• The Planet Group is a global professional services firm delivering strategic staffing and advisory solutions. We operate at the intersection of talent and transformation - connecting the right people with the right opportunities. Named one of the fastest-growing private companies in the US, The Planet Group operates with a global reach and a performance-first mindset. We partner with clients to move fast, stay agile, and drive measurable results - building high-impact teams that fuel transformation and growth.

• EEOC Compliance Statement

• The Planet Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.