Aviation Pavement Lead (Federal Aviation / Airfield Infrastructure)

About the role

The Aviation Pavement Lead is a senior technical leadership role within GHD’s Aviation Service Line, responsible for the delivery of airfield pavement engineering solutions across civil and federal aviation programs. The role operates at the interface of technical excellence, client engagement, and multidisciplinary project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, design, and assessment of airfield pavements, including runways, taxiways, and aprons
• Deliver pavement engineering outputs including PCR/ACR analysis, structural design (FAARFIELD), and condition assessments (SCI/PCI)
• Develop design criteria and specifications aligned with FAA, ICAO, UFC, and UFGS standards
• Provide technical assurance and peer review across project deliverables
• Act as discipline lead within multidisciplinary airfield programs, coordinating pavement interfaces with AGL, drainage, and geometry
• Support design management and construction-phase services, including QA review of materials, mix designs, and workmanship
• Contribute to scope definition, risk identification, and delivery strategy development
• Serve as primary technical interface with airport operators, federal agencies, and defense clients
• Support proposal development and technical narratives for major pursuits
• Provide advisory support on airfield operations, constructability, and lifecycle planning
• Lead pavement inspection programs and condition assessments
• Develop maintenance and renewal strategies based on asset criticality and aircraft loading
• Optimize lifecycle performance through data-driven planning and prioritization
• Apply industry-leading tools and methodologies (e.g., FAARFIELD, pavement management systems)
• Integrate performance-based design with constructability considerations
• Ensure alignment with federal aviation standards and operational constraints
• Operate within GHD’s project delivery framework with accountability for time, cost, quality, and risk outcomes
• Maintain a forward-looking risk and opportunity perspective, supporting proactive decision-making
• Collaborate effectively across disciplines to deliver integrated airfield solutions
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and guidance to pavement engineers and project teams
• Foster a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement
• Promote strong internal and external relationships aligned with GHD’s values

Requirements

• Degree in civil engineering, pavement engineering, transportation engineering, or a related discipline; professional engineering registration required
• Significant experience leading airfield pavement planning, design, evaluation, rehabilitation, and construction support for runways, taxiways, aprons, and related airside infrastructure
• Technical expertise in pavement structural design, FAARFIELD, ACR/PCR analysis, pavement management systems, and condition assessment methods such as PCI and SCI
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary airfield delivery, coordinating pavement interfaces with airfield geometry, AGL, drainage, utilities, staging, and construction-phase requirements
• Experience providing technical assurance, peer review, quality oversight, materials and mix design review, and construction-phase support for aviation pavement projects
• Proven ability to engage airport authorities, federal agencies, defense clients, and internal stakeholders as a trusted technical advisor, including support for proposals and technical narratives
• Demonstrated leadership in mentoring teams, managing project quality, schedule, budget, risk, lifecycle planning, safety, and continuous improvement within a consulting or engineering environment

Qualifications

• Proven ability to engage airport authorities, federal agencies, defense clients, and internal stakeholders as a trusted technical advisor, including support for proposals and technical narratives
• Demonstrated leadership in mentoring teams, managing project quality, schedule, budget, risk, lifecycle planning, safety, and continuous improvement within a consulting or engineering environment

Skills

• Technical expertise in pavement structural design, FAARFIELD, ACR/PCR analysis, pavement management systems, and condition assessment methods such as PCI and SCI
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary airfield delivery, coordinating pavement interfaces with airfield geometry, AGL, drainage, utilities, staging, and construction-phase requirements
• Experience providing technical assurance, peer review, quality oversight, materials and mix design review, and construction-phase support for aviation pavement projects
• Proven ability to engage airport authorities, federal agencies, defense clients, and internal stakeholders as a trusted technical advisor, including support for proposals and technical narratives
• Demonstrated leadership in mentoring teams, managing project quality, schedule, budget, risk, lifecycle planning, safety, and continuous improvement within a consulting or engineering environment

Benefits

• Hybrid work model: Be part of the dynamic culture! Our workplace thrives on a hybrid model, combining in-office collaboration and flexibility. Join us in the office three days a week to contribute, connect and excel in our vibrant environment.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $147,890 to $187,600. The posted salary range represents the expected hiring range for GHD locations in its major city centers. Ranges may vary for positions in other locations. At GHD, base salary is determined by your skills, experience, qualifications and work location. We are committed to offering competitive compensation and adhere to all relevant pay transparency legislation.

Schedule

Our Hybrid Work Model: Be part of the dynamic culture! Our workplace thrives on a hybrid model, combining in-office collaboration and flexibility. Join us in the office three days a week to contribute, connect and excel in our vibrant environment.