Director of Airside Engineering

About the role

The Director of Airside Engineering leads the planning, engineering, asset management, and delivery of critical airside infrastructure projects that keep the airport safe, reliable, and ready for the future. This role oversees improvements to runways, taxiways, aprons, service roads, bridges, tunnels, airfield lighting, navigational aids, and other civil infrastructure within an active Part 139 airport environment. Working closely with consultants, contractors, operations, maintenance, tenants, regulatory agencies, and executive leadership, the Director keeps complex capital projects on course while supporting long-term asset and capital planning.

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes long-range airside infrastructure and asset management strategies aligned with the Airport Master Plan, operational objectives, and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) in collaboration with Vice President (VP) of Facilities Asset Management (FAM).
• Establishes infrastructure rehabilitation and replacement priorities based on operational risk, safety, regulatory compliance, and asset condition.
• Provides technical and strategic recommendations to executive leadership regarding capital investments, infrastructure priorities, and operational risk mitigation.
• Leads the planning, development, execution, and monitoring of airside capital improvement projects and infrastructure initiatives.
• Ensures projects are delivered in compliance with approved budgets, schedules, operational requirements, and regulatory standards.
• Ensures compliance with FAA regulations, Part 139 requirements, grant assurances, environmental requirements, and applicable engineering standards.
• Coordinates navigational aid upgrades, obstruction mitigation efforts, and operational safety planning activities.
• Evaluates consultant and contractor performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations, operational standards, and project expectations.
• Make presentations to executive leadership and the Authority Board regarding project plans, budgets, risks, and progress.
• Works with VP of FAM to assist in developing departmental priorities, workload management practices, and performance expectations.
• Promotes collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence within the department.

Requirements

• Education: Required: Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a comparable degree in a related field, such as construction management, may be considered if accompanied by relevant skills and experience.
• Experience: Required: 6 years of or more of related work experience, such as the planning, design, and construction of runways, taxiways, aircraft parking aprons, bridges, service roads, and other matters related to this type of work.
• Preferred: Experience managing multi-million-dollar capital improvement programs.
• Experience coordinating construction activities within active operational environments.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams, consultants, and contractors.
• Experience with airport pavement management or infrastructure asset management programs.
• Experience presenting technical information to executive leadership, governing boards, or public agencies.
• Experience at PART 139 airport is a plus.

Qualifications

• License or Certification: Required: Professionally licensed engineer in North Carolina or ability to obtain within 6 months of start date.
• License or Certification: Required: Valid NC Driver's License.

Skills

• Strategic Planning
• Project Management
• Regulatory Compliance
• Asset Management
• Collaboration
• Leadership

Benefits

A detailed job description will be provided during the recruitment screening process. RDU Benefits: At the Authority, we appreciate you and care about your health, happiness, and future. Our benefits start on day one, including medical, dental, vision, tuition assistance, employee discounts, and perks like an on-site gym, a dedicated wellness team, and frequent company and team outings. For a full list of benefit offerings, check out the RDU.com Careers Page.