Director of Airside Engineering

About Us:

Welcome to the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, where we operate Raleigh-Durham International Airport, a vital hub connecting North Carolina to the world. In 2024, our teamwork helped us serve 15.5 million passengers, generate a $24.1 billion economic impact, and our dedication to excellence has been recognized with a Top Five passenger satisfaction ranking in North America. We're a tight-knit team of over 400 employees where accountability and collaboration are our guiding principles, and safety is our top priority. Whether your role is indoors or outdoors, you'll be part of a supportive environment that values your contributions. We believe in investing in our people, offering competitive benefits and professional development to help your career take flight.

About You:

You embody core values that will play a pivotal role in connecting our community to places and the people who matter most. Your commitment to continuous learning will drive innovation and growth, while your unwavering integrity ensures that our brand remains trustworthy and reputable. Your respect for colleagues and clients alike fosters a collaborative and positive environment. Your dedication to excellence in every task you undertake will elevate our brand’s standards. Lastly, your team spirit will unite our efforts and amplify our collective success.

About the Role: 

Help shape the runway for what comes next.

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. This position is ideal for a collaborative engineering leader who can balance safety, compliance, operational needs, and strategic growth—helping build the future of the Raleigh-Durham International Airport from the ground up.

Compensation:

• Maximum – Based on experience
• Minimum - $131,442.68

What You’ll Do:

Strategy Leadership & Asset Management

• 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.

Capital Project Delivery & Engineering Oversight

• 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.

FAA Compliance, Operations Coordination & Airport Integration

• 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.

Stakeholder Management

• 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.

Organizational Leadership and Position Alignment

• 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.

Performs additional related work as required.

What You Need: 

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.
• Supervisory or leadership experience within an engineering, infrastructure, or airport environment.
• Experience with FAA Advisory Circulars, airport design standards, and Part 139 operational requirements.
• Experience at PART 139 airport is a plus.

Licenses or Certifications:

Required:

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

Typical Work Hours: 

• 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday

Location:

• On-site RDU Airport Campus

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.

A detailed job description will be provided during the recruitment screening process.