Director of Landside 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:

Before a passenger ever reaches the terminal, their journey depends on what’s happening on the ground — the roads they drive, the bridges they cross, the garages they park in, and the utilities that keep the airport alive.
We’re looking for a leader who can captain that entire operation.

In this role, you’ll serve as the airport’s air traffic controller for landside infrastructure — guiding projects from blueprint to touchdown while keeping operations safe, compliant, and future-ready.

You will:
• Steer the planning, design, construction, and lifecycle care of our landside civil infrastructure
• Pilot the five-year Capital Improvement and Asset Management programs
• Oversee roadway, parking garage, bridge, tunnel, utility, and site development projects
• Navigate budgets, schedules, and scopes to keep projects on course
• Direct consultants and partners through every phase of the flight — from concept to closeout
• Advance sustainability goals while maintaining regulatory compliance and operational readiness

Every curb, lane, and connection sets the tone for a traveler’s experience. Your leadership ensures the airport’s first impression — and its long-term performance — lands perfectly.

If you’re ready to build the ground operations behind a world-class airport, we’re ready for you to take the controls.

Compensation:

• Maximum – Based on experience
• Minimum - $125, 700.84

What You’ll Do:

• Leads and manages landside civil engineering and construction projects, providing technical direction and oversight to internal staff and external consultants throughout planning, design, construction, and closeout phases.
• Develops project scopes, schedules, and budgets; monitors progress and financial performance to ensure delivery within approved parameters.
• Directs procurement of professional services, including preparation of Requests for Proposals, evaluation of submissions, interview and selection processes, contract negotiations, and consultant performance management.
• Manages roadway signage and lighting system programs and upgrades.
• Prepares and delivers presentations and recommendations to the Airport Authority Board and executive leadership.
• Keeps executive-level staff fully informed of all industry initiatives and activities that affect organizational policy.
• Performs additional related work as required.

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

What You Need:

Education:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering. Alternate degrees may be considered, such as construction management, provided they are combined with relevant education and experience.

Experience:

Required:

• Six (6) years or more of related work experience, such as the planning, design, and construction of roadways/streets, bridges, parking garages, tunnels, land development, utilities, and other matters related to this type of work.

Preferred:

• Experience at a commercial service airport is a plus.

Licenses or Certifications:

Preferred:

• Professionally licensed engineer in North Carolina, preferred, or obtainable within six months of hire.

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.