Aviation Engineering Practice Leader, Manager

Job Description

Aviation Engineering Practice Leader

Location: Chicago area

Employment: Full time

Work arrangement: Hybrid

Base salary: $180,000 to $200,000, based on relevant experience and qualifications

SNtial Technologies is recruiting on behalf of a confidential engineering consulting client seeking an experienced leader to oversee its aviation engineering practice.

This position combines people leadership, project oversight, client development, and business planning. The ideal candidate brings strong aviation infrastructure experience and a record of developing teams while delivering technically sound, financially successful projects.

The Opportunity

You will guide the practice’s priorities, support project delivery, and help expand its client portfolio. Working closely with senior leadership and project managers, you will align staffing, technical capabilities, and business goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and develop engineering professionals through coaching, performance reviews, career planning, and regular feedback.

• Oversee staffing assignments, workload distribution, timesheet approvals, and resource utilization.

• Support hiring and onboarding as the practice’s needs evolve.

• Establish growth priorities, revenue targets, and staffing plans in collaboration with senior leadership.

• Build relationships with airport clients, public agencies, municipalities, and industry partners.

• Guide proposal development, pursuit strategies, and client presentations.

• Provide senior technical review for aviation civil engineering projects, including alignment with applicable FAA requirements and industry standards.

• Help project teams resolve design, coordination, budget, and schedule challenges.

• Monitor project and practice performance, including forecasting, staffing costs, and delivery commitments.

• Represent the client at industry conferences, professional meetings, and business development events.

Required Qualifications

• At least 15 years of relevant aviation and transportation engineering experience, including substantial aviation civil engineering work.

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, or a related discipline.

• Active Professional Engineer (PE) license.

• Demonstrated responsibility for managing direct reports, including performance evaluations, employee development, and administrative approvals.

• Experience overseeing complex projects and coordinating multidisciplinary teams.

• Strong understanding of aviation infrastructure requirements and applicable FAA standards.

• Experience developing client relationships and contributing to proposals, pursuits, or practice growth.

• Ability to balance technical decisions, team capacity, project economics, and client expectations.

Compensation and Benefits

Our client offers a base salary of $180,000 to $200,000. Placement within the range will reflect experience and qualifications, with the upper end reserved for candidates whose background closely matches the role’s seniority and scope.

Benefits include a retirement plan with employer match, continuing education reimbursement, wellness and transit subsidies, and a collaborative work environment. Hybrid scheduling details will be discussed during the interview process.

Interested?

Apply through LinkedIn with your resume and a brief overview of your aviation project and team leadership experience.

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• The client’s identity will be shared with qualified candidates during the recruiting process.
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