SENIOR ARCHITECT
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT
Ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Large Airports in the J.D. Power 2024 and 2025 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, John Wayne Airport (JWA) has been a major cornerstone of Orange County for more than 100 years. Located in beautiful Southern California, we currently serve approximately 11.8 million annual passengers. We strive to provide a superior guest experience to ensure travel is convenient and stress-free. The County of Orange owns and operates the airport and the service area includes more than three million people within 34 cities and unincorporated areas of Orange County and beyond.
As a medium hub airport, we have commercial flights to more than 40 nonstop destinations in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Eleven commercial airlines and two air cargo airlines fly out of the Airport. It is home to nearly 500 general aviation (private, non-commercial) aircraft, representing 60% of total operations, and includes two full-service fixed base operators and one limited use general aviation facility.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
DIVISION
The newly reformed Planning and Development Division oversees and delivers the airport's $700 million Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which includes airside, landside, and terminal renovations, as well as major utility projects and long-term infrastructure planning. The Division is also a key partner in implementing the General Aviation Improvement Program and the Terminal Tenant Concession Redevelopment Program. This team has 28 professionals in a variety of roles. This Division’s functional areas include engineering and A/E design, land use and airport planning, environmental compliance, capital project programming, project management, project controls, and project Coordination and Logistics Management (CALM).
THE OPPORTUNITY
John Wayne Airport has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Architect. The ideal candidate is a seasoned Senior Architect with experience planning, designing, and managing non-capital, capital, and maintenance improvement projects of varying scale and complexity. The Senior Architect serves as the architectural lead for the Airport, providing oversight and direction on architectural design, building systems, and airport-wide design standards. This position supervises technical staff, provides direction to contract architects and consultants, may oversee other staff, and manages complex or specialized assignments from concept through construction. Key responsibilities include: developing and maintaining architectural design standards; leading the Airport’s accessibility program; mentoring lower-level staff; reviewing, developing, and approving architectural components of construction documents.
The Senior Architect supports a wide variety of Airport projects within the Planning and Development Division, including vertical facilities such as terminal buildings, passenger-facing environments, and other airport buildings, as well as projects requiring architectural integration with airfield and landside infrastructure. This role ensures that facilities are functional, code-compliant, accessible, aesthetically coherent, and aligned with Airport design and operational goals.
QUALIFICATIONS:
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate will possess a minimum of eight (8) years of qualified architectural experience, with at least two (2) years as a licensed Architect, with a background in planning, designing, and managing a variety of complex project types. Candidates licensed in another state must obtain California licensure through the California Architects Board by the start of employment. Experience in accessibility compliance is required, and candidates must hold a valid Certified Access Specialist (CASp) certification issued by the State of California.
Experience should include work on airport vertical facilities or comparable complex public-use buildings, such as terminal buildings, passenger processing areas, security screening checkpoints, concourses, concessions and retail areas, administrative spaces, operations facilities, parking and transportation structures, and other technically sophisticated facilities with advanced building systems and life-safety requirements. Ideal candidates will also have strong experience with government contracting, procurement, and contract administration, including the selection and oversight of architectural, engineering, and specialty consulting services, as well as the preparation of bidding and construction documents.
Experience in an airport environment is highly desirable; however, candidates with strong backgrounds in comparable complex public-use facilities are also encouraged to apply.
Additional professional certifications—such as Certified Member (C.M.) through AAAE, Certified Construction Manager (CCM), or Project Management Professional (PMP)—are desirable but not required.
SALARY RANGE | BENEFITS OFFERED:
$148,782.40 - $170,601.60
