Principal Aviation Planner

ARA is seeking principal-level planners with significant aviation infrastructure experience to join our Transportation Division Aviation Directorate. This position provides an opportunity to work on aviation, airport, uncrewed systems, and advanced air mobility planning projects with regulatory agencies and airports throughout the United States. The successful candidate will grow an aviation planning practice focused on integration of new aviation technologies into FAA guidance and airport master plans.

We are looking for a motivated planner who thinks strategically to apply technical understanding of airport systems to solve complex problems by optimizing capacity, safety, efficiency, and sustainability. ARA employee-owners are actively involved in all aspects of research and consulting, applying technical knowledge, professional judgement, and innovation to develop high-quality solutions for our clients.

Positions are available in Egg Harbor Township, NJ; Madison, WI; and the Dallas-Forth Worth area (Southlake, TX). This is a hybrid position requiring attendance in the assigned ARA office a minimum of 3 days per week, in addition to project-related travel.

This position requires travel to project sites and may include on-site work at client offices. Candidates must meet eligibility requirements for badging and site access. Nationwide travel is anticipated approximately 10% to 20% of the time, depending on project needs, season, and workload.

Principal aviation planners are expected to:

• Interact with clients and potential clients to capture new business through technical work and capability briefings.
• Lead and develop comprehensive airport master plans, including airside, landside, terminal, cargo, and support facilities.
• Conduct capacity analyses, demand forecasting, and operational assessments to inform long‑range planning decisions.
• Prepare and update Airport Layout Plans (ALPs) and ensure compliance with FAA, ICAO, and other regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with engineering, environmental, commercial, and operations teams to develop integrated planning solutions.
• Analyze airspace constraints, runway/taxiway configurations, and aircraft performance data to recommend improvements.
• Support capital improvement planning by developing phasing strategies, cost estimates, and actionable development programs.
• Facilitate stakeholder engagement, including airport leadership, airlines, community groups, and government agencies.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and planning.
• Support research and development of planning criteria related to new aviation technologies including advanced air mobility and uncrewed systems.

Principal aviation planner requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aviation, Planning, or Civil Engineering; master’s degree preferred. Degree program must be accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB).
• 12 years of increasingly complex experience in airport master planning, airport regional planning, or aviation capacity planning. A combination of two or more of these specialties is preferred.
• Strong understanding of FAA/ICAO standards, airport operations, and airspace fundamentals.
• Proficiency in planning software tools (e.g., GIS, AutoCAD, AviPlan, simulation platforms).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in the English language.
• Strong presentation skills and ability to convey technical concepts to non‑technical audiences.
• Ability to manage complex projects and multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability and willingness to travel to work at project sites.
• Candidates selected may be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $140,000 to $180,000 per year, depending on education, experience, and location. ARA also offers competitive benefits that address our employees’ needs now and in the future. Learn more about each of our benefits at https://www.ara.com/benefits/.

About ARA:

ARA is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs more than 2,200 professionals and continues to grow. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in civil technologies, computer software and simulation, defense technologies, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for pavement analysis, environmental site characterization, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership spawns greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the ESOP. The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience.

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