Solution Architect - Airport Operations Thales

The operational efficiency, safety, and passenger experience of airports undergoing refurbishment or modernization is a critical success factor for airport authorities and aviation stakeholders. It relies on a comprehensive understanding of terminal operations, airside/landside processes, regulatory compliance (ICAO, IATA, ACI), capacity planning, passenger flow modeling, baggage and cargo systems, aviation security, operational technologies (AODB, RMS, FIDS, BHS), and multi-stakeholder coordination across live brownfield environments.

The projects associated with airport refurbishment and expansion are highly complex, phased, and multi-disciplinary in nature, and require deep operational expertise, systems thinking, and the ability to translate operational requirements into robust architectures, technical specifications, and Target Operating Models that will govern airport performance for 15-30 years.

The role of the Airport Operations Architect is to ensure the overall operational coherence and long-term viability of these projects by acting as the operational Design Authority, defining future-state Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), ensuring alignment of all stakeholders and engineering disciplines, and guaranteeing that the refurbished airport will meet international standards, capacity targets, and service level commitments throughout its operational lifecycle.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Act as the Operational Design Authority for the airport refurbishment or modernization program, ensuring that all design, architecture, systems, and infrastructure decisions are operationally sound, compliant, and fit-for-purpose over the project lifecycle.
• Define and structure the Target Operating Model (TOM) and Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for the future-state airport, covering terminal, airside, landside, back-of-house, and technical/operational systems, in coordination with airport authority, airlines, ground handlers, and regulatory agencies.
• Lead comprehensive operational, functional, and capacity assessments of existing facilities and systems, benchmarking performance against ICAO, IATA, and ACI standards, and identifying gaps, bottlenecks, non-compliances, and strategic improvement opportunities.
• Translate operational requirements and service level objectives into technical and functional specifications for passenger processing systems, baggage and cargo handling, operational IT systems (AODB, RMS, FIDS), security and border control, ICT backbone, and terminal/airside/landside layouts and facilities.
• Coordinate internal and external partners (airport authority, airlines, security agencies, air navigation service providers, engineering and architectural consultants, systems integrators) to achieve a coherent operational vision and ensure alignment across all project disciplines (architecture, MEP, ICT, security).
• Participate in the costing and commercial structuring of operational solutions, ensuring competitiveness and value-for-money while maintaining operational integrity, and contributing to Work Package definitions, RFP documentation, and procurement strategies.
• Oversee the choice of operational and technical solutions in a context of long-term planning (15-30 year horizons), balancing innovation, scalability, resilience, and operational continuity, while maintaining a pragmatic, phased approach to implementation in live airport environments.
• Communicate and defend operational solutions in support of project strategy, senior leadership, government authorities, and regulatory bodies, ensuring that operational recommendations are credible, evidence-based, and aligned with the airport's strategic objectives and passenger experience goals.
• Participate in and guide operational policy and governance for the project, including phasing strategies, operational continuity planning during construction, ORAT (Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer) programs, and post-implementation performance monitoring and optimization.

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

12-15 years of experience in airport operations, terminal management, airport planning, or aviation infrastructure consulting, including at least 5 years in senior operational or technical leadership roles (Head of Operations, Operations Manager, Lead Consultant, or Design Authority) on major airport refurbishment, expansion, or greenfield programs.