NYM Transportation Lead at AECOM

Company Description

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

NYM Transportation Lead

AECOM seeks a NYM Transportation Lead to join our NY Metro Buildings + Places leadership team to grow and lead our Buildings + Places (B+P) transportation architecture practice across the New York Metro region, advancing design excellence for airports, rail and transit stations, and bus facilities. We are the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, and this role drives our purpose: delivering a better world through resilient, people-centered, and future-ready transportation environments. This position will be part of one of the largest multidisciplinary Transportation design teams in the country offering the opportunity to shape the future of transportation architecture in one of the world’s most complex and dynamic markets. It is a platform to deliver transformative, resilient, and equitable mobility infrastructure that improves everyday life. We offer a collaborative, high-performance culture that values innovation, inclusion, and professional growth.

The ideal candidate will be an architect with deep technical knowledge of building technology and expertise in the design and delivery of innovative transportation facilities, including aviation, rail, light rail, and bus rapid transit. Additionally, the candidate will nurture a local multi-disciplinary team of architects, engineers, urban strategists, and specialty sub-consultants, while also engaging with national and global experts to ensure the delivery of efficient, equitable, and inspiring transportation facilities.

The candidate will be responsible for executing professional project work, contributing to winning new projects, cultivating strong client relationships within the NY Metro area, and helping to grow AECOM’s portfolio of aviation, transit systems, stations and infrastructure. This position is supported by our regional operational and technical teams and reports to the NYM Managing Principal. The candidate will collaborate with the Global and Regional Transit and Aviation leads within the Building + Places business line, along with leaders within the Transportation Business Line to leverage broader expertise and resources.

Key Responsibilities

• Market & Client Leadership:
  • Lead the B+P transportation architecture strategy and market growth across New York Metro, aligning our global transportation priorities and regional pipeline.
  • Build, sustain, and expand senior client relationships with public owners, agencies, and operators (e.g., regional aviation and transit authorities), becoming a trusted advisor.
  • Drive capture strategies and pursuit leadership for major programs (Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build, CM/GC, CMAR, and traditional Design-Bid-Build), partnering across disciplines.
  • Champion thought leadership, positioning, and visibility through industry engagement, conferences, and publications.
• Design Excellence & Technical Leadership:
  • Set the design vision for complex transportation facilities that elevate passenger experience, operational performance, safety, and resilience.
  • Lead interdisciplinary teams to deliver integrated solutions (architecture, interiors, planning, urban design, structural, MEP, civil, fire/life safety, sustainability, digital).
  • Ensure compliance with applicable codes, standards, and guidelines (e.g., IBC, ADA, NFPA 130 for transit, FAA ACs and airport-specific standards).
  • Promote digital delivery (BIM/Revit, coordination/clash detection, parametric tools, 3D/VR), quality management, and risk mitigation.
• Project & Portfolio Delivery:
  • Oversee a portfolio of high-impact pursuits and projects, ensuring scope, schedule, budget, and quality objectives are met.
  • Guide project execution plans, fee strategies, risk registers, and commercial performance across large and complex assignments.
  • Direct authoring/review of critical deliverables (design narratives, basis-of-design, technical reports, bridging documents, and performance specs).
  • Coordinate interfaces across terminals, stations, concourses, bus depots/garages, intermodal facilities, wayfinding, security, and operational back-of-house.
• People & Practice Growth:
  • Recruit, mentor, and develop top talent; cultivate a high-performance, inclusive culture rooted in collaboration and accountability.
  • Establish and uphold best practices for transportation architecture within B+P, including QA/QC and lessons learned.
  • Partner with regional and national leaders to align resources, elevate design quality, and scale innovative delivery methods.
• Sustainability, Resilience, and Innovation:
  • Embed sustainability and carbon reduction strategies into every phase of design, advancing our Sustainable Legacies commitments.
  • Integrate resilience (climate risk, flood and wind design, redundancy), universal design, and safety-by-design into all solutions.
  • Advance innovation across digital twins, prefabrication/modular strategies, smart operations, and customer experience enhancements.

Success Metrics

• Market growth reflected in bookings, backlog health, and win rate for aviation, transit, and bus facility pursuits.
• Portfolio performance: schedule adherence, quality, client satisfaction, margins, and change/risk management discipline.
• Design excellence: awards/recognition, benchmark-setting outcomes, and measurable sustainability/resilience performance.
• Talent outcomes: recruitment, retention, capability development, and succession strength.

Key Interfaces

• Internal: B+P Architecture and Interiors, Urbanism & Planning, Building Engineering (MEP/FP/Structural), Civil, Transportation Planning, Program/Project Management, Cost/Commercial.
• External: Public owners and operators, partner firms (e.g., contractors for DB/PDB/CM delivery), and community stakeholders.

AECOM’s Buildings + Places practice includes architecture, interiors, building engineering, workplace strategy, business transformation, asset advisory, economics and development planning, master planning, urban planning, and landscape architecture. With a range of expertise from strategy and design through project realization, we create better outcomes to grow economies, protect natural systems, conserve natural resources, make societies more equitable, and connect and engage people through innovative, sustainable design solutions. Our teams have worked on signature projects such as the London 2012 Olympic Park and Legacy Framework, to the new plan for the LA2028 Olympics, to industrial facilities for GE and Rolls-Royce, to headquarters and workplaces for NASA, Unilever, Sony Music, DirecTV, Box, Inc., and many Fortune 500 companies.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelors Degree in Architecture + 10 years of progressive experience leading planning, design, and delivery of complex transportation facilities in the New York Metro market, including:
  • Airports (passenger terminals, support/operations, landside/airside interfaces).
  • Transit/Rail (stations, intermodal hubs, concourses, platform environments).
  • Bus Facilities (depots, maintenance facilities, BRT infrastructure and stations).
• Licensed Architect (RA).
• Demonstrated leadership of large, multi-disciplinary teams on fast-paced programs with multiple stakeholders and delivery models (DB, PDB, CM/GC, CMAR).
• Proven success in client development, capture leadership, and winning major pursuits.
• Strong command of applicable codes/standards and agency processes (e.g., IBC, ADA, NFPA 130; familiarity with FAA/FTA guidance and regional agency requirements).
• Track record of delivering projects with high design quality, operational performance, safety, and user experience.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills at the executive and public forum levels.
• Recent experience working with PANYNJ, MTA, AMTRAK, NJT and/or LIRR agencies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters of Architecture.
• 20 years of progressive experience leading planning, design, and delivery of complex transportation facilities in the New York Metro market.
• Strong relationships with regional transportation agencies.
• New York State and New Jersey State RA (or ability to obtain either via reciprocity); NCARB certification preferred.
• LEED AP, ENV SP, or equivalent sustainability credential.
• Experience collaborating with major New York Metro transportation and aviation stakeholders and navigating complex stakeholder environments.
• Expertise in digital delivery (BIM/Revit, AutoCAD, Navisworks, Bentley/MicroStation family of BIM and 3D modeling software, parametric tools) and advanced coordination workflows.
• Background in progressive delivery preconstruction, bridging documents, and performance-based design criteria.
• Experience with wayfinding, passenger experience design, and terminal/station operational planning.
• Design/Build experience, DBIA certification is a plus.
• PMP Certification is a plus.

Additional Information

• Relocation is not available for this opportunity.
• Sponsorship for US employment authorization is not available now or in the future for this position.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community—where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.