Project delivery in aviation – how PDP is transforming the future

Airports demand that you think bigger. That’s just one reason Phil has stayed motivated in aviation since first working on a major airport development in Jeddah in 2010. Today, as a Project Director at AtkinsRéalis, he still finds energy in the scale, pace, and purpose of the work. If you’re exploring your next career move, his story offers a clear view of what makes our Project Delivery Practice (PDP) such an exciting place to build a career.

Airports never stand still

I now lead the professional services framework at Heathrow Airport, working at the centre of a fast‑moving and highly connected environment. My focus is aviation infrastructure, but the work reaches far beyond a single discipline.

Airports are like mini‑cities, containing all of the infrastructure you would expect plus a vast array of specialisms, and that complexity is what draws me in. Aviation brings together many teams, many priorities, and constant change. It means I can see real impact - projects affect how passengers move, how operations run, and how airports prepare for future demand.

What particularly appeals to me is the challenge of delivering change within the constraints of an operational environment. That’s what makes the work so engaging. We’re not solving problems in theory, we’re helping shape infrastructure that people rely on every day, and yet no two challenges feel exactly the same. Airports keep evolving, and we need to evolve with them.

A role built on collaboration

In my role, I work closely with Heathrow, consultants, and contractors. That collaboration matters because no single team can solve aviation’s toughest challenges alone. Progress depends on people bringing their knowledge together and staying focused on what clients need most.

For me, that’s a big part of what makes PDP so rewarding. We do far more than deliver projects in a narrow sense. We work across disciplines, learn from different specialists, and help clients think more strategically about the future. In a sector that changes quickly, this kind of teamwork creates real room to grow.

Support early on can shape everything that follows

My own path into leadership was not overnight. Early years in structural engineering gave me the chance to build strong technical, customer management, and commercial skills. Looking back, the biggest takeaway is not only what I worked on. It is the fact that I had people around me who invested in my development and gave me space to grow. That experience has shaped how I work with others today, and is one reason I value supportive teams so highly.

For anyone considering joining us, this matters. Growth here is not only about the scale of the projects. It is also about the people around you and the support you receive as you build your career. We believe that work should be more than a job. It should be a journey of purpose, connection and growth. My experience shows what that can look like in practice.

Why I call PDP ‘the most exciting team’

That excitement comes from the kind of work we take on. We’re primarily aligned to the aviation, power and renewables, water and defence markets. Our people are highly desired and AtkinsRéalis turns to us to lead the largest and most complex projects – meaning you get exposure to work that is genuinely interesting, challenging, and important.

For me, that creates a powerful career opportunity. You’re not limited to a narrow role or a single type of project. You get the chance to contribute in sectors that matter deeply to society and to work on challenges that demand fresh thinking, technical strength, and collaboration.

Joining PDP means stepping into some of the most important conversations in infrastructure today. We support clients who are managing complexity, responding to change, and planning for the long term. That puts us in a position to make a real difference. We’re not simply delivering against a scope. We are helping shape solutions that need to work in the real world, under real pressure, with long‑lasting impact.

Looking beyond project delivery

A big part of our role is helping clients solve challenges that go beyond the immediate project. I believe that starts with truly understanding what matters to them. You have to be curious. You have to take an interest in your client’s business. You also need to talk to colleagues about what they are delivering for other clients and ask what lessons or ideas could create value here.

That mindset matters because clients are not only looking for delivery. They are looking for partners who can help them think strategically, improve outcomes, and make better‑informed decisions. This is where relationships become so important. The more deeply you understand a client’s world, the better placed you are to connect them with the right ideas, the right people, and the right solutions.

A recent example for me was taking GeoBIM work being delivered at Sizewell C and introducing it to Heathrow, enabling more informed decisions, a reduction in risk, and the highest levels of safety and efficiency.

For me, that example shows the real value of working in a connected business. We can learn from one market and apply that learning in another. We can bring together digital capability, project understanding, and client insight to unlock better outcomes. This is not only about innovation for its own sake. It is about using innovation in a way that helps clients solve bigger strategic and operational challenges.

The chance to shape tomorrow

Project delivery in complex environments is changing quickly and one of the biggest challenges today is workforce capacity. We are responding to this in practical ways - seeking to automate repetitive and commodifiable activity, increasing reliance on our brilliant international teams, and improving productivity and site safety through DfMA techniques. 

Digital transformation is also reshaping how we deliver projects. Better tools and better‑connected data can strengthen collaboration and support better decisions. This is why PDP matters so much. We sit at the point where infrastructure, delivery, and technology come together.

If you want work with visible impact, I believe this is a team worth exploring. You’ll work alongside people who support your growth. You’ll help deliver complex projects that matter. And your contributions will directly influence critical projects that shape the infrastructure and technological landscape of tomorrow.

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