Relocate to Australia: Associate Director – Project Architect (NSQEP)

Overview

In this role you will lead architectural design and delivery for complex, safety-critical facilities in regulated settings, coordinating across multidisciplinary teams to ensure design integrity and compliance. You will shape project direction, engage with clients, and translate regulatory requirements into robust architectural solutions. The opportunity combines design excellence with technical leadership to deliver high-quality outcomes on defence, research, and nuclear projects. You’ll work within a culture that emphasizes safety, collaboration, and continuous improvement, contributing to AECOM’s mission to build a better world.

Pay / Benefits

• Flexible work arrangements and hybrid options
• Up to 6 weeks extra annual leave
• Flex public holidays
• Continuous learning and professional development
• 5 days paid study leave
• Global career opportunities

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural design and delivery of complex defence, research, and nuclear infrastructure projects
• Act as Project Architect, ensuring design intent and high-quality outcomes across project stages
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design activities integrating architecture, structure, services, and specialist systems
• Translate nuclear safety case and regulatory requirements into design responses with subject-matter experts
• Oversee design development, documentation, and compliance with Defence, NCC, IAEA, and nuclear frameworks
• Lead client and stakeholder engagement, aligning objectives and expectations
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and drive delivery excellence

Key requirements

• Accredited degree in Architecture with registration in Australia (or eligibility)
• 10–15+ years’ architecture experience including leadership on complex projects
• Experience as Project Architect and/or Principal Consultant on medium to large-scale projects
• Experience in highly regulated environments (defence, laboratories, pharmaceutical, healthcare, nuclear)
• Strong understanding of Defence design standards, government delivery frameworks, and regulatory compliance
• Experience with safety-in-design, human factors, and complex systems integration in high-hazard environments
• Australian Citizenship or eligibility for AUKUS clearance; NSQEP recognition and/or postgraduate qualifications are favored

• Stakeholder engagement
• Leadership and mentoring
• Delivery-focused collaboration
• Defence design standards
• Regulatory compliance (IAEA, NCC)
• Safety-in-design principles

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