Aviation manager Jobs in Santa Ana, CA

Market Transportation

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Our Northwest Aviation Team is seeking a Senior Aviation Planner and Project Manager to lead aviation teams in conducting comprehensive planning for northwest airports and beyond. Our dynamic aviation team provides leadership and support for a variety of public and private sector projects. Our relationships across the company allow us to regularly and seamlessly collaborate closely with technical specialists outside of our immediate team in nearly any area of expertise. At Jacobs, we see our job as more than aviation planning – we are helping our clients explore the world. Our team collaborates to bring some of the region’s most exciting and transformative infrastructure projects to life, spanning transportation, water, renewable energy, utilities, and more.

This is an opportunity for a motivated individual to influence and provide leadership as part of the quickly growing Jacobs’ aviation practice in the Pacific Northwest. The duties of this role include project/task management, interagency/interdisciplinary coordination, public involvement, business development, and opportunities to build a team and mentor staff.

Here’s what you’ll do:

• Interface directly with clients, internal team members including subconsultants, and regulatory agency staff.

• Lead the preparation of aviation planning documents in compliance with FAA.

• Assist our aviation client in writing grants to fund projects.

• Staff and manage interdisciplinary teams.

• Develop project scopes, schedules, and budgets and manage project delivery to meet client expectations and Jacobs financial goals.

• Lead or assist with the preparation of competitive bid proposals and participate in presentations.

• Recognize, communicate, and mitigate risks.

• Provide expertise in aviation, state, and local regulatory requirements and permitting processes.

Here's what you'll need

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Planning, Civil Engineering, or related field.

• 10+ years’ experience in aviation planning, analysis, grant writing, and permitting.

• Experience preparing master plan documents, including concept designs and cost estimates.

• Proven project management expertise, including managing interdisciplinary teams, and skills related to scope, schedule, budget, and risk.

• Demonstrated experience contracting with and managing subconsultants.

• Business development expertise with the ability to market to state, local, and private clients, secure aviation projects, support market assessments, conduct quality control reviews, and participate in business development activities (including proposal preparation and interviews).

• Ability to travel as needed for project assignments and pursuits.

• Strong writing abilities is a must.

Ideally, you’ll also have:

• Experience working with FAA, ITD, Commercial, and GA airports.

• Experience tracking environmental commitments and monitoring environmental compliance during construction.

• Comfort with interpreting engineering design drawings and specifications.

• Experience preparing Master Plans and ALPs.

• Experience writing grants for aviation.

Posted Salary Range: Minimum 119,800.00 Posted Salary Range: Upper 187,250.00

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, one floating holiday, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $119,800.00 to $187,250.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Job posted on December 15, 2025. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via .