How to Become an Airport Engineer
Airport engineers are highly skilled professionals who oversee new projects while also ensuring that existing infrastructure functions safely and efficiently.
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Airports are massive feats of engineering. From the terminal buildings to the taxiways and runways, each part of the airport is carefully designed and constructed.
To keep these facilities running, airports employ skilled engineers to ensure that airport infrastructure is safe. Airport engineers also plan and oversee new projects.
Here is what you need to know about becoming an airport engineer.
What Does an Airport Engineer Do?
The work of an airport engineer can be divided into two broad categories. The first is project development and design, which involves planning for new infrastructure. For example, airport engineers would be heavily involved in the design, planning, and construction of a new terminal or apron.
Infrastructure projects can also include rehabilitation or improvements of existing facilities. For example, an engineer may oversee the replacement of the runway lights on an airfield or an update to the heating and cooling system inside an air traffic control tower.
The second category of work that an airport engineer does is ongoing monitoring and maintenance work. Many parts of the airport—including the runways, taxiways, and buildings—require regular inspections and tests. Engineers are responsible for conducting this work and identifying and managing any required repairs.
Although the work experience of an airport engineer can vary depending on their employer and expertise, day-to-day tasks of an airport engineer can include the following:
- Overseeing and participating in design studies and project plans: This involves tasks like performing technical design work, attending meetings, and directing consultants and contracted firms.
- Managing ongoing construction and maintenance projects: Work at an airport is conducted either by airport employees or contracted companies. Engineers are often responsible for overseeing infrastructure repairs and construction.
- Participating in the procurement process: Engineers assist in preparing requests for proposals and evaluating submissions for maintenance and construction work. This includes providing advice on the scope of work as well as technical requirements and constraints.
- Conducting site visits and inspections: There are countless elements of an airport that require regular testing and checks, ranging from baggage systems to airfield drainage networks. Engineers may be tasked with performing these inspections.
Most airport engineers are employed either directly by an airport authority (or a government body that runs an airport) or by an engineering firm that provides services to airports.
What Skills and Qualifications Do You Need to Become an Airport Engineer?
Airport engineers need to have strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail. The role of an airport planner also requires other important workplace competencies such as communication skills, the ability to work both independently and as a team, and organizational skills.
Airport engineers typically have a background in civil engineering, which is the engineering branch dedicated to the design and construction of buildings and public works. Most positions require a bachelor’s or master’s degree in civil engineering, as well as a professional engineering designation or license in the relevant jurisdiction.
Some job postings will also require prior experience as an engineer. Knowledge of airports or other public infrastructure is also typically considered an asset. Certain positions also require proficiency in design software like AutoCAD.
How Much Do Airport Engineers Make?
Entry-level airport engineering jobs typically have an annual salary of around $60,000 to $80,000. Experienced engineers can make hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2023 median pay for a civil engineer in the United States was $95,890.
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