Quick Facts: Airport Engineer
| 2010 Median Pay* | $77,560 per year or $37.29 per hour |
| Entry-Level Education* | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation* | None |
| On-the-job Training* | None |
| Number of Jobs, 2010* | 262,800 |
| Job Outlook, 2010-20* | 19% |
| Employment Change, 2010-20* | 51,100 |
What Airport Engineers Do:
Airport engineers plan, design and map systems, structures and facilities. They must consider costs and quantities of material, equipment and labor in order to prepare and present a bid proposal. Airport engineers also direct construction and monitor progress.
How to Become an Airport Engineer:
A bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, and a professional engineer license is required
Job Outlook*:
The employment outlook for Civil Engineers is projected to grow by 19% from 2010-2020.
Job Description:
The Airport Engineer is responsible for directing or participating in surveys in the process of laying out installations; establishing reference points, elevations and grades to guide construction; estimating costs for the contractor payments; observing construction progress and making sure projects confirm with specifications; giving advice on possible corrections; handling schedule delivery of materials; analyzing project costs; and providing technical advice for construction problems. Some companies may need the airport engineer to assist in management, design and delivery of projects, while supervising workmanship of staff.
This is an Exempt position.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Plans and lays out airports and landing fields and directs construction work involved in leveling fields, laying out and surfacing runways, and providing drainage: Designs runways based on weight and size of aircraft and prepares material and construction specifications.
- Directs or participates in surveying to lay out installations and establish reference points, grades, and elevations to guide construction.
- Estimates costs to provide basis for payments to contractor.
- Observes progress of construction to ensure work is in conformity with specifications and advises construction personnel regarding necessary corrections.
- May serve as agent or employee of contractor and study plans and specifications to recommend special equipment or procedures to reduce time and cost of construction.
- May schedule delivery of materials, analyze costs, and provide technical advice in solution of construction problems.
Knowledge Skills and Abilities Required:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering.
- PE License.
- Experience in design and management of airport projects.
- Knowledge in airport engineering design standards, airport operations and construction methods.
- Advanced computer skills including Auto CAD or similar software.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The employee will frequently stand and walk and may sit for extended periods of time. The employee must have manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination as needed to use a variety of office equipment; corrected vision and the ability to occasionally walk on uneven terrain.
