Mirza Andiani: flying high as a senior aviation engineer

Mirza Andiani’s journey as an aviation engineer has taken her across the world from Jakarta in Indonesia to Croydon in the UK. We asked Mirza about her career, why she chose Mott MacDonald and how being trusted at work has been the passport to her success.

Mirza has been following motorsports (especially Formula 1) since she was in middle school, and went to the Monaco Grand Prix in 2024

Tell us about your role at Mott MacDonald

I’m a senior aviation engineer based in Croydon, UK. My specialism is in airfield engineering which means I co-ordinate the design of the airside infrastructure of airports, such as runways, taxiways and aprons where the aircraft are parked, loaded and refuelled. I also support the masterplanning and advisory experts within the wider aviation, maritime and offshore division on airport terminal construction and operations projects.

Why did you choose your career path?

I grew up in Jakarta and ever since I was a kid, I have always been fascinated by airports, the idea that people are embarking on journeys to thousands of destinations across the world from one place. I have to admit that I always enjoy the journey much more than the destination itself whenever I go on holiday!

This interest led me to study civil engineering and then transport engineering for my Masters degree, both at Bandung Institute of Technology in Indonesia. I’ve been interested in pursuing an aviation career since graduating from university, but there were only a limited number of consultancies that had expanded their aviation practices to Southeast Asia at that time. So, after spending the first couple of years of my career as a management consultant in the transport sector, I decided to move to the UK and find my way back to aviation.

What inspired you to join Mott MacDonald?

When I decided to shift my career back to engineering, Mott MacDonald was always at the top of my mind. I wanted to work on multidisciplinary projects and Mott MacDonald’s global presence and extensive aviation portfolio made me interested in pursuing my career with the aviation team.

What does it mean to you to be trusted to do brilliant things at Mott MacDonald?

Being trusted is an important aspect of building confidence, especially if you are an early career professional. With Mott MacDonald, I have encountered some exciting challenges that allowed me to develop myself further, both personally and professionally. The support and guidance from peers and more senior colleagues are equally important, especially when you are exploring new things that you are not familiar with.

What does a typical day look like for you at Mott MacDonald, and how do you find opportunities to excel in your role?

During the early part of a project, my typical day would start with developing the design and co-ordinating the result with other disciplines to make sure that we are aligned with the team's objectives. Some days may also include engagement with the client to communicate our progress and ensure that we are on track with the targets and milestones of the project delivery. At the end of the design stage, as a team, we arrange the submission to the client, which may involve presenting to the client and/or other stakeholders.

While I spend most of my time in the office, I really enjoy going on site visits to airports to observe the construction and airside operations activities. The highlight of my time on site was when I went to a closed airport on an island for runway resurfacing, which involved travelling by land, air and sea in one trip! This reminded me once again about the vital role of airports in improving connectivity.

Mirza is currently training for the London Marathon

What does being part of a global team mean to you and how does it influence your work?

Working with the aviation team at Mott MacDonald has given me a different perspective. Although each airport will have its own challenges, I found that every project has key takeaways that we can implement for other airports. Within the team, we have ~60 planners and engineers with more than 20 different nationalities and we all have a different perspective to bring. I’m glad that I have the opportunity to collaborate with the best aviation specialists with experience of airports around the world.

Can you share an example of how the company culture has helped you achieve your personal and professional goals?

Our PRIDE – Progress, Respect, Integrity, Drive and Excellence – values greatly helped me in navigating my career in the right direction. I treat the PRIDE values as a compass, reinforcing that technical excellence should always be matched by ethical, respectful and purposeful behaviour. That alignment has kept me both grounded and motivated throughout my career.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start their career at Mott MacDonald?

Always keep in mind the need to learn, unlearn and relearn about everything!