From highways to runways: Albin John Mundaplackal’s journey into aviation engineering

How saying yes to opportunities helped Albin’s career take flight

Albin didn’t set out to become an aviation engineer, in fact, he didn’t even know Mott MacDonald had an aviation team when he first joined the company. He started his career in highway engineering, but his curiosity and willingness to embrace every opportunity – even if it took him out of his comfort zone – led to an unexpected and rewarding change of direction.

Give us a brief summary of your role

I describe myself as an aviation engineer, but the job is much broader than that. I work on airport and airfield design which includes runways, taxiways, aprons, stands and the utilities that support them. I also look at things like passenger experience, check- in flows, security capacity, how people move through the terminal and even the small, but important, details like signage and accessibility. Airports have to make money and passengers need a seamless travel experience, so I’m always thinking about how all those pieces fit together. Although I’m based in the UK, I think of my job as global as I work with colleagues and clients all around the world.

Why did you choose your career path? Why Mott MacDonald?

My uncle was my first inspiration. He was a geophysicist who travelled a lot for work and, as a kid, I thought that was the coolest thing. He encouraged me to consider civil engineering.

I’ve always liked making things, problem- solving and thinking outside the box, so when I visited the University of Bath and saw how its course blended maths, design, architecture and engineering, it just clicked for me. I wanted to build things that would last for decades and have an impact. During my master's at Bath, I had several industry placements but my first job after graduating in 2022 was in the bridges team of a small engineering company. I enjoyed it but I missed the complexity and scale of infrastructure and highways projects.

Growing up in Cambridge, I’d walked past the Mott MacDonald office on my way to school every day, so when a graduate civil engineer role was advertised, it felt perfect for me.

I joined the Mott MacDonald infrastructure team in 2023, working mainly on highways and infrastructure projects but, two years later, I found out about an opportunity in the aviation team through my involvement in our early career professional (ECP) network. I hadn’t intended to move away from highways, but aviation ticked all the boxes for me – complexity, variety, pace and impact – and I’ve never looked back.

What are some of the most exciting or innovative projects you’ve been trusted to lead or contribute to?

One of the biggest moments in my career was being trusted to take on the role of deputy planning lead for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority programme. It was surreal because in my school leavers’ book, I’d written that in 10 years’ time I wanted to work abroad – and literally a decade later, there I was, flying to Toronto for meetings with clients and stakeholders. That opportunity only came because my team trusted me. They supported me through the steep learning curve and, once I’d proven myself, they allowed me to take on more responsibility.

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

A typical day involves a lot of meetings and emails, but the variety keeps it interesting. I might be speaking to colleagues in Canada, Turkey or the US, so I can find myself on the phone at odd hours to fit with time differences. However, Mott MacDonald encourages flexibility, and I’m able to take that time back at other points to maintain a sustainable working pattern.

When I was deputy planning lead, I handled stakeholder engagement, something not many people with my level of experience get to do. So, I got to speak directly with clients and stakeholders on a daily basis too.

I’m also still involved in the ECP community. Previously, I was the highways practice ECP lead and now I’m the divisional ECP co-lead for the aviation, maritime and offshore (AMO) team. We built the entire AMO ECP network from scratch and just organised our first AMO day, which brought together people from across the division. These opportunities help me grow and develop beyond my day-to-day engineering role.

How do you collaborate with colleagues from different specialisms to achieve common goals?

Collaboration is essential in aviation. I work with planners, modellers, MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) engineers, architects and colleagues across multiple countries. If I don’t know something, I just reach out and people always respond.

Working internationally has also shown me different ways of approaching problems. I take the best bits from each team and use them to improve my own practice.

I’ve learned so much from working with a diverse range of passionate people. In aviation, most of my colleagues genuinely love airports and planes and that enthusiasm rubs off on you. It pushes me to continually improve the quality of my work and increase the value we bring to clients and the customers they serve.

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

Believe in yourself and say yes to things. I was scared when I moved into aviation because it was completely new to me, but I told myself: “What’s the worst that can happen?” Just try it and see. That mindset has opened doors I didn’t even know existed.

I’d also encourage new joiners to talk to people and ask questions. If you reach out to three people, you suddenly have a network. Mott MacDonald has so many opportunities, but you have to be proactive in finding them. And don’t underestimate the value of informal conversations. Some of the best advice I’ve ever received came from a simple chat over a coffee.

How does Mott MacDonald create an environment where you feel empowered and supported?

I’ve always felt supported here, both professionally and personally. From line managers to senior colleagues to mentors – official and unofficial – they’ve all made time for me and seem to genuinely care about me and my career progression. Also, if life gets tough, people check in. They listen and help however they can. And that matters, because if things are going well in your personal life, you deliver better work.

What I love most is that Mott MacDonald doesn’t box you into one thing. You’re empowered to explore, grow and find the path that excites you.