What Does an Infrastructure Engineer Do?

Infrastructure engineers are responsible for the design and construction of public works projects. They commonly work on large-scale projects such as highways, bridges, dams, airports, water treatment plants, sewage systems, and other structures that affect the daily lives of millions of people.

Infrastructure engineers must be able to think creatively when it comes to problem solving. They often have to come up with innovative ways to solve complex engineering problems while working within tight budgets and timelines.

Infrastructure Engineer Job Duties

Infrastructure engineers have a wide range of responsibilities, which can include:

• Developing plans for improvements to existing infrastructure or creating new infrastructure where none currently exists
• Developing budgets for proposed projects, which often require state or federal approval before proceeding with implementation
• Analyzing operational problems and developing solutions for issues such as power outages, water leakage, or transportation accidents
• Conducting feasibility studies to determine whether proposed projects are likely to be successful based on existing conditions
• Evaluating the safety of structures such as bridges, tunnels, dams, and roads to determine if they need repair or reconstruction
• Evaluating the efficiency of existing systems and developing plans for improvement based on their findings
• Maintaining and repairing existing structures such as water towers, roads, and sewer lines
• Helping design new structures such as hospitals, schools, and power plants
• Supervising the construction process to ensure that the project meets the set budget and timeline requirements

Infrastructure Engineer Salary & Outlook

Salaries for infrastructure engineers vary depending on their level of education, years of experience, and the size and industry of the company. They may also earn additional compensation in the form of bonuses.

• Median Annual Salary: $112,000 ($53.85/hour)
• Top 10% Annual Salary: $175,000 ($84.13/hour)

The employment of infrastructure engineers is expected to grow faster than average over the next decade.

The need to repair and upgrade the nation’s roads, bridges, and water systems will continue to drive demand for infrastructure engineers. In addition, the increasing complexity of these structures means that engineers will be needed to ensure that projects are designed correctly the first time.

Related: Infrastructure Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Infrastructure Engineer Job Requirements

There are a number of qualifications required to obtain a position as an infrastructure engineer. They include:

Education: Infrastructure engineers need a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, civil engineering technology or a related field. Some of the coursework they complete includes mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, engineering and technical writing.

Many civil engineers pursue a master’s degree in civil engineering or a related field to increase their earning potential and qualify for more advanced positions.

Training & Experience: Many aspiring infrastructure engineers will receive on-the-job training in entry-level positions. This training will help them learn the specific skills and techniques required for their role. They may also receive instruction on the company’s specific computer programs and software.

Certifications & Licenses: Professional certifications allow you to prove your skills and qualifications to current and potential employers. Infrastructural engineers can earn certifications to gain more practical knowledge of their daily responsibilities, test their professional skills and advance their careers.

Infrastructure Engineer Skills

Infrastructure engineers need the following skills in order to be successful:

Technical skills: Technical skills are the knowledge and experience you have in a specific field. Infrastructure engineers use technical skills to solve problems and develop solutions for the infrastructure projects they work on. Technical skills can include knowledge of software, knowledge of engineering processes and knowledge of the infrastructure systems you work on.

Project management: Infrastructure engineers often work on large projects that require the work of many other professionals, including other engineers, architects, construction managers and more. Project management skills can help you oversee the work of many other professionals and ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.

Problem-solving: Problem-solving skills allow infrastructure engineers to identify and resolve issues that may arise during the design process. These professionals may use their problem-solving skills to find solutions to issues that may affect the project’s timeline, budget or quality.

Communication: Infrastructure engineers often work with other engineers and other professionals to complete projects. Effective communication is important to ensure everyone understands each other and works together to complete the project. Communication is also important to explain complex engineering concepts to non-engineers.

Leadership: Infrastructure engineers often work in teams to design and build infrastructure projects. Leadership skills can help you motivate your team and ensure that you meet project deadlines. Leadership skills can also help you manage and delegate tasks effectively.

Infrastructure Engineer Work Environment

Infrastructure engineers typically work in office settings, although they may spend time outdoors inspecting projects or traveling to meetings. They typically work 40 hours per week, although they may work more hours to meet deadlines or attend evening meetings. Some engineers may work on call, which means they are on call 24 hours a day and may be required to work on weekends or holidays. Engineers who work on call typically work in shifts, which can be stressful. Some engineers may travel to other countries to work on infrastructure projects.

Infrastructure Engineer Trends

Here are three trends influencing how infrastructure engineers work. Infrastructure engineers will need to stay up-to-date on these developments to keep their skills relevant and maintain a competitive advantage in the workplace.

The Need for More Technical Talent

The need for more technical talent is a trend that is being felt across all industries, as businesses are increasingly relying on technology to run their operations. This has led to an increased demand for infrastructure engineers who can design and maintain the systems that keep businesses running smoothly.

Infrastructure engineers can capitalize on this trend by becoming experts in the latest technologies and developing skills that are in high demand. They can also focus on developing relationships with potential employers early on in their careers, which can help them land jobs faster.

More Focus on Cybersecurity

As cybersecurity becomes a more important issue, infrastructure engineers will need to focus on ensuring that their company’s systems are secure.

This means that infrastructure engineers will need to be familiar with the latest threats and how to protect against them. They will also need to be able to identify weaknesses in their company’s systems and make recommendations for improvement.

Cloud Computing Will Become Even More Popular

Cloud computing is becoming increasingly popular among businesses, as it allows them to save money by outsourcing some or all of their IT needs. As cloud computing becomes even more popular, infrastructure engineers will be in high demand to build and manage these systems.

Infrastructure engineers who are well-versed in cloud computing will be in high demand, as they will be able to provide valuable services to businesses that are looking to take advantage of this technology.

How to Become an Infrastructure Engineer

An infrastructure engineer career path can be a great way to start your engineering career. It’s a field that offers many opportunities for growth and advancement, as well as the chance to work on a variety of projects in different industries.

As an infrastructure engineer, you’ll likely spend some time working on smaller projects before being assigned to larger ones. This is a good opportunity to learn about the various components of an infrastructure system and how they all work together. You may also have the chance to work on several different types of systems, such as water, transportation, or energy.

Once you’ve gained experience in the field, you can move into more senior roles with more responsibility. You could become a lead engineer on a project team, or even a manager overseeing multiple teams.

Advancement Prospects

Infrastructure engineers typically start their careers in entry-level positions, such as junior engineer or assistant engineer. With experience, they can advance to positions such as senior engineer, project manager, or department head. The most experienced and successful infrastructure engineers may become partners in their firm or start their own engineering consulting firms.

Infrastructure Engineer Job Description Example

At [CompanyX], we’re looking for an experienced Infrastructure Engineer to join our team. As our Infrastructure Engineer, you will be responsible for the design, implementation, and maintenance of our network and systems infrastructure. This includes routers, switches, firewalls, wireless networks, and VoIP systems. You will also be responsible for ensuring that our infrastructure is always available and performing at optimal levels. To be successful in this role, you must have experience with network and system administration, as well as a strong understanding of networking protocols and technologies.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain the company’s network infrastructure
• Plan and execute network upgrades, expansions, and other projects
• Monitor network performance and troubleshoot issues
• Configure and manage network devices such as routers, switches, firewalls, and load balancers
• Implement security measures to protect the network from attacks
• Manage DNS and DHCP servers
• Create and maintain documentation of the network infrastructure
• Stay up-to-date on new networking technologies and trends
• Collaborate with other engineers on network design and implementation
• Assist in the development and testing of new applications and systems
• Provide Tier 3 technical support
• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field, or equivalent experience
• 7+ years professional experience in systems engineering, network engineering, or a related discipline
• Expertise in at least one major public cloud provider (AWS, Azure, GCP) and associated technologies
• In-depth knowledge of network protocols (TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF, etc.), routing, and switching
• Experience with automation and configuration management tools (Ansible, Puppet, Chef, Terraform, CloudFormation)
• Proficient in at least one scripting language (Python, Ruby, Bash)
• Strong problem-solving skills

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Master’s degree in computer science or related field
• 10+ years professional experience in systems engineering, network engineering, or a related discipline
• CCIE or other professional certification
• Experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes, ECS)
• Experience with monitoring tools (Nagios, Zabbix, Prometheus, Grafana)
• Experience with log aggregation tools (ELK stack, Splunk)