Heinz Hilbrecht began his career as an economist in Germany before joining the energy department of the European Commission in 1980. He worked from 1986 to 1990 at the EU embassy in Washington DC covering energy, environment and transport, and in 1990-1991 as assistant to the Commission's Director General for Personnel and Administration in Brussels. In 1991, he became Head of Unit in DG Transport - the first five years for state aids in the aviation sector, and then for three years for railway policy. From 1999 to 2004 he was Director for Land Transport responsible for railway and road transport policies.