Job description template
Civil Engineer Job Description
Civil engineer job description: design and site duties, specialisms, software skills, and degree and PE licensing requirements to adapt for your team.
The role in brief
A civil engineer plans, designs and supervises the construction and maintenance of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, tunnels, buildings, and water and sewage systems. The work covers analysing surveys, maps and soil test results, producing designs and cost estimates, securing permits, checking regulatory compliance, and overseeing work on site. Common specialisms include construction, geotechnical, structural and transportation engineering. In the US, entry-level roles need a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, preferably from an accredited programme, and a Professional Engineer (PE) licence is typically required to provide services directly to the public. In the posting, say the specialism, project types, the split between office and site, and whether you need a PE now or will support the candidate towards one.
- Analyse survey data, maps, soil and material test results to inform designs
- Design infrastructure and site elements using engineering principles and design software
- Prepare cost estimates for materials, equipment and labour
- Prepare and submit permit applications to local, state and federal agencies
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Applying for a role like this? Practise the assessment free →Responsibilities
- Analyse survey data, maps, soil and material test results to inform designs
- Design infrastructure and site elements using engineering principles and design software
- Prepare cost estimates for materials, equipment and labour
- Prepare and submit permit applications to local, state and federal agencies
- Check designs against codes, standards and environmental regulations
- Oversee surveying, site layout, grading and elevations
- Monitor construction progress, quality and safety on site
- Coordinate with architects, contractors, surveyors, clients and other engineers
- Write reports, specifications and technical memos
- Where licensed, review and sign off designs and supervise junior engineers
Required skills
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Nice to have
Qualifications
- 1Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a related field, preferably from an accredited programme
- 2US: Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam passed or Engineer in Training status for early-career roles
- 3US: Professional Engineer (PE) licence for roles that approve designs or serve the public directly (PE requires an accredited degree, the FE exam, several years of experience and the PE exam)
- 4Outside the US, the local professional registration or chartership route where the role needs it
- 5Driving licence for site visits, if required
Work environment
Work environment
Career growth
Engineers usually progress from graduate or EIT roles to project engineer, then to licensed senior or principal engineer, project manager or technical specialist. Specialty certifications and experience can lead to senior technical or management roles.
Common questions
What does a civil engineer do?
A civil engineer plans, designs and oversees infrastructure projects. Daily work includes analysing surveys and test results, designing with engineering software, estimating costs, getting permits, checking compliance and supervising work on site.
Does a civil engineer need a PE licence?
Not for entry-level work in the US. A PE licence is typically required to provide services directly to the public, sign off designs and oversee other engineers. NCEES says the PE exam is designed for engineers with a minimum of four years' post-college work experience, and licences are issued by state boards.
What are the main types of civil engineers?
Common specialisms are construction engineers (building projects to plan, temporary works and safety), geotechnical engineers (foundations and how structures interact with soil and rock), structural engineers (strength of buildings, bridges and dams) and transportation engineers (roads, airports, transit and harbours).
What skills should be on a civil engineer resume?
Project types and scale, your role on each, software used, codes you designed to, licence status (EIT or PE and state), and site experience. Short project summaries are more persuasive than lists of duties.
How do you assess civil engineer candidates?
Ask them to talk through a project from brief to construction, then give a short design or review exercise in your specialism, such as checking a drawing for errors. Their reasoning about codes and constraints matters more than speed.
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