Civil Engineer Job Description: Top Duties and Requirements

A Civil Engineer creates plans for public projects to maintain essential infrastructure in communities for everything from roads to airports to trains. Their duties include creating drafts for projects, implementing designs, and generally maintaining infrastructure, though the latter is generally done in an advisory role.

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Civil Engineer duties and responsibilities

Civil Engineers are responsible for planning massive infrastructure projects, so there are numerous skills and talents involved. Some of the most important duties and responsibilities include:

Developing designs for projects
Conducting site inspections and feasibility assessments
Preparing project plans and carrying them out
Calculating estimated costs for projects
Learning all relevant government regulations and codes
Ensuring regulatory compliance and safety for the project
Finding solutions to problems and producing presentations to showcase them
Coordinating with clients and contractors

Civil Engineer Job Description Examples:

Example 1

SCS Consulting Group is a consulting engineering firm providing services to the land development industry in the Golden Horseshoe and surrounding areas. Our services include the design and contract administration of municipal infrastructure for residential subdivision and institutional, commercial and industrial site plans.

The associated stormwater management services include Master Drainage Plans, Stormwater Management Reports and design of Stormwater Management facilities and infrastructure with a focus on low impact development (LID) techniques and protecting the natural environment.

Why SCS?

SCS is a company that believes in building long lasting relationships with our clients, community partners, employees and their families. We are a preferred employer where we work as hard as we play and always celebrate as a team! We frequently host companywide events, participate in community and industry events and our multiple sports teams encourage a healthy lifestyle, good fun and friendly competition between co-workers.

We encourage employees to be part of the communities that they live and work in. SCS contributes to a variety of community-based charities.

We believe our fundamental strength lies within our staff. Our employees are the engine of our company and are empowered and encouraged to take ownership of their projects. Staff are rewarded with challenging work, a focus on job satisfaction and the opportunity for career advancement. We offer competitive salaries and health benefits, as well as a wellness allowance.

Job Description

Reporting to a Project Manager, you will be a project designer with at least 5 years related experience involved with various aspects of land development projects through both the design and construction phases.

Your responsibilities will include preparing preliminary and final grading and servicing designs, cost estimates, project schedules, coordinating projects through the approvals process, liaising with contractors, sub-consultants, and clients.

Qualifications:

Civil Engineering or Civil Technology degree;

Must have comprehensive knowledge of Civil 3D 2016 – 2021;

The presence of strong interpersonal and communication skills is an asset;

Organizational abilities and a willingness to work in a team atmosphere is a must;

Must be willing to work with a detailed and flexible approach to work assignments;

Experience using Microsoft Office, other Windows based applications, and programming capabilities would be considered an asset; and

Municipal design experience is an asset.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Education:

Bachelor's Degree work: 5 years (preferred)

Example 2

Are you looking for an opportunity to…

Leave a positive impact on the environment and your community?

Work in a close-knit group of motivated professionals?

Be mentored and mentor others?

Develop your critical thinking skills?

Develop a career that provides a mix of field and office time, with potential opportunities for international travel?

Intrigued? Read on - the details of your next career adventure are below.
What makes us stand out?

Aren’t all consultancies the same? We don’t think so. Our tag line “Down to Earth / Up to the Challenge” says a lot about who we are. In broad terms we think KCB’s primary differentiators are:

our global reputation for technical excellence;

appetite to tackle problems with unique complexities;

real access to some of the sectors most amazing talent;

our size (we’re a mid-sized consultancy);

the breadth of our multi-disciplinary services; and

our offices in some of the worlds most beautiful locations.

The right fit – it’s got to be mutual
We recognize that making a career move is a significant personal decision and, from our perspective, building a team of like-minded individuals is an important element to our success.

KCB Vancouver is looking for someone interested in being part of our existing team whose focus is: collaboration within multi-disciplinary project teams for the delivery of construction projects; development and mentorship of each other in construction management and quality assurance; delivery of high-quality geotechnical services; and building and sustaining excellent client relationships.

If you have between 5 and 10 years’ experience in civil or geotechnical engineering and want to be part of a highly motivated group that works with clients to achieve their objectives, while leaving a positive impact on the environment and local communities then KCB is what you are looking for. We are particularly interested in candidates with experience in: slope stability and seepage analysis; dam design; earthworks and construction; site investigation; laboratory testing or soils and rock; and quantity estimation. Our clients are primarily mining so past mining experience, specifically related to tailings dams, would be an asset.

Our focus is on the application of critical thinking to the management of mine waste and water and our clients are some of the largest mining companies in the world. The right candidate will show flexibility and be energized by the prospect of working on sites all around the world. Registration as a Professional Engineer in British Columbia, or eligibility to register, is a prerequisite.

Join us and you’ll find we really DO value your mining and tailings management knowledge, project management skills and experience.

Are you up to the challenge?
If this sounds like the perfect opportunity for you, simply apply on-line with your résumé. This position may have opportunity for a hybrid work arrangement.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Additional pay:

Bonus pay

Overtime pay
Benefits:

Company pension

Dental care

Disability insurance

Employee assistance program

Extended health care

Life insurance

On-site parking

Paid time off

Relocation assistance

Vision care

Work from home
Schedule:

8 hour to Friday

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What does a Civil Engineer do?

Civil Engineers tend to split their time between creating designs, making site visits, and meeting with executives, councils, and managers to discuss project goals. They create designs for projects and quantify exactly how its construction will work in terms of time and budget. Additionally, Civil Engineers work with a team to complete projects on the desired timeline and within the established budget. That includes conducting numerous site visits to assess progress and ensure everything is running on schedule and according to code.

Civil Engineer skills and qualifications

Given the number of their responsibilities, Civil Engineers require many essential skills to perform their tasks properly. Some necessary skills and qualifications include:

Infrastructure engineering and design skills
Mathematical and cost analysis skills
Written and oral communication skills
Leadership and organizational skills
Creative problem-solving and decision-making skills
Project development and management skills
Understanding of design software like AutoCAD

Civil Engineer experience requirements

Civil Engineers require extensive experience to do their job properly. At least five years of engineering work in the field is typically required as a minimum for most Civil Engineer positions. Additionally, Civil Engineers will need to have experience working on more than one project at a time, since most positions will require a lot of overlap between projects. This kind of experience doesn’t necessarily have to be within Civil Engineering itself, but applicants should have experience with multiple simultaneous projects in a related field or similar work environment.

Civil Engineer education and training requirements

Extensive education is required for Civil Engineer positions. At minimum, a candidate will need a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Some positions may require a master’s degree, while others may require additional certifications from professional engineering organizations. Civil Engineers with training in design software like Autodesk, MicroStation, or AutoCAD are preferred, and this training is rapidly becoming required considering the shift to the latest programs for efficiency purposes.

Civil Engineer salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Civil Engineer in Canada is $73,623 per year. This can vary depending on the experience of the candidate, the location of the position, and the company.

Job description samples for similar positions

If Civil Engineer isn’t quite the position you’re looking for, some similar job description samples that may be a better fit include:

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Civil Engineer job description FAQs

What's the difference between an Engineering Technician and a Civil Engineer?

While there is a lot of crossover between the roles of an Engineering Technician and a Civil Engineer, a Civil Engineer is more concerned with big-picture problems. They design and implement entire projects, while an Engineering Technician focuses more on practical drafting, cost estimation, and computer simulations. A Civil Engineer has to do all that as well, but also crafts wider plans and works with clients directly.

Are there different types of Civil Engineers?

Civil Engineering can have many specialties or sub-fields. Some Civil Engineers even have specialties in addition to the general skills and responsibilities detailed in effective job descriptions. For example, a Civil Engineer who specializes in construction engineering may be better at projects dealing with government buildings, while those specializing in transportation engineering will work with projects involving trains, airports, roads, and ports. Be sure to include any preferred specializations or unusual responsibilities in the job description.

What are the best traits to look for in a Civil Engineer resume?

Along with the general skills, experience, and education requirements for a Civil Engineer, you should look for a candidate with certifications or training from reputable professional organizations. This is even more important if your position includes work that’s heavily focused on one area or requires unique job responsibilities. You should also look for candidates with demonstrated success in completing projects on time and according to code and budget.

Job Description Examples

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