Civil engineer

You would plan, design and manage construction for infrastructure projects like transport, water, flood alleviation, building structures, etc.

You’d explain your ideas to the client and make sure that the project is finished on time and to budget.

The projects you’d work on could be anything from bridges and tall buildings to transport links and sports arenas.

You could work in one of these specialist areas:

• Structural - dams, buildings, offshore platforms and pipelines
• Transportation – roads, railways, canals and airports
• Environmental – water supply networks, drainage and flood barriers
• Maritime – ports, harbours and sea defences
• Geotechnical – mining, earthworks and construction foundations.

You might work on feasibility and design, preparing drawings, models and specifications in a design office, or work on site ensuring the construction work is completed accurately, on time and to budget.

At the start of the project you would:

• Plan the project requirements with your client and colleagues
• Use computer modelling software to analyse data from surveys, tests and maps
• Create computer aided designs and models
• Assess the environmental impact and the risks of a project

Once a project is underway you would:

• Direct and check the progress during each stage of a project
• Make sure the construction site meets the legal, and health and safety, requirements.
• Report to your clients, public agencies and planning organisations

You’d work closely with other professionals such as architects, other engineering disciplines, surveyors and building contractors.