WHAT DOES A CIVIL ENGINEER DO?
Updated: Mai 27, 2025 - The Civil Engineer evaluates potential projects through bid analysis, identifies site challenges, and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements. This position facilitates the design, procurement, and construction of solar facilities while managing resources and developing high-quality design documentation. Collaboration with technical teams ensures cohesive design packages, timely permit submissions, and successful project execution.
A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Civil Engineer
1. Civil Engineer Details and Accountabilities
- Safety Management: Manage known and potential safety issues and representation at safety boards.
- Project Leadership: Lead multi-disciplinary Integrated project teams in the investigation of operational issues to introduce containment actions, establish root causes, and recommend corrective actions.
- Technical Communication: Prepare and deliver technical communications (e.g. presentations and/or reports) to Airframers, regulators, operators, and internal stakeholders.
- Technical Documentation: Ensure that the technical content of all manuals is substantiated, valid, and maintained to a high standard recognizing that these are legal documents.
- Technical Support: Provide technical support to resolve technical queries and operational issues.
- Design Influence: Support and influence the design organization to ensure in-service product attributes (reliability, service cost, time on wing, etc.) meet business requirements.
- Technical Planning: Support planning, technical issues, RFls, submittals, and material approvals.
- Engineering Problem Solving: Resolve moderate to complex Engineering problems and perform quantity take-offs.
- Field Engineering Coordination: Coordinate Field Engineering activities with the site Construction Management team.
- Report and Proposal Assembly: Assist in the assembly of reports, proposals, bids, estimates, and schedules.
- As-Built Documentation: Ensure as-built documents are updated as required by the contract.
2. Civil Engineer Essential Functions
- Civil Design: Perform Civil Design work using AutoCAD Civil 3D.
- Land Development Planning: Develop plans and drawings, primarily for residential and commercial land development projects.
- Survey Assistance: Assist with survey department functions such as field survey, plat preparation, topographic mapping, and other survey functions.
- Design Feasibility: Research the feasibility of alternative design approaches, site conditions, and regulatory agency specifications.
- Project Specifications: Develop project specifications and complete permit applications.
- Proposal and Budgeting: Prepare proposals and establish budgets and efficient project timelines.
- Project Coordination: Coordinate with other engineers and technicians to complete projects within established budgets and timelines.
- Billing and Account Management: Assist with the preparation of billing statements and account collection.
3. Civil Engineer General Responsibilities
- Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create community designs and layouts with a keen focus on balancing marketability with cost control.
- Design Standards Development: Create and implement innovative design standards to be incorporated into future communities.
- Feasibility and Planning: Facilitate the feasibility process for new land acquisition opportunities by creating conceptual layouts, preparing cost estimates, and timelines, and identifying project risks and constraints.
- Project Coordination: Coordinate with third-party engineers to ensure priorities are established and monitor project progress.
- Construction Plan Support: Ensure Land Development is supported with timely receipt of approved construction plan sets.
- Plan Set Review: Review construction plan sets from third-party engineers to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
- Municipal Collaboration: Collaborate with municipal staff to garner their support for new community designs and zoning cases.
- Regulatory Compliance: Collaborate with municipal staff to ensure compliance and correct interpretation of ordinances and zoning requirements.
- Design Conformance Monitoring: Monitor conformance to design specifications and municipal standards.
- Technical Guidance: Provide technical guidance regarding community design, construction, or program modifications and needs.
4. Civil Engineer Responsibilities and Key Tasks
- Survey Analysis: Analyze survey reports, maps, plans, and other relevant information for project planning.
- Permit Submittal: Submit permit applications for projects with multiple regulations to appropriate local, state, and federal agencies.
- Budgeting and Risk Analysis: Budget construction costs and perform risk analysis for projects.
- Regulatory and Risk Studies: Study government regulations, environmental hazards, and other time constraints, risks, and expenditures when planning a project.
- Cost Estimation: Calculate budget cost estimates for equipment, labor, materials, and other expenditures.
- Design and Simulation: Design and implement plans and simulations using 2-D or 3-D computer software to plan transportation systems, hydraulics, structural sound framework, and other facilities to the highest standards.
- Coastal and Flood Design: Conduct the design process for various coastal restoration, flood mitigation, and stormwater projects from conceptual design to detailed designs including plans, specifications, and construction documents.
- Project Management: Perform project management activities in a lead role being responsible for scope, budget, and schedule working in close coordination with project team, sub-consultants, and clients.
- Numerical Modeling: Define numerical modeling needs for engineering projects, and guide the numerical modeling team and QA/QC numerical modeling results.
- Strategic Planning and Development: Participate in strategic planning and business development activities to grow Engineering Practice.
- Proposal and Presentation Support: Assist with project proposals and selection presentations.
5. Civil Engineer Duties and Roles
- Bid Evaluation: Review all potential projects by running through a bid evaluation to analyze site conditions, highlighting potential issues that will need to be addressed.
- Solar Facility Development: Facilitate the engineering, procurement, and construction of solar facilities.
- Due Diligence: Perform due diligence on properties including site visits, review of available mapping, review of agency regulations, verbal discussions with municipalities and various agencies, and coordination with utility companies.
- Cost and Resource Estimation: Work with the estimating team to ensure that allocated costs and resources adequately reflect project needs to facilitate the design and construction of the solar facilities.
- Design Documentation: Develop high-quality design documentation to communicate the project design to the client, regulatory agencies, and sub-contractors, and ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
- Land Development Design: Assist the project managers/project engineers with the design of land development projects which could include zoning reviews, grading, earthwork analysis, stormwater management designs, and roadway and utility profiles.
- Scope and Compliance Management: Review, understand, and work within the contracted scope of work, construction requirements, permitting conditions, budget, and schedule to execute projects.
- Technical Coordination: Work with technical resources such as drafters, engineering consultants, and equipment suppliers to deliver cohesive design packages for the project team.
- Documentation and Submission Support: Support the project team in submitting drawings and other documentation to obtain permits, seek bids, specify equipment/means/methods, and hit contract milestones.
6. Civil Engineer Overview
- Structural Design: Work alongside other engineers and use engineering knowledge and experience to perform structural design of buildings and components (foundations, steel and concrete structures, steel connections, erection plans, etc.) using a variety of building materials (i.e. steel, concrete, masonry, and wood).
- Steel Design: Work alongside other engineers in coordination with multiple departments to perform steel connections, stairs, ladders, rails, and other delegated design items on HME, Inc. projects in conformance with the project contract documents and applicable codes.
- Drawing Review: Work alongside other engineers in coordination with multiple departments to perform quality control checks of erection drawings and shop drawings.
- Site Planning: Use engineering knowledge and experience to develop site plans and drainage reports for the development of HME, Inc. properties and interests.
- Water Engineering: Provide technical and design services in support of water resource engineering projects of all types that relate to stream restoration, stormwater management, modeling, watershed restoration, and watershed planning.
- Engineering Reports: Conduct preliminary and final engineering evaluations, prepare various reports, produce design drawings, prepare technical specifications, and prepare permit submittals for municipal engineering projects.
- Project Management: Responsible for various tasks on several concurrent projects and must be able to follow these tasks through to completion within the allocated period of time and the budget assigned.
- Data Management: Assist in the development of project plans, GIS maps, plan sheets, Civil3D drawings, and survey data management & assessment.
- Site Inspection: Inspect project sites, evaluate contractor work, and ensure conformance to design specifications and applicable codes.
7. Civil Engineer Tasks
- Project Scoping: Determine the project scope of work.
- Team Supervision: Supervise the project team and mentor staff engineers.
- Infrastructure Engineering: Engineer municipal water, sewer, drainage, and road infrastructure projects.
- Permit Acquisition: Conduct studies and obtain permits.
- Design Development: Develop preliminary and final designs.
- Construction Oversight: Provide construction oversight.
- Budget Management: Develop and maintain budgets and schedules.
- Client Relations: Develop and maintain strong client relationships.
- Site Inspection: Serve as DU’s representative on construction projects, while performing a variety of inspections to verify contractor’s compliance with plans, specifications, and standards.
- Report Preparation: Prepare inspection reports and maintain project records.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Represent DU with local, state, and federal personnel, private landowners, and other conservation partners.
8. Civil Engineer Additional Details
- Design Preparation: Assist with design and prepare detailed plans and specifications for civil/mechanical improvements.
- Cost Estimation: Prepare quantity take-offs and cost estimates.
- Drawing Review: Review shop drawing submittals.
- CAD Drafting: Perform CAD work using MicroStation or AutoCAD.
- Site Monitoring: Visit construction sites to confirm the progress of work and confirm that the work meets the requirements of the project plans and specifications.
- Pump Design: Pump design and system head curve calculations.
- Infrastructure Design: Preparation of civil engineering and design services for a range of project elements including roadworks, stormwater and other infrastructure, using best practice methodologies and techniques.
- Client Engagement: Engaging with clients to develop innovative solutions and resolution of complex design issues.
- Technical Input: Providing technical input into the scope of work and timing of projects.
- Field Investigation: Conducting site visits and investigations and assisting in field surveys.
- Team Mentoring: Mentoring for junior design teams.
- Contract Administration: Administering Construction Contracts.
9. Civil Engineer Role Purpose
- Construction Monitoring: Attend site construction meetings to monitor construction activities.
- Contract Management: Manage and coordinate contract performance and construction practices by ensuring that efficient procedures are implemented and best practice is achieved.
- Issue Resolution: Resolve problems and identify construction issues.
- Contract Understanding: Understand the contract, scope of work, the engineering specifications, and the drawings.
- Productivity Monitoring: Monitoring productivity levels in the section.
- Safety Compliance: Maintain a strong focus on Health & Safety and ensure procedures are always implemented.
- Civil Design: Design municipal civil projects that may include site grading, land development, stormwater management, water mains, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, local roads, utility infrastructure improvements, etc.
- Project Design: Prepare designs for engineering projects in accordance with general engineering principles and City standards including designs, prepare drawings, specifications, bidding documents, contracts, and cost estimates for civil projects.
- Team Supervision: Direct and supervise junior civil engineering staff.
- Construction Administration: Oversee field reviews and construction phase administration activities.
10. Civil Engineer Roles and Details
- Conceptual Design: Provide conceptual designs for the vertical and horizontal Falseworks and Formworks as requested by the internal and external clients.
- Quotation Preparation: Prepare the Formworks Quotation based on collaboration meetings with the clients regarding the agreed Cycle Sequence, Time Schedule, For Construction Design (FCD), and sets of Formworks and Falseworks System to be used.
- Client Proposal: Prepare and present a proposal to clients to meet requirements.
- Method Presentation: Present Formworks Methods and Sales for Bidding and for Construction Projects for both Internal and External clients.
- Sales Conversion: Respond to the sales inquiries and convert them into orders.
- Client Communication: Constant communication with the client to follow up on the status of the approval of the job order.
- Project Tracking: Track the fulfillment of each project delivery close lead and update the client regarding the progress of the request.
- Issue Troubleshooting: Provide assistance to the Commercial Supervisor in troubleshooting any issues concerning projects.
- Site Coordination: Point person for the concerns or issues from the project sites related to JO and Quotation and relay the information to the other department involved.
- Survey Operation: Responsible for the operation of GPS and traditional surveying equipment for topographic and construction projects.
- Design Assistance: Assist Regional Engineers with project designs and plan production utilizing AUTOCAD Civil 3D.