Civil engineers – NOC : 2131

Civil engineers plan, design, develop and manage projects for the construction or repair of buildings, earth structures, powerhouses, roads, airports, railways, rapid transit facilities, bridges, tunnels, canals, dams, ports and coastal installations and systems related to highway and transportation services, water distribution and sanitation. Civil engineers may also specialize in foundation analysis, building and structural inspection, surveying, geomatics and municipal planning. Civil engineers are employed by engineering consulting companies, in all levels of government, by construction firms and in many other industries, or they may be self-employed.

bridge engineer

civil engineer

construction engineer

environmental engineer

geodetic engineer

geomatics engineer

highway engineer

hydraulics engineer

municipal engineer

project engineer, construction

public works engineer

sanitation engineer

structural engineer

surveying engineer

traffic engineer

transportation engineer

water management engineer

View all titles

Civil engineers perform some or all of the following duties:

Confer with clients and other members of the engineering team and conduct research to determine project requirements

Plan and design major civil projects such as buildings, roads, bridges, dams, water and waste management systems and structural steel fabrications

Develop construction specifications and procedures

Evaluate and recommend appropriate building and construction materials

Interpret, review and approve survey and civil design work

Conduct field services for civil works

Ensure construction plans meet guidelines and specifications of building codes and other regulations

Establish and monitor construction work schedules

Conduct feasibility studies, economic analyses, municipal and regional traffic studies, environmental impact studies or other investigations

Monitor air, water and soil quality and develop procedures to clean up contaminated sites

Conduct technical analyses of survey and field data for development of topographic, soil, hydrological or other information and prepare reports

Act as project or site supervisor for land survey or construction work

Prepare contract documents and review and evaluate tenders for construction projects

Supervise technicians, technologists and other engineers and review and approve designs, calculations and cost estimates.

A bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required.

A master’s degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.

Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).

Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is offered by the Canada Green Building Council and may be required by some employers.

There is considerable mobility between civil engineering specializations at the less senior levels.

Supervisory and senior positions in this unit group require experience.

Engineers often work in a multidisciplinary environment and acquire knowledge and skills through work experience that may allow them to practise in associated areas of science, engineering, sales, marketing or management.

Chemical environmental engineers (in 2134 Chemical engineers )

Construction managers (0711)

Engineering managers (0211)

Geological engineers (2144)

Managers in transportation (0731)