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Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a civil engineering technician. You can use our job description template in this article to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a civil engineering technician.

 

Who is a Civil Engineering Technician?

Civil engineering is the application of physical and scientific principles for the planning, creation, and maintenance of both the naturally built and constructed environment. Civil engineering has to do with public constructions such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewage systems, pipelines, building structural elements, and railroads. Civil engineering technicians are professionals that collaborate closely with civil engineers to assist them in activities like planning and designing vital infrastructure. They help in the planning and construction of roadways, bridges, and other essential services. Some civil engineering technicians also work on construction projects involving industrial, commercial, and residential buildings as well as land development. Your time as a civil engineering technician will often be split between working in an office and visiting construction sites to gather and evaluate materials or track the progress of projects. This can involve gathering information through field inspections, evaluating soil samples and other resources to determine whether they adhere to applicable codes, and entering data into project cost estimates.

Technicians in civil engineering handle a wide range of tasks both in the office and in the field. To generate acceptable and workable civil engineering plans, a civil engineering technician needs to have a thorough understanding of codes and regulations. On the job, civil engineering technicians carry out a variety of tasks. They occasionally create specifications and make construction cost estimates. Sometimes they create designs or do land surveys. Additionally, they might set up and keep a watch on various tools for traffic studies. Many of the tasks performed by these technicians involve using computer programs to plan projects, gather and analyze data, send messages and reports, and administer file systems.

Engineers often hold senior positions among civil engineering technicians, who operate in the same field. Together, these two experts create drawings and plans and investigate potential project locations. Both will be involved in testing materials, calculating project expenses, and writing reports. However, civil engineers often provide the project’s civil engineering technician with most of the physical work. Generally, licensed civil engineers are in control of the work of civil engineering technicians. Typically, these technicians assist civil engineers by monitoring worksite progress, gathering data, and preparing routine reports to record project operations. Civil engineering technicians cannot approve plans or manage the entire project since they have no licensure. Prospective civil engineering technicians should undertake science and mathematics classes, such as chemistry, physics, geometry, and trigonometry, to prepare for programs in engineering technology after high school. They must be familiar with the fundamentals of computer usage as well. Technical or vocational schools also provide engineering technology programs that result in a postgraduate certificate or diploma. Engineering, design, and computer software courses may be offered at technical or vocational schools. Students typically need to take additional courses in the liberal arts and sciences to complete an associate’s degree in civil engineering technology.

 

Civil Engineering Technician Job Description

Below are the civil engineering technician job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.

The following are the duties and responsibilities of a civil engineering technician

• Conduct field research and surveys to find environmental issues or other difficulties that can hinder construction projects.
• Discuss project status, potential problems, and worries about safety or regulatory compliance with other company divisions.
• Direct assistance to civil engineers can help with infrastructure initiatives like building bridges and roads.
• Use calculations and measurements to establish structural integrity, load capacity, and other engineering criteria.
• Monitor the volume of traffic and the state of the nearby roads when planning projects involving roads.
• Conduct surveys and gather data about project sites to get ready for civil engineering projects.
• Inform clients of project status and give them regular updates on the development
• Visit potential project locations to take measurements, assess their suitability, and learn more about their existing use and elevation.
• Gather and evaluate data on environmental factors like temperature and humidity levels to ensure compliance with environmental rules.
• Prepare designs and specification papers for complete projects or individual components to assist civil engineers.
• Utilize computer-aided drafting software, create dimensional drawings for project components or create material specification documents for contractors.
• Help engineers plan and create things including highways, bridges, buildings, and tunnels.
• Read and examine the project drawings and blueprints to determine the sizes of the structures.
• Consult engineers for advice in creating plans.
• Use computer-aided design software in the engineers’ direction.
• Analyze the field conditions before construction.
• Keep projects in check by estimating material requirements and costs based on project blueprints and specifications.
• Conduct routine site inspections and keep an eye on contractor activity throughout the project.
• Verify that contractors are conforming to local, state, or federal construction codes in addition to project specifications and designs.
• Take soil samples, analyze them, and perform testing on building components and elements like concrete.
• Make sure that projects are reliable, secure, and capable of influencing decisions about the use of materials and land throughout the planning stage.
• Give advice or instructions to contractors, or consult with civil engineers to see if project components can depart from the original plans.
• Test materials in a lab during the design and construction phases.
• Review bids and suppliers to find the cheapest prices for project materials and recommend vendors and suppliers to civil engineers and project managers.
• Check that plans and blueprints created by other team members are technically sound and error-free.
• Oversee construction sites and analyze the performance of the contractors to identify design issues.
• Analyze building supplies and soil samples in laboratories.
• Ensure that the construction of the project complies with the design requirements and applicable codes
• Create a plan and calculate the cost of installing systems and running facilities.
• Create reports and keep records of project data and actions.
• Report findings and offer suggestions for enhancing current structures or developing new structure designs.
• Test materials to evaluate whether they are appropriate for use in construction projects.
• Manage the construction site by scheduling crews, keeping track of job progress, and ordering supplies.
• Assist civil engineers in the development of infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges, tunnels, dams, water and sewage systems, and buildings.
• Contribute to the creation of project proposals, including cost projections and feasibility analyses
• Conduct field research to gather information for engineering plans and drawings.
• Utilize computer-aided design (CAD) software to create reports, maps, and other documents.
• Aid in the creation of construction timetables and specifications
• Supervise construction sites to make sure that things are going as planned and within budget
• Resolve issues by looking at concerns concerning construction quality.
• Assist with maintaining project records and files.
• Prepare status reports for the project and present them to the civil engineers and other staff members.
• Compare project timeframes and costs against budget assumptions to report on probable delays or problems that occur during construction.
• Verify that projects that have been completed adhere to all engineering standards and regulations.
• Keep up with current software and engineering technology advances.
• Ensure that all project data and documents are kept in accurate records.
• Offer other departments technical support as required
• Carry out any additional tasks as directed by the civil engineer.

 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or related discipline.
• Licensure as a professional engineer or technician.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD Civil 3D, Autodesk, MicroStation and other industry-related software
• A minimum of one year of experience in engineering.
• Proficiency in basic office software, such as Microsoft Office
• Detail-oriented and analytical skills.
• Must have a reliable means of transportation.
• Familiarity with map creation software and photo imaging software.
• Excellent critical thinking skills.
• Must have a high level of accuracy in calculations and design.
• Outstanding time management skills.
• Excellent leadership skills.
• Communication and interpersonal skills.
• Multitasking and organizational skills.

 

Essential Skills

• Technical skills: Technical skills are used by civil engineering technicians to gather and evaluate data, design and develop plans, and carry out research. They understand and implement rules, regulations, and standards for civil engineering projects using their technical skills. They employ technical expertise to run and maintain the tools and software they need to do their jobs.
• Environmental regulations: Environmental laws must be understood by civil engineering technicians to guarantee that projects adhere to requirements. Knowing how to conduct environmental assessments, which are assessments that identify whether a project will have an impact on the environment and what steps may be required to prevent or minimize it, is one of the skills that fall under this category. Civil engineering technicians should be aware of how their job affects the environment so they may take precautions to minimize that effect.
• Communication skills: You could have to communicate with clients, engineers, and other technicians in your role as a civil engineering technician. Clear communication and an understanding of others’ needs are both made possible by effective communication skills. Civil engineering technicians can explain complex ideas to these people in a way they can understand because of their communication skills. They can also explain any project-related queries or worries that their colleagues may have.
• Teamwork and leadership skills: Technicians in the field of civil engineering frequently collaborate with other engineers and technicians. Possessing strong teamwork and cooperation skills can facilitate collaboration and speed up project completion. You can inspire and direct your team members by using your leadership skills. Engineers, architects, and construction workers are some of the professionals that civil engineering technicians frequently collaborate. It can be easier to handle the project successfully and make sure everyone is on the same page if you have good leadership skills. You can be in charge of directing safety training or other educational initiatives that call for a trainer.
• Problem-solving skills: Problems with civil engineering projects are resolved by civil engineering technicians. They employ their problem-solving skills to come up with answers to questions that come up during a project’s planning, design, and construction phases. Engineering technicians need to be able to identify issues and come up with remedies. They must be able to recognize problems and develop solutions because they often work with sophisticated machinery or systems that could malfunction. Strong problem-solving skills are also essential for teamwork because you can be asked to contribute ideas to other people’s solutions.

• Attention to detail:  When working on projects, civil engineering technicians must pay close attention to detail. They must make sure they have all the information and materials required to finish their tasks, as well as any building supplies. When documenting information regarding a project or assignment, civil engineering technicians pay close attention to detail as well. To do this, they must maintain precise records of all measurements, calculations, and other information about the task they conduct. Due to the variety of documents and plans that civil engineering technicians work with, attention to detail is an essential skill. To ensure that all of the information is accurate, they must be able to read and comprehend complicated documents.

 

How to Become a Civil Engineering Technician

Step 1. Pursue relevant education

Consider earning an associate’s degree in civil engineering technology or a related discipline since most firms prefer applicants with one. Drafting, building materials, construction techniques, surveying, cost estimation, and technical report writing may all be topics covered in your program. Remember that certain companies favour applicants with associate’s degrees from ABET-accredited programs. A related certificate or diploma program is another option. These are available at a technical or vocational school. Project management and construction may be some of the subjects covered in these programs.

Step 2. Acquire work experience

To ensure you acquire relevant industry experience, consider taking part in an internship program. An internship gives you real-world experience and aids in your preparation for a technician entry-level position. Before hiring a candidate to be a civil engineering technician, most employers demand that they complete a training course. These courses teach students the fundamentals of the civil engineering field and normally span between six months and two years. Surveying, civil engineering, construction, environmental engineering, and project management are just a few of the subjects that students will study. If you decide to take an internship, make sure it is in one of the many fields where civil engineering technicians are employed. Construction and research and development are a couple of these industries. Consider pursuing an internship at a local construction company or urban planning office.

Step 3. Acquire certification

Although not compulsory, a certification can help you find a better job. Consider obtaining a certification from the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies in one of many specialty areas. Testing of building materials and building construction are a couple of the areas.

 

Where to Work as a Civil Engineering Technician

Civil engineering technicians typically work in factories, construction sites, and laboratories. They work in offices and the field. In the office, they spend most of their time working on a computer, and in the field,  they conduct surveys, supervise construction sites, or oversee the construction process.  Civil engineering technicians usually work a standard 40-hour week, but they may occasionally be required to work overtime to meet deadlines. They are exposed to different weather conditions because they are both indoors and outdoors.

 

Civil Engineering Technician Salary Scale

The salary scale of civil engineering technicians can differ based on some factors such as level of education, years of experience, additional skills and qualifications, etc. The average salary of a Civil Engineering Technician in the United States is $53,902, but the range typically falls between $43,517 and $63,756 per year. In the United Kingdom, the average salary is £31,990 per year but usually ranges from £27,500 to £40,000 per year. In Canada, the salary is about $49,043 per year, and from $42,500 to $63,203 is the typical range. A Civil Engineering Technician earns an average of 1,830,000 NGN per year in Nigeria. The pay could start at 950,000 NGN to over 2,730,000 NGN per year.

Science, Technology, and Engineering

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