Civil engineer
Design, plan and manage the construction of large buildings, transport links and major structures. You'll champion green building practices and sustainable infrastructure.
About the job
A day in the life – Civil engineer
What it's like
In this career, you'll think big. You'll plan, design and build the big things that make up the world around us. Bridges, sports stadiums, water systems and wind turbines are just a few of the things you could work on.
Basically, for any large infrastructure project that needs a lot of thought to get the construction right, you'll be the person for the job.
You could specialise in a specific area, for example:
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.
Your tasks might include:
planning the project requirements with your client and colleagues
using computer modelling software to analyse data and create models
assessing the environmental impact and the risks of a project
directing and checking the progress during each stage of a project
making sure the construction site meets the legal, and health and safety, requirements.
reporting to your clients, public agencies and planning organisations
You’ll work closely with other professionals such as architects, other engineering disciplines, surveyors and building contractors.
Green jobÂ
In this job you'll be doing work to help the environment. Find out more about green jobs.Â
Hours
You'll normally work Monday to Friday and you may also have to provide out-of-hours cover to deal with any problems.
Environment
You'll spend some time sitting at a desk working on a computer while designing your ideas.
When your work is being brought to life, you'll be on a construction site overseeing things. This means you'll need to get your hard hat, boots and high visability vest on!
Construction work also brings the challenge of being outdoors in upredictable Scottish weather conditions.
Travel
Site work can involve a lot of travel.
This job may also present opportunities to travel abroad and work on projects around the world.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Like the sound of this career?
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Civil engineer'
Select qualification level(s)
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Transport Energy Construction and built environment
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- civil engineering
- autocad civil 3d
- civil engineering design
- drainage design
- civil design
- bridge design
- civil engineering software
- directional boring
- stormcad
- civil site design
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- time management
- developing a plan
- attention to detail
- researching
- observation
- problem solving
- working with technology
- verbal communication
- cooperating
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Foundation Apprenticeship: Automotive
Foundation Apprenticeship: Construction
Design and Technology
Engineering Science
Environmental Science
Geography
Graphic Communication
Maths (Mathematics)
Physics
Skills for Work: Engineering Skills
Foundation Apprenticeship: Civil Engineering
Skills for Work: Building Services Engineering
Applications of Mathematics
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
There are lots of ways into this career, however many employers ask for a degree in a relevant engineering subject.
Browse a list of courses in Scotland accredited by The Engineering Council.
Here are some routes to consider.
University
A degree in Civil Engineering will be helpful for getting into this job. Other engineering subjects are also relevant and can help you get into the career.
You could also continue your studies at postgraduate level.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you get a job or progress to more advanced study. You can study Civil Engineering at college but other engineering subjects will also be useful.
Apprenticeship
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You can do an MA in Construction: Civil Engineering.
Discover Modern Apprenticeships on Apprenticeships.scot.
Graduate Apprenticeships (GAs) are designed for industry and you'll spend most of your time learning on the job but you'll also go to uni or college. You'll get a job, get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time.
You can do a GA in Civil Engineering.
Discover Graduate Apprenticeships on Apprenticeships.scot.
Work
You could get into a civil engineering technician role first and work your way up. You'll likely need to study towards relevant qualifications while you work to progress.
You can use the My World of Work job search to look for job vacancies.
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Civil engineer'
