Civil engineering is essentially about the design, building and maintenance of the environment in which we live. It provides and looks after the necessary buildings, transport systems and water supplies needed to survive in today’s society, and for years to come. Civil engineers are involved in seeing an engineering project from conception, design stage, construction through to completion and are then involved in its maintenance.
These projects might include the development, construction and maintenance of:
- bridges, tunnels, roads, railways and airports
- dams, pipelines, water supply and sewerage systems
- major building projects such as docks and power supply systems
- sea and river defences.
Civil engineers may either be consulting engineers who advise on projects and design them, or site engineers/contractors who turn those designs into reality and maintain them once they are built.
Consulting engineers may be involved in:
- undertaking technical and feasibility studies and site investigations
- developing detailed designs
- supervising tendering procedures and putting together proposals
- reviewing and approving project drawings
- ensuring that a project runs smoothly and is completed to the required standard, on time and within budget.
Site engineers/contractors may be involved in:
- liaising and working jointly with the consulting engineers to implement a project
- dealing with clients, architects, sub-contractors and building workers
- deciding what materials, machines and labour is required to construct a project and arranging for them to arrive in the right place at the right time
- explaining to the people on site what they are required to do
- ensuring safety standards and quality of workmanship are maintained.
Civil engineering often includes project management and, once the plans for a project have been approved and construction starts, civil engineers are in charge until the project is completed. Projects are usually undertaken by a team made up of many different types of professionals – architects, transport planners and a wide range of engineers from different disciplines.
Hours and environment
In design offices, local government and public service, civil engineers normally work 37 hours a week. On site they may work overtime, shifts, evenings and weekends. Site engineers may be on call 24 hours a day.
The work may be office based or it may involve being out on site in all weathers.
Civil engineers may work away from home for periods of time.
Salary and other benefits
These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live.
- Starting salaries for graduate civil engineers are around €35,000 a year.
- Experienced engineers may earn around €65,000 a year.
- Top earners earn over €85,000 a year.
Basic salaries can be substantially increased through bonuses and overtime. Senior civil engineers with substantial experience may also earn a secondary income from other projects such as examiner’s fees, royalties and part-time consultancy fees.
You should have excellent maths, science, and IT skills. Professional training and qualification is an essential element of becoming a civil engineer.B.Eng or B.E in Civil Engineering These degrees are accredited as fully satisfying the educational base for a Chartered Engineer C.Eng MIEI.
Entry Requirements
You will require Leaving Certificate honours maths and a science subject (normally physics), or equivalent qualifications to get on to a degree course.
You should check with colleges and universities for their exact entry requirements, as they may accept a relevant Access to Higher Education award.
Skills and personal qualities
A civil engineer should:
- be able to solve technical, managerial, commercial and organisational problems
- be able to make accurate and independent judgements
- think creatively
- be able to think clearly and make accurate plans and drawings
- be good at maths and physics
- work and communicate well with a variety of people including non-engineers
- think methodically, to design, plan and manage projects
- have leadership qualities.
Interests
It is important to:
- have an interest in the built environment and infrastructure systems
- be interested in solving problems.
Getting in
There is a wide range of opportunities throughout Ireland for civil engineers. Employers include engineering consultancy companies, building and civil engineering contractors, local authorities, gas and electricity supply companies, and transport authorities.
There are good opportunities for experienced engineers to work abroad with Irish consulting firms, contractors working for foreign governments or with private organisations such as international oil and mining companies.
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