Civil Engineering Careers

Transportation engineers analyze highways, airports, railroads, and port facilities to ensure that people and cargo move safely and effectively. These engineers often play a leading role in urban planning, providing input on projects as wide-ranging as harbors and ports, highway overpasses, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and urban parks.

Geotechnical engineers use their expertise in geology and soil physics to stabilize landslides and design safe foundations, dams, and tunnels. They often work closely with heavy equipment operators to grade construction sites or excavate mines.

Environmental engineers use their knowledge of chemistry, physics, and biology to clean up contaminated sites, address industrial and domestic waste, and help plan recycling programs.  They collaborate closely with scientists who develop air and water quality regulations.

Water resources engineers use their understanding of environmental science and hydrology to allocate water to cities and farmers, to manage dams to generate green energy while preventing flooding and protecting downstream ecosystems, to plan and analyze water distribution networks, and to design stream restoration projects.

Structural engineers use their understanding of physics, engineering mechanics, and material science to design skyscrapers and bridges, to retrofit historically significant buildings in ways that make them safe in earthquakes and hurricanes, and to incorporate sustainable materials into construction practice.