Consulting civil engineer

As a consulting civil engineer, you'll advise clients on how to plan, design and deliver safe, sustainable infrastructure projects. You'll use technical knowledge, problem-solving skills and project management to help make sure work is completed on time, within budget and to the required standards.

You may work in an office, on site or in a hybrid role, liaising with clients, contractors, architects and other engineers. With experience, you could lead teams, manage major projects or move into a specialist area of civil engineering.

Types of consulting civil engineers

You may choose to specialise in a certain area of civil engineering, such as:

• buildings
• coastal and marine engineering
• dams, canals and reservoirs
• environmental engineering
• geotechnical engineering
• highways and transportation
• energy infrastructure
• rail
• structural engineering
• tunnelling
• waste management
• water and wastewater engineering.

What does a consulting civil engineer do?

As a consulting civil engineer, you'll need to:

• undertake technical and feasibility studies, site investigations and risk assessments
• develop, review and approve detailed designs, calculations, technical reports and project drawings
• use computer-aided design (CAD), modelling and other engineering software
• prepare tender documents and proposals and contribute to contractor selection
• manage budgets, schedules, materials and other project resources
• liaise with clients, architects, contractors, other engineers, local authorities and members of the public
• monitor construction work through site visits and advise on technical or design issues
• ensure projects comply with relevant technical standards, planning requirements, environmental regulations and health and safety legislation
• identify and resolve design, quality, construction and safety problems
• supervise, mentor and coordinate junior engineers and other members of the project team.

Consulting civil engineer salary

• Graduate consulting civil engineers typically earn £26,000 to £35,000.
• With around three to five years' experience, salaries are usually £35,000 to £50,000.
• Senior, chartered or principal consulting civil engineers can earn £55,000 to £80,000 or more, while engineering directors may earn considerably higher salaries.

Salaries tend to be higher in London and the South East, although not every employer pays a separate London weighting. Professional qualification and membership through the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) can also enhance your earning potential.

Benefits vary between employers but may include a pension, private healthcare, life insurance, a bonus or share scheme, a car or travel allowance, and payment of professional membership fees.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

How many hours does a consulting civil engineer work?

You'll usually work 37 to 42 hours a week, although this can vary depending on project deadlines, site visits and client needs. Some evening or weekend work may be required, especially during key stages of a project.

Your work may combine office-based design and planning with regular site visits. Site conditions can vary, and you may need protective clothing when visiting construction or infrastructure projects. Some roles also involve travel or overnight stays.

How to become a consulting civil engineer

This area of work is open to civil and structural engineering graduates. An accredited civil engineering or related degree provides the most direct route into graduate employment and towards professional registration with the ICE. Courses are accredited on behalf of the Engineering Council by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM), which includes the ICE.

For Chartered Engineer (CEng) registration, the standard educational requirement is usually an accredited integrated MEng degree or an accredited BEng (Hons) or BSc (Hons) degree followed by further learning to Masters level. Further learning may be completed through an accredited postgraduate qualification or an approved workplace-based programme.

Graduates with other engineering qualifications or non-accredited degrees may also enter the profession, although they may need an academic assessment or additional learning to meet the educational requirements for professional registration. An HNC, HND or foundation degree can provide a route towards Engineering Technician or Incorporated Engineer status, with further learning and experience required for higher levels of registration.

To achieve professional qualification with the ICE, you'll normally need to complete three stages:

• meet the relevant educational requirements
• undertake Initial Professional Development (IPD), often through an ICE-approved training scheme
• pass the relevant ICE Professional Review.

See ICE professional qualification routes and the accredited course search for more details. The ICE confirms that alternative routes are available for people whose qualifications are not accredited or who need to complete further learning.

What skills does a consulting civil engineer need?

You'll need to have:

• civil engineering design and technical knowledge, including an understanding of structures, materials and construction methods
• strong numeracy and data analysis skills for calculations, modelling and interpreting technical information
• CAD, digital design or engineering software skills used to create, review and update project drawings
• knowledge of building, environmental, health and safety, and planning regulations relevant to infrastructure projects
• project management skills to help monitor budgets, deadlines, resources and risks
• clear communication skills for explaining technical information to clients, contractors and colleagues
• problem-solving skills to identify practical, safe and sustainable solutions.

Consulting civil engineering work experience

Relevant summer work experience and placements can be very useful for developing practical skills, understanding the work of an engineering consultancy and providing evidence for job applications. Look for opportunities with civil and structural engineering consultancies, contractors, local authorities, transport organisations and water or energy companies.

Degrees that provide a year in industry can also be helpful and may allow you to work on real projects, use industry software and begin building professional contacts. Employers also offer summer internships, insight programmes and shorter work placements.

You can search individual employers' websites and graduate recruitment platforms for opportunities. Attending ICE events, joining the ICE as a student member and taking part in university engineering societies, design competitions or community engineering projects can also help you learn about the profession and build your network.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Who employs consulting civil engineers?

While consulting civil engineers are employed mainly by civil engineering consultancies, employers may also include:

• civil engineering contractors
• energy and utilities companies
• environmental organisations and regulators, including the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency
• government departments and public bodies
• local authorities
• property developers
• transport infrastructure companies
• water companies.

The choice of jobs, employers, specialist areas and locations varies widely. Employers can range in size from those employing a relatively small number of engineers to those that employ thousands.

Some employers, especially the smaller companies, specialise in particular aspects of consultancy such as design for projects in drainage, water or railways. The larger consultancy firms may offer their consultancy services across a variety of specialisms.

You may also find opportunities with organisations responsible for major infrastructure, such as National Highways, Network Rail, local transport bodies and government infrastructure agencies. Public-sector engineering opportunities, including defence-related roles, are advertised through Civil Service Jobs and individual organisations' websites.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Gradcracker
• ICE Recruit
• New Civil Engineer Jobs
• The Structural Engineer Jobs.

You can also search employers' websites and use specialist engineering and construction recruitment agencies such as Hays, Matchtech and Morson Talent.

Women remain underrepresented in civil engineering. Organisations such as Women's Engineering Society (WES) and WISE (Women into Science, Engineering and Construction) support efforts to improve gender diversity across the profession.

Where can a career as a consulting civil engineer lead?

You'll usually begin as a graduate engineer and receive on-the-job training in office- and site-based work. Many employers offer structured ICE Training Schemes, with support from a mentor or supervising civil engineer, to help you work towards Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. The ICE Approved Employers search lists organisations that provide recognised training and professional development support.

Professional qualification involves completing Initial Professional Development, demonstrating the required competences and passing an ICE Professional Review. Chartered status can improve your career prospects and earning potential, particularly for progression into senior engineer, principal engineer, project manager or technical leadership roles.

With experience, you could specialise in areas such as geotechnical engineering, transport, water, sustainability or digital engineering, or progress into technical director, consultancy management or business leadership roles. Larger consultancies may also offer opportunities to work on international projects.

You'll need to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) throughout your career. This may include courses, conferences, technical reading, workplace learning, mentoring and involvement with professional bodies. ICE membership can also help you build contacts and stay up to date with developments in civil engineering.