Construction Engineering and Management

What is Construction Engineering?

Construction engineering is a professional discipline that deals with the designing, planning,
construction, and management of infrastructures such as roads, tunnels, bridges, airports, railroads, facilities,
buildings, dams, and utilities.
Construction Engineer Job Description
A construction engineer is a type of civil engineer who plans, directs, and supervises large construction
projects. Most construction engineers specialize in a specific type of project such as:
• commercial buildings
• heavy highway (bridges, tunnels, and underground wastewater plants)
• mechanical systems, or electrical.
Construction engineers operate as part engineering expert, part project manager, and part business
manager. They creatively serve as a leader and middleman on construction projects to make sure everything
about the project is safe, smooth, and structurally sound. Construction engineers usually work full time and
may work longer 12-hour shifts seven days per week if they need to travel to a remote location to monitor
project progress.

Construction Engineer Duties and Responsibilities

Develop Construction Plans

Construction engineers manage the planning and design stage of construction projects. They carefully
evaluate the structural, electrical, and mechanical condition of each project. Engineers carefully inspect all
drawings and designs before they are implemented. They plan personnel flows and decide how other
contractors and subcontractors will support ongoing operations. The construction engineer also analyzes a
job’s financial projections to ensure they are accurate and practical.

Oversee Engineering Processes

Overseeing all the different engineering processes in a construction project is the primary responsibility
of a construction engineer. They are expected to be subject-matter experts and complete routine tests to make
sure that all legal regulations are followed. They keep an up-to-date understanding of all legal obligations and
contract terms to prevent project delays, support all construction workers, and actively drive projects to
completion.

Manage Construction Projects

Construction engineers bring specific knowledge to construction projects, such as cost control, cost
accounting, and management of project schedules. They constantly refer to schedules to make sure quality
work is done on time. When needed, they facilitate discussions and create solutions between construction
contractors and construction managers. It is their responsibility to eliminate disagreements in the field and
misunderstandings about expected work outcomes.

Draft Technical Support Documents

Keeping up-to-date logs, estimates, change orders, vendor forms, and surveys with different software is
a key role of construction engineers. With documentation, they identify and spot technical problems in the
construction process. If necessary, they secure more materials to keep construction going.

Communicate with Team Leadership

Weekly meetings with all parties involved in a construction project are common for construction
engineers. Part of their job is to provide necessary status updates and respond to questions from contractors,
clients, and their own company leadership. Furthermore, they regularly assess all projects to suggest different
cost-saving techniques for a project. Many construction engineers are also required to send weekly project
reports to their construction manager.

Construction Engineer Skills and Qualifications

Construction engineers need strong analytical and leadership skills so they can solve technical engineering
challenges while managing a large construction team. Employers typically seek candidates with a bachelor’s
degree, at least two years of experience, and the following skills:
• Civil engineering – construction engineers using technical engineering skills based in math and physics to
predict future problems and find solutions for them
• Project management – construction engineers determine the critical path necessary for a project to get done,
then design plans to make it happen. People at all levels look to them for guidance
• Construction management – engineers perform various construction management duties, such as budget
management, scheduling, material procurement, and labor planning
• Leadership – interpersonal skills are essential for construction engineers to lead a large crew and
successfully influence the outcomes of construction projects
• Creativity – construction engineers need to use creativity to innovate and improve solutions
• Planning skills – planning and design are essential skills for construction engineers to execute their
responsibilities well
• Communication skills – good verbal and written communication skills are important for construction engineers
because they constantly submit reports and share vital information in a clear, concise manner

Senior Project Manager-a head of any project whose main duty is to plan, organize lead and control the
project efficiently and effectively. The job of a senior project manager requires you to have in-depth knowledge
and extraordinary skills that are not common in other project managers.

Design Manager- Design managers efficiently manage graphics and design teams or departments. Creative
and artistic, they apply that artistic nature in a corporate environment. Skilled and educated, design managers
work full-time hours in an office. They collaborate with marketing, sales, and product engineer teams to ensure
designs succeed and messages are properly delivered to customers. Design managers usually report to
project managers or executive management.

Quantity surveyor- Quantity surveyors manage the costs on a construction project. They help to ensure that
the construction project is completed within its projected budget. Alternative job titles for a quantity surveyor
include ‘cost consultant’, ‘commercial manager’, ‘cost manager’ and ‘cost engineer’.

Construction Scheduler- A construction scheduler plays a vital role in a construction project, helping to
manage both time and resources to ensure work is completed on time. The job of a scheduler is to create
timetables for the entire project, which includes determining the timing of tasks and when specific materials will
be needed.

Construction Engineering Management (CEM)

CEM involves the application of technical and scientific knowledge to infrastructure construction projects.
Engineering focuses on design, and construction management is concerned with overseeing the actual
construction. CEM often represents a blend of both, bridging design and management or project execution.
Construction engineering managers may have an educational background at both undergraduate and graduate
levels as well as experience in construction management techniques. Their skills may be applied widely to the
architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry.

What Does a Construction Engineering Manager Do?

A construction engineering manager is likely to work on the design of drainage and sewage systems, building
construction, or even larger infrastructure projects like developing highways or railroads. Others choose to
focus on one particular type of construction and build a career around it. Some common specialties include:
• Commercial business or housing construction
• Electrical system design
• HVAC/mechanical
• Highway/heavy construction (bridge building, airport design, water waste management systems, etc.)
1. Work Responsibilities
• make frequent visits to job sites and sometimes engage in on-location work with labor.
• They also tour sites regularly to inspect the work being done and to ensure that proper standards in the
construction project are being maintained.
• The typical workweek for a construction engineering manager is 40 hours, but many work longer hours in an
effort to meet deadlines or solve problems that arise within a project.
• called upon to survey the job site prior to the beginning of a project
• addressing environmental issues and local laws or codes that must be followed
• prepares a report on their findings and collaborates with others involved with the project, including
governmental agencies, environmental associations, contractors, and subcontractors.

Professional Skills and Expertise

Construction engineering managers must possess:
• a thorough understanding of laws, regulations, and building codes, especially those that have a direct impact
on the project at hand
• They must also be able to estimate the total cost of a given project with consideration to:
⎯ Site inspections
⎯ Drainage, sewage, and elevation level tests
⎯ Equipment and materials

Labor
• Construction engineering managers are also responsible for managing the workings of various other entities
involved in the project.
• They are responsible for providing expert supervision from beginning to end while also keeping the project
running on or ahead of schedule and within budget.
• The job requires strong leadership and interpersonal skills and attention to detail.
• They need to possess strong problem-solving, analytical, and mathematical skills.

Construction Management vs. Civil Engineering – What Are The Differences?

Construction management and civil engineering sound interchangeable. However, the jobs are very
different. While a construction site might see both a construction engineer and a civil engineer they’re going to
be separate people. They require different levels of education, the jobs require different areas of expertise, and
the career paths are different. With reported job growth of 11%, construction engineering is a rapidly increasing
field and bound to have opportunities for those interested. Which is why it’s important to know the differences
between construction management and civil engineering.

References:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8lEDf5oOGY
• https://www.jobhero.com/construction-engineer-job-description/
• https://www.thebalancesmb.com/what-is-construction-engineering-management-845371
• https://esub.com/construction-management-vs-civil-engineering-differences/