Civil/Structural Engineering Technician

Also known as:

Construction Engineering Technician
Engineering Technician, Civil/Structural
Structural Engineering Technician

Introduction

Civil and structural engineering technicians help in the design, drawing, surveying and supervision of construction projects. These include roads, tunnels, bridges, sewage and water systems, power stations, factories, harbours and dams. The work involves some calculating, measurement work and record keeping.

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Work Activities

Civil and structural engineering technicians carry out a variety of tasks to support civil and structural engineers. They work as part of a team on a wide range of construction projects.

Civil engineering includes roads, reservoirs, coastal protection schemes, airports, railways, water systems and bridges. Structural engineering is the part of civil engineering that deals with structures and large buildings, including sports stadia, bridges, dams and power stations.

Technicians' work can be office based or site based or a mixture of both, depending on the employer and individual projects.

Technicians produce detailed design and layout drawings for construction projects. They prepare drawings by using either a drawing board or, increasingly, computer-aided design (CAD). They also use computers for planning work, keeping records, administration and figure work.

Technicians carry out some measurement work. This includes taking measurements of completed work on-site so that payments to contractors can be calculated. Structural engineering technicians calculate loads and stresses on structures to make sure that they will stay up and are safe.

Other office work includes collecting information, for example on new construction materials and methods; estimating costs; buying and organising delivery of supplies; calculating wages, and arranging plant maintenance. Technicians may also complete legal paperwork for projects.

On-site, technicians often provide a link between managers, craft workers and operatives. They supervise work, check progress and help to make sure that projects run on time.

In the early stages of a project, technicians may be involved in surveying sites and collecting geological samples such as soil and rock, for testing.

During construction they make sure that the standards of materials and work are high. Technicians may also be responsible for health and safety on-site.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

As a civil or structural engineering technician you should enjoy practical tasks and teamwork. You will need good communication skills to work well with other people including management, the workforce and suppliers.

You will need draughting skills to prepare technical drawings and plans by hand. Your work needs to be neat and accurate and you need to pay attention to detail. Computer skills are important if you are preparing technical plans and drawings using computer-aided design (CAD) software packages.

The work includes a lot of figure work, for example calculating, measuring and estimating, so you need to be good at maths and have computer skills for this aspect of the work too. A good knowledge of construction technology and materials is also important. Some aspects of the work require good organisational and administrative skills.

You also need to be fit and active. Most technicians will spend some time out on-site; some are outdoors in all weather conditions for much of the time.

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Pay and Opportunities

Salaries vary depending on the company, role and level of responsibility.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Civil and structural engineering technicians earn in the range of £16,000 - £18,000 a year, rising to £22,500 - £27,000. Higher earners can make around £35,000 a year.

Most work around 35-40 hours from Monday to Friday. You may have early starts and late finishes, and you may need to work some weekends.

You may work for firms of engineering consultants, building and civil engineering contractors, local authorities and gas, water and electricity companies.

Some civil/structural engineering technicians work in the Civil Service, in manufacturing industry and in the armed forces. There are also opportunities to work in other countries.

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Adult Opportunities

It is now illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

New entrants are often qualified or have relevant skills and abilities gained in a related field of engineering or construction.

Colleges will usually consider applications from candidates who do not meet their usual entry requirements. You should check the admissions policy of individual colleges.

Modern Apprenticeships may be available.

• 6% of civil/structural engineering technicians work part-time.
• 31% have flexible hours.

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New Developments

Some people working in this occupation may be involved in the green jobs sector in areas such as renewable energy.