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Civil engineering technician skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted experts
Ben Giudice Ph.D.,
Ben Giudice Ph.D.
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical civil engineering technician skills. We ranked the top skills for civil engineering technicians based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 10.2% of civil engineering technician resumes contained civil 3d as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a civil engineering technician needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 civil engineering technician skills for your resume and career

1. Civil 3D

Civil 3D is computer software that allows architects and engineers to plan and design structural engineering projects. An architectural design crafted through civil 3D software is also supported by Computer-Aided Designs (CAD) and Building Information Modelling (BIM). The software makes it easy for architects and engineers to correct any potential flaws and make changes in the structural design of a building quickly and efficiently.

Here's how civil engineering technicians use civil 3d:
  • Helped to design the new company template, including the integration of all the company standards to the Civil 3D format.
  • Experience in using AutoCAD Civil 3D 2015 to build terrain surface to perform grading, geometric design, earthwork calculations.

2. Asphalt

Here's how civil engineering technicians use asphalt:
  • Calculate dimensions, profile specifications, and quantities of material such as cut and fill, concrete, and asphalt.
  • Monitor and conduct quality control test on concrete mixes, soils, and asphalt on airport runway reconstruction projects.

3. Construction Sites

A piece of land where constructional activities are to be conducted is termed as a construction site.

Here's how civil engineering technicians use construction sites:
  • Accompanied civil engineer to construction sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to engineering plans, specifications and construction safety standards.
  • Delivered finished products to construction sites.

4. Construction Projects

A construction project is an organized process of constructing, redeveloping, renovating, or otherwise improving a building, or structure. The project phase begins usually as a broad criterion that is then made with the help of a brief, feasibility analysis, funding, and planning. The majority of construction projects are one-time jobs.

Here's how civil engineering technicians use construction projects:
  • Performed on-site compliance inspection, quality assurance and progress monitoring at various construction projects for conformance to specifications and codes.
  • Worked directly with project engineers on various construction projects related to dredging and navigable waterway maintenance.

5. GPS

GPS stands from Global Positioning System. It is a navigation system comprising of satellites that helps in determining the location, velocity, and synchronize time data for different modes of travel like air, sea, or land.

Here's how civil engineering technicians use gps:
  • Conducted traverse, topographic, level circuit, construction and GPS surveying in support of engineering design programs and in-house operations.
  • Used a survey based Global Positioning System (GPS) to verify and increase the accuracy of the data.

6. GIS

A geographic information system (GIS) is a tool for capturing, storing, manipulating, analyzing, managing and presenting various forms of geographic data.

Here's how civil engineering technicians use gis:
  • Designed and drafted locations for underground and overhead utilities using blueprints, WiDOT GIS mapping and specifications as a guideline.
  • Perform complex analysis using GIS regularly for supporting water/sewer, road networks, and environmental project boundaries.

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7. Auto CAD

Here's how civil engineering technicians use auto cad:
  • Assisted with designing plates, roads, buildings, and subdivisions using Auto CAD.
  • Prepared complex design drawings through Auto CAD from As-Built engineering sketches and/or oral instructions.

8. Data Collection

Data collection means to analyze and collect all the necessary information. It helps in carrying out research and in storing important and necessary information. The most important goal of data collection is to gather the information that is rich and accurate for statistical analysis.

Here's how civil engineering technicians use data collection:
  • Surveyed existing utility lines and obtained data collection of utility easements.
  • Surveyed necessary points for developing projects and data collection.

9. Engineering Drawings

Engineering drawings are technical drawings that tell about the requirements for engineering components or equipment. Such drawings have standardized languages and symbols. There are multiple types of engineering drawings such as isometric drawing, orthographic or multiview drawing, schematic drawings, one view, and two view drawings, etc.

Here's how civil engineering technicians use engineering drawings:
  • Reviewed engineering drawings as well as computations for accuracy from Project Engineers.
  • Assisted others in the timely completion of layout and design of engineering drawings that included a vast array of conservation practices.

10. Cost Estimates

Here's how civil engineering technicians use cost estimates:
  • Provide specifications and cost estimates for inside and outside improvement.
  • Calculate quantities/cost estimates for design of transportation and recreational projects.

11. Field Testing

Here's how civil engineering technicians use field testing:
  • Certified Concrete Field Testing Grade 1, Aggregate Testing Level 1, Concrete Strength Testing, Concrete Laboratory Testing.
  • Field testing of bearing capacity of soil for static load in accordance to ASTM test methods and practices.

12. Sanitary Sewer

Here's how civil engineering technicians use sanitary sewer:
  • Inspected utility construction including water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer lines as well as junction box and meter station structures.
  • Create complex engineering design and construction plan for sanitary sewer, storm sewer and water line site construction.

13. Geotechnical

Here's how civil engineering technicians use geotechnical:
  • Schedule different inspections related to soil testing with a designated geotechnical lab.
  • Assisted technicians in compiling data for Geotechnical engineering reports.

14. Construction Materials

Construction materials are equipment and objects that are used to construct buildings. Naturally occurring elements like clay, wood, and sand also come under construction materials. Man-made construction materials include concrete, bricks, tiles, etc. Using good quality construction materials helps in reducing maintenance costs and reduces the chances of frequent maintenance. The properties of artificial and natural elements determine the quality of construction material.

Here's how civil engineering technicians use construction materials:
  • Tested construction materials for conformance with engineering specifications.
  • Oversee laboratory analysis for construction materials testing.

15. ASTM

Here's how civil engineering technicians use astm:
  • Sampled and tested concrete cylinders and soil proctor density sampling and testing to meet ASTM requirements were being met.
  • Lived alone on site performing ASTM aggregate QC and weighed and tallied belly dumps.
top-skills

What skills help Civil Engineering Technicians find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What soft skills should all civil engineering technicians possess?

Ben Giudice Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, George Fox University

Soft skills are vital in civil engineering, and the ones that are most important at the early stages of people's careers include both written and oral communication. Writing memos and reports, emails, talking to people in the field or on the phone - all of these are incredibly important to civil engineering.

What hard/technical skills are most important for civil engineering technicians?

Ben Giudice Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, George Fox University

Specific technical skills that are important will vary widely by what the employer is looking for. Civil engineering is an incredibly broad field with many specialties and subspecialties. Having technical skills like specific software capabilities in the area of civil engineering one is proposing to enter is definitely a plus. Moreso than specific technical skills, it is important to highlight any kind of project work that has been completed, whether those be major projects as part of the coursework, a senior capstone project, or extracurricular projects of relevance that have been completed.

What civil engineering technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Ben Giudice Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, George Fox University

If you like working with people and serving your community, being a civil engineer can be very rewarding. You can also contribute to a healthier environment by developing more environmentally friendly designs. There is a wide variety of different kinds of work that civil engineers do, as it is a very broad discipline. Because of this, it is likely that something within civil engineering will excite and interest you. I haven't known anyone who was a civil engineer that disliked it! Compared with other engineering disciplines, the pay is not quite as high on average, but there are generally more opportunities available on a more consistent basis, and there are jobs available everywhere in the world nearly all the time.

What type of skills will young civil engineering technicians need?

Andy Gerrick

Associate Professor and Chair, Embry-Riddle, Prescott

Most important is the ability to pull together the problem-solving skills learned in the different engineering courses to solve real-world, multidisciplinary, engineering problems. This requires a clear understanding of the problem and the requirements, and it requires a thorough understanding of engineering concepts. Memorizing problem solutions is of no value because no one will pay you to solve a problem that has already been solved. An engineer's ability to communicate is also extremely important. Engineering is a collaborative endeavor, so if you are not able to communicate your ideas, you are not contributing.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about civil engineering technician

List of civil engineering technician skills to add to your resume

Civil engineering technician skills

The most important skills for a civil engineering technician resume and required skills for a civil engineering technician to have include:

  • Civil 3D
  • Asphalt
  • Construction Sites
  • Construction Projects
  • GPS
  • GIS
  • Auto CAD
  • Data Collection
  • Engineering Drawings
  • Cost Estimates
  • Field Testing
  • Sanitary Sewer
  • Geotechnical
  • Construction Materials
  • ASTM
  • Construction Drawings
  • Project Specifications
  • Construction Management
  • Survey Equipment
  • Survey Data
  • Project Site
  • Topographic Surveys
  • Construction Inspection
  • Traffic Control
  • Erosion Control
  • Civil Engineering Design
  • Plan Preparation
  • Aided Design
  • Design Drawings
  • Water Lines
  • Site Layout
  • Storm Sewer
  • Civil Engineering
  • Boundary Surveys
  • Road Construction
  • Legal Descriptions
  • Desktop
  • Material Quantities
  • Shop Drawings
  • Design Specifications
  • Water Distribution
  • Retaining Walls
  • Residential Projects
  • HVAC
  • Square Footage
  • Air Content

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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