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Construction engineer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Sherif Ishak Ph.D.,

Alan Atalah Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical construction engineer skills. We ranked the top skills for construction engineers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 17.6% of construction engineer resumes contained tractor trailer as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a construction engineer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 construction engineer skills for your resume and career

1. Tractor Trailer

Here's how construction engineers use tractor trailer:

Transported heavy construction equipment with tractor trailer and assisted in combat engineer missions.
Drive dump Trucks, Humvee's, and tractor trailers for extended periods of time.

2. Construction Sites

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

Here's how construction engineers use construction sites:

Conducted timely inspections of all construction sites and suggested improvements where necessary.
Inspected construction sites and enforced job specification and safety standards.

3. Cranes

Here's how construction engineers use cranes:

Crane operator examiner, Competent Person Rigger Trainer, certification of Man lifts operators.
Interpret Structural Steel columns & beams layout Blue Prints, estimate crew, Crane and other resources for completing installation.

4. Bulldozers

Here's how construction engineers use bulldozers:

Trained in basic operations of Dump Trucks, Front End Loaders, Back-Hoe Loaders, Bulldozers, Graders, and Scrapers.
Operated articulated trucks, graders, loaders, bulldozers, dump trucks and other heavy duty equipment.

5. Grade Stakes

A grade stake is a tool used for engineering work. It is driven in the ground for the top to have an elevation that is predetermined. It is used to determine the depth of the cut and grade properly.

Here's how construction engineers use grade stakes:

Placed, finished and performed concrete and asphalt paving and curbing projects and analyzed information on and placement of grade stakes.
Trained extensively on interpreting grade stakes, basic construction blue prints, basic soil properties and performing basic surveying.

6. Combat

Combat is a violent conflict between two parties. Combat can be held by using weapons or unarmed. The fighting between the armed forces of different countries can also be called combat and the main purpose of the combat is to eliminate and stop your opponent from achieving their goal.

Here's how construction engineers use combat:

Performed ground and aerial reconnaissance; advised engineer staff section personnel in matters involving combat engineer operations.
Constructed temporary shelters designed to provide protection and outposts during combat operations.

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7. Construction Equipment

Here's how construction engineers use construction equipment:

Operated all heavy construction equipment, maintenance of equipment and repair (operator level) military security procedures and operations.
Developed skills and experience in basic construction methods and engineering principles as they pertained to operating heavy construction equipment.

8. Construction Management

Here's how construction engineers use construction management:

Concrete structures residential buildings, Bids costs analysis, construction cost valuation using construction management software.
Lead Electrical Engineer for electrical, mechanical, and telecommunication construction management for various projects.

9. Project Management

Here's how construction engineers use project management:

Project Management: Responsible for project management of contracts administered fully by MDOT staff and contracts administered by external consulting companies.
Experienced civil designer with project management skills and production knowledge of civil, architectural disciplines.

10. CAD

Here's how construction engineers use cad:

Verified materials and installations mark up construction drawings, prepared Auto Cad sketches and kept daily records of construction progress.
United States Utilized my extensive CAD experience to aid the rigging department in rigging design and lifting lug design.

11. Cost Estimates

Here's how construction engineers use cost estimates:

Prepared cost estimates and justifications for contract modifications, calculated quantities, and prepared drafts for payment estimates.
Prepared cost estimates utilizing quantities, proposals, and general historical pricing unit.

12. Safety Standards

Here's how construction engineers use safety standards:

Operated miscellaneous heavy machinery to military safety standards.
Sustained and pushed safety standards to ensure a safe working condition for me and my coworkers while operating in hazardous environments.

13. Technical Support

Technical support or tech support are the services provided by any hardware or software company to users. They help in solving the technical difficulties the customers face with their products or services. Moreover, the tech support employees maintain, manage, and repair the IT faults. They are also responsible for resolving the network problems, installing and configuring hardware and software.

Here's how construction engineers use technical support:

Served as a senior information technology specialist in enterprise development; designed and maintained a client database and provided technical support.
Worked to deliver customer technical support for high profile well cementing operations.

14. OSHA

Here's how construction engineers use osha:

Maintained safety records that met OSHA standards and monitored emergency requirements.
Ensured all site personnel followed the HASP, work packages, OSHA regulations, subcontracts, standing orders, etc.

15. Design Drawings

Here's how construction engineers use design drawings:

Reviewed and interpreted discipline design drawings and specifications to ensure current revision level and correct technical execution of the work.
Assist subordinate construction engineers and superintendents in interpreting design drawings and monitoring equipment installation.

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What skills help Construction Engineers find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on construction engineer resumes?

Sherif Ishak Ph.D.

Professor and Department Chair, Old Dominion University

Technical competencies are important to show on resumes. However, in today's market, employers are looking for other skill sets such as communication, leadership, entrepreneurship, and evidence of professional development at time of graduation. It is very important to emphasize such skill set on the resume to convince employers that you are a well rounded person and have the capacity to continue learning and gaining experience on the job.

What soft skills should all construction engineers possess?

Alan Atalah Ph.D.

Professor, Bowling Green State University

Dealing with people to earn their trust and faith in you. Knowing that people skills are much more than small talk and schmoozing. Communications orally and in writing. Listening to other people and trying your best to serve their interests as much as possible. Reading people. Creating a working environment where there is mutual trust among the project team members. Honoring your word and commitments to the best of your abilities. Willingness to learn and eagerness for professional growth.

Steering and focusing their intellectual and physical abilities to create the maximum value to their employer.

What hard/technical skills are most important for construction engineers?

Alan Atalah Ph.D.

Professor, Bowling Green State University

Problem-solving involves defining the problem correctly, comprehending the facts related to the problem, identifying potential alternative solutions, devising selection criteria evaluate the alternatives, and selecting the best alternative solution.

Ability to use the a/c software programs to create value for the employer.

Simultaneously, visualizing the site and its surroundings, building and its requirements, time and sequence of operations, cost, quality, safety, etc., simultaneously avoids problems and solves problems quickly when they arise.

What construction engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Mike Sessions

Department Chair & Professor, Brigham Young University - Idaho

Our graduates find work all over the US, but more particularly in the western US, because western-based contractors tend to recruit at BYU-Idaho more than do eastern-based contractors. Utah, California, and Arizona seem to capture more of our students than do other western states.

What type of skills will young construction engineers 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.

What technical skills for a construction engineer stand out to employers?

Kristen Parrish Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Arizona State University

This is pretty dependent on the job that you're going for, but I think that one technical skill that employers in construction look for is the ability to communicate technical information clearly and concisely. This will be critical onsite and in the office -- you need to demonstrate an understanding of how a project comes together, and this requires the ability to communicate clearly. Beyond the communication, a technical understanding of material behavior (i.e., concrete curing, crane picks, etc.).

Do you want to know more?

List of construction engineer skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a construction engineer resume and required skills for a construction engineer to have include:

Tractor Trailer
Construction Sites
Cranes
Bulldozers
Grade Stakes
Combat
Construction Equipment
Construction Management
Project Management
CAD
Cost Estimates
Safety Standards
Technical Support
OSHA
Design Drawings
Concrete Structures

Plumbing
Shop Drawings
Construction Drawings
Asphalt
RFI
HVAC
Construction Inspection
Project Site
As-Built Drawings
Punch List
Dump Truck
Corrective Action
Capital Projects
Scrapers
Construction Process
Construction Schedule

Construction Issues
Construction Phase
Engineering Support
Field Testing
MEP
Constructability Reviews
Construction Supervision
Construction Projects
Construction Operations
Safety Regulations
Construction Materials
Design Changes
Design Specifications
Cost Control
Electrical Systems
Upper Level Management

Updated January 8, 2025

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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