What does a junior civil engineer do?
A junior civil engineer's responsibilities revolve around utilizing their expertise in design and engineering to work on different construction projects, typically under the supervision of senior engineers. They are also responsible for preparing and understanding blueprints, operating programs for infrastructure design, inspecting sites, liaising with contractors, producing progress reports and presentations, and overseeing the budget, including costs and expenditures. Furthermore, it is essential to implement the company's safety standards and policies to ensure a safe and productive work environment for everyone.
Junior civil engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real junior civil engineer resumes:
- Calculate sub-contractors weekly accomplish work for payroll.
- Serve as COR on all construction contracts.
- design, civil engineering, structural, HVAC, and construction aspects.
- Conduct systems engineering surveillance on GPS satellite design and build for the DoD.
- Visit customer sites for installation and troubleshooting of PLC, HMI, PC, and SCADA systems.
- Work in a variety of projects, including bridge repair, interchange rehab/construction, paving projects, concrete slab replacement.
- Create and present inspection reports on multiple contract items including erosion, traffic, asphalt, concrete, and grade aggregate.
- Supervise replacing damage concrete and asphalt sections on Illinois highway system.
- Provide input for the management of traffic management policies according to MUTCD specifications.
- Review consultant-prepared reports to check both technical content and conformity to Caltrans policies and procedures.
- Prepare Powerpoint presentation on Caltrans policy and procedures on freeway maintenance and present to foreign delegates.
- Perform geotechnical instrumentation monitoring and data collection
- Conduct properly surveys using total station and GPS for boundary, topographical, right-of-way, and construction staking.
- Prepare GPS unit, other survey equipment, and require drawings prior to going out to the field.
- Perform geotechnical instrumentation monitoring and data collection
Junior civil engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Junior Civil Engineers are proficient in Civil 3D, Data Collection, and Technical Reports. They’re also known for soft skills such as Leadership skills, Math skills, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of Junior Civil Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Civil 3D, 18%
Water main alignment design in Civil 3D Sidewalk improvement/prioritization study Exhibit preparation and concept cost estimates in Civil 3D.
- Data Collection, 10%
Maintained data collection equipment prior to and during Developmental and Operational Test Exercises.
- Technical Reports, 6%
Collected and tested samples, optimized infrastructure, and prepared technical reports related to improving filtration processes and water quality standards.
- Construction Projects, 6%
Helped develop and execute engineering and construction projects with focus on integrating design and construction of facilities and building.
- Design Software, 5%
Used computer-assisted engineering design software to prepare engineering and design documents.
- Storm Water, 5%
Prepare Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP).
Most junior civil engineers use their skills in "civil 3d," "data collection," and "technical reports" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential junior civil engineer responsibilities here:
Math skills. Many junior civil engineer duties rely on math skills. "civil engineers use calculus, trigonometry, and other mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting.," so a junior civil engineer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways junior civil engineer responsibilities rely on math skills: "bridge design system), pcacol, mathcad and lotus spreadsheet design tools. "
Organizational skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of junior civil engineers is organizational skills. This skill is critical to many everyday junior civil engineer duties, as "civil engineers often oversee several projects at the same time and must be able to allocate resources effectively." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "enabled organizational growth and increased project approval by training engineers in project management. "
Problem-solving skills. For certain junior civil engineer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of a junior civil engineer rely on this skill, as "civil engineers may encounter problems during each stage of their work." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what junior civil engineers do: "worked on technical reports and documents of all possible options and development solutions. "
The three companies that hire the most junior civil engineers are:
- Moffatt & Nichol3 junior civil engineers jobs
- Vertex3 junior civil engineers jobs
- Jacobs Engineering Group
2 junior civil engineers jobs
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Compare different junior civil engineers
Junior civil engineer vs. Representative projects
A Structural Designer designs, develops, and supervises the construction of new buildings and bridges, or extensions to existing properties or other structures. They review and update construction drawings as well as communicate project problems and flaws to managers.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a junior civil engineer are more likely to require skills like "civil 3d," "technical reports," "design software," and "storm water." On the other hand, a job as a representative projects requires skills like "infrastructure," "osha," "autocad," and "construction observation." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Representative projects really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $64,096. Comparatively, junior civil engineers tend to make the most money in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $77,210.On average, representative projects reach similar levels of education than junior civil engineers. Representative projects are 0.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Junior civil engineer vs. Structural designer
A structural engineering intern is responsible for supporting the engineering team on construction and structural projects, identifying cost-reduction techniques, and drafting layouts that adhere to clients' specifications, business requirements, and budget limitations. Structural engineering interns join the engineers on area visits, inspecting site foundation, and calculating dimensions and material costing. They also shadow the team's best practices and recommend ways to maximize productivity and efficiency to deliver high-quality outputs within the required deadlines. A structural engineering intern must be highly technical and analytical, especially on designing deliverables that meet quality standards.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real junior civil engineer resumes. While junior civil engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "data collection," "technical reports," "construction projects," and "design software," structural designers use skills like "bim," "navisworks," "ladders," and "engineering design."
Structural designers may earn a lower salary than junior civil engineers, but structural designers earn the most pay in the construction industry with an average salary of $69,802. On the other hand, junior civil engineers receive higher pay in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $77,210.structural designers earn similar levels of education than junior civil engineers in general. They're 4.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for junior civil engineers in the next 3-5 years?
Karen Panetta Ph.D.
Dean of Graduate Education, School of Engineering, Tufts University
The pandemic has also renewed our sense of need for internet security, privacy, and access to service. When all our social and educational interactions had to move to virtual platforms, we became aware of just how small and ill-prepared the world was and how inequitable the availability of these services was to parts of the world.
Junior civil engineer vs. Structural engineering internship
A Structural Design Engineer designs drawings, specifications, and computer models of structures for building contractors. They help design hospitals, office blocks, houses, bridges, ships, and other structures.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a junior civil engineer is likely to be skilled in "civil 3d," "data collection," "storm water," and "construction management," while a typical structural engineering internship is skilled in "engineering software," "steel design," "fea," and "cost estimates."
Structural engineering interns make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $56,459. On the other hand, junior civil engineers are paid the highest salary in the manufacturing industry, with average annual pay of $77,210.structural engineering interns typically earn higher educational levels compared to junior civil engineers. Specifically, they're 7.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Junior civil engineer vs. Structural design engineer
Types of junior civil engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
