Civil design

Civil designers draft civil engineering designs for roadways, water and sewage lines, drainage, and land grading specifications for commercial and residential building sites using maps and topographical surveys. Civil designers primarily work in office environments, but also sometimes travel to proposed building sites. These professionals report directly to project engineers. Civil designers find full-time and independent contractor work with building and architectural firms, construction companies, governments, and private businesses of all kinds.

Civil Designer Duties and Responsibilities

Specific job duties for civil designers vary based on the hiring company and the building projects being designed. The main core responsibilities for civil designers, however, are universal for all employers and projects:

Draft Designs

Civil designers draft both 2D and 3D designs of piping systems, utilities, roadways, and other infrastructure systems for proposed building projects.

Read Plans

They also interpret civil engineering drawings and building plans to determine where to place utility and piping systems.

Study Maps

Civil designers read maps and land surveys to note land grading, nearby structures, and other factors that could affect the placement of piping and utility systems.

Follow Coding Regulations

These professionals adhere to city, county, and state laws regarding design and building code requirements and submit proposed design plans to governments for approval. Civil designers are responsible for staying up-to-date on local coding laws to ensure that designs stay within legal parameters and that proper building permits are obtained for proposed building projects.

Review Designs

Civil designers review sketches and drawings of proposed designs to ensure that all codes are being followed and plans are accurate.

Civil Designer Skills and Qualifications

Civil designers are well-organized professionals who know how to use CAD software and other computer drawing programs to design infrastructure elements for planned building projects. Employers hire civil designers who display the essential skills and abilities required to perform all the aspects of the job: