Site Engineer

The Job  

The site engineer sets out from the plans all the roads, drains, sewers and structures involved in construction operations. During the construction of the work on site he/she will set out all the necessary levels.

The People  

There are roughly 38,700 technical people, including site engineers, employed in the construction industry. Most work for a contractor or a specialist sub-contractor.

As a site engineer, you'll be working alongside construction managers, supervisors, planners, quantity surveyors, the general workforce, as well as subcontractors. You'll also be liaising with the client's representatives, such as architects, engineers and surveyors. As you'd expect, good communication skills are a must.

Entry Requirements  

You will need to have a degree, diploma or HND/HNC to train as a site engineer, particularly in Building and Construction, or Civil/Structural Engineering.

Previous experience in the profession is not necessary, but will prove helpful. Employers will be happy to offer young people hoping to enter the industry on-site experience, and there are apprenticeships available.

Entering the industry as a trainee technician is a good place to start - you can then progress on to more supervisory roles with experience. Training will be given on-site, and sometimes employers will issue day release to college for theoretical training.

The Benefits  

A fully qualified site engineer can earn an average salary of £30,000. As with most jobs, salaries are higher in London, as are those of self-employed professionals.

There is also the opportunity to work all over the country on a variety of sites, and to eventually become overall site manager with progression through the industry. For further information on salaries see professional institutions and industry press.