Civil Engineering 1

As a civil engineer, you could work in the following specialisations*:

Airport EngineerAirport engineers specialise in preparing designs for airports, hangars and control towers.

Geotechnical/Soil EngineerGeotechnical/soil engineers inspect proposed construction sites to determine soil and foundation conditions by conducting drilling and sampling programs. Duties include preparing specifications of soil mixtures for use in roads, embankments and other construction.

Harbour EngineerHarbour engineers design and supervise the construction of harbour facilities such as breakwaters, navigation aids, navigation channels, jetties, wharves, heavy-duty pavement surfaces, cargo sheds and bulk handling plants for grain, ore and other cargo.

Highway EngineerHighway engineers analyse population and growth statistics and traffic patterns and volume to project future requirements. Duties include designing efficient and safe traffic systems, studying roadway and embankment design, the geometry of highway interchanges and the maintenance of facilities such as culverts and overpasses.

Hydraulic/Water Resources EngineerHydraulic/water resources engineers design and supervise construction, advising on the operation, maintenance and repair of water resource facilities such as dams, aqueducts, hydro-electric plants, and water supply, drainage and sewerage systems.

Irrigation/Drainage EngineerIrrigation/drainage engineers use tests and measurements to analyse the characteristics of soil, including salinity, water table level, areas of subnormal plant growth, soil type and surface profile.

Local Government EngineerLocal government engineers administer and supervise the design, construction and maintenance of projects like roads, drainage systems, pedestrian and cycle facilities, bridges, buildings, recreation grounds, parks, waste disposal and water treatment schemes within a local government area.

Materials and Testing EngineerMaterials and testing engineers conduct research, development tests and evaluation of the quality or suitability of materials and products such as asphalt, concrete, steel, cement, timber and plastics, taking into account factors like stresses and strains, estimated load, water pressures, wind resistance and temperature fluctuations related to projects.

Pipeline EngineerPipeline engineers prepare design proposals for pipelines and pipeline equipment, facilities and structures in consultation with petroleum and mechanical engineers.

Railway EngineerRailway engineers study design proposals, and advise on the construction, maintenance and repair of railway systems including tracks, terminals and yards.

Structural EngineerStructural engineers design the framework of buildings, towers, bridges, water treatment structures, tunnels and other structures to ensure for strength and rigidity.

OvERvIEW

Civil engineering offers you diverse career options, in areas including structural, water resources, soil and foundation, transport, town planning or construction, and less traditional alternatives.

Civil EngineeringCareer Pathways

Specialisations

*Information provided by the Australian Government Job Guide, 2011.

2 Civil Engineering

Engineering Pathways (Civil)School leavers

Melbourne Model degrees (3 years)

Master of Engineering (2 years)Specialisations:

Bachelor of BiomedicineMajors include:

Bioengineering Systems

BiomedicalBiomolecularChemical

Civil

ElectricalEnvironmentalGeomaticsMechanical

MechatronicsSoftwareStructural

Any Bachelors DegreeMust include Linear Algebra and Calculus 2 or equivalents, along with science relevant to intended specialisation.

Note: Duration of Master of Engineering will vary from 2-3years depending on amount of credit obtained from prior study

Bachelor of EnvironmentsMajors include:

Civil SystemsGeomaticsPhysical systems

Bachelor of CommerceSequences in the following Engineering areas:

Chemical Systems

Civil SystemsComputing and Software SystemsElectrical SystemsMechanical SystemsPhysical Systems

Bachelor of ScienceMajors include:

Bioengineering Systems Chemical Systems

Civil SystemsComputing and Software SystemsElectrical SystemsGeomaticsMechanical Systems

Exit to employment with professional accreditation

Exit to employment (without professional accreditation)

School leavers

Note: While the study stream highlighted above is considered the traditional pathway, alternative course plans can achieve the same qualification outcome. Please speak to a University of Melbourne course advisor to discuss your options.

EmploymentSectors and IndustriesCivil Engineers are employed by both the public and private sectors in industries including:

• Construction

• Engineering/Architecture

• Utilities

• OilandGas

• Telecommunications

• Manufacturing

• Mining

• Consulting

• GovernmentDepartments,Agencies and Municipal Authorities

• CivilEngineeringcontractors

• Tertiary

Choosing an occupation, getting that first graduate job, and growing in your job will require planning, self awareness, flexibility and a forward-looking attitude to help manage the personal transitions, as well as the technological and economic changes of the future. With so many factors to consider an effective employment plan will include strategies for enhancing career awareness & self awareness, and can be done in a 4-Step process, starting with:

1. Doing some self-assessment to clarify interests and strengths

2. Gathering information and exploring careers that appeal to you and match your interests, abilities and values – using

myFuture (accessible to the public) or Adult Directions (via Online Career Tools for current University of Melbourne students)

3. Learning about the job market by investigating Work Experience opportunities, browsing company/industry websites and talking to lots of people in your field of interest using the informational interviewing technique

4. Developing job search skills – preparing your job applications and preparing for interviews using the Online Career Tools or booking a Career Consultation through Careers Online (both services available to current University of Melbourne students).

Career PlanningFor university students, career planning is about choosing a career path related to your field of study and preparing for employment. While engineering can lead to specific occupations it can also give you the foundation for a variety of career paths.

Civil Engineering 3

Graduate 3-5 years experience 10 yearsGraduate Civil Engineer Civil Works Inspector Engineering Manager

Draftsperson – Civil Engineering Local Government Drainage Engineer Senior Civil Engineer

TechnicalOfficer AssetEngineer TechnicalDirector

GraduateSurveyor LocalGovernmentTrafficEngineer ConstructionSupervisor

GraduateSafetyOfficer CivilEngineeringQuantitySurveyor EngineeringProjectManager(Civil)

Graduate Project Engineer Senior Civil Estimator Site Superintendent

Career Progression (trajectories) – Civil

Employers A sample of employers who actively recruit our civil engineering graduates includes:

For a more extensive listing including current employment opportunities, University of Melbourne students can visit Careers Online, our online jobs portal.

It is also important to attend events like the Graduate Careers Fair in Semester 1 and student-run Industry Nights to become familiar with who the key employers are and the dates of their recruiting campaigns.

Resources TheCareers and Jobs Guide on the Library website has been developed for current University of Melbourne students in conjunction with Careers & Employment. Thisguidewillhelpyoufindqualitylibraryresources to help with:• Career planning• Researching industries• Researching employers• Employability skills• Job hunting• Resumes and job applications• Interview preparation

Types of employmentWork ExperienceTherearemanyformsofworkexperience.With the introduction of the Fair Work Act 2009, all work experience must be paid unless the placement forms part of a university course. For engineering students, work experience could take the form of an industry-based final year project or a paid placement (such as those listed below). Voluntary work for not-for profit agencies is another way of gaining valuable work experience but these placements must adhere to the Vocational Placements & Student Volunteering Policy.

vACATIOn PROGRAMS

Are degree-related, structured paid work placements usually undertaken by students at the end of their penultimate year of study. Thesecanoftenleadtoagraduateposition,so competition for placements is intense. Winter vacation programs are available from time to time.

InTERnSHIPS

Internships are supervised, paid work placements arranged between the employer and student, sometimes brokered by the university. Ranging from a few weeks part-time to multiple semesters full-time, internships occur in a field relevant to the student’s qualification. Application opening and closing dates for internships are varied.

CO-OPERATIvE PROGRAMS

Enable students to alternate study terms with paid work and offer hands-on experience contributing to a real project, skills development and a chance to network with professionals in the field. Application opening and closing dates for co-operative programs are varied.

CADETSHIPS

Employed positions offered to students or graduates, designed to provide specific training or mentoring. Cadetships can be full- or part-time and vary from formalised, structured schemes to informal arrangements between an individual and an organisation. Application opening and closing dates are varied.

Graduate Employment ProgramsInclude substantial training, development and support. Some programs include rotations through various departments within the organisation. Usually offered by large organisations and government departments, an increasing number of smaller organisations are now offering graduate employment programs. Many organisations offer a number of programs – some for specific or technical roles, and others which are broader based. Graduate programs vary in length, from 1-3 years. Competition is strong and final year students must apply in March or April for commencement in January or February of the following year.

Opportunities to get exposure to Industry through the Melbourne School of Engineering:Connect with industry through the curriculum, via:

• studentprojectsthatarepartnered with industry

• guestlecturesledbyindustryleaders

• sitevisitshostedbykeyorganisations

• careermentoringprograms

Abigroup

AECOM

Arup

Aurecon

Baulderstone

Beca

Coffey

GHD

Golder Associates

Hatch Associates

KBR

Leighton Contractors

Lend Lease

Parsons Brinckerhoff

QR National

Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM)

Thiess

URS

VicRoads

Worley Parsons

4 Civil Engineering

Careers in ResearchIf you are passionate about a certain field and would like to advance your research skills, enrolling in a research higher degree (RHD) may be a great option for you. RHDs enhance your ability to problem solve, think autonomously and creatively, and analyse. Careers in research are diverse and may include: academic positions at universities; policy-making or research positions at public sector organisations; private sector research and development projects; and self-employed consulting positions on technical or policy issues in your area of expertise.

Alternative CareersAn engineering degree offers you excellent technical and design expertise, but also equips you with the foundations for a diverse range of positions. Over a third of our graduates choose to move into nontraditional engineering roles, including:

• Management consulting

• Finance, economics and banking

• Marketing and communications

• Business analysis

• Project management

• Technical writing

• Government, policy and intellectual property management.

For current University of Melbourne students, Careers Online advertises numerous ‘generalist’ graduate jobs during the peak recruitment season (March-April of your final year). You will often find that many state and federal government departments and defence agencies will actively recruit for engineers as they value their high-end problem-solving and analytical abilities.

LuCy SimmS

Traffic and Transport Engineer, GHD

Fashion Designer and Entrepreneur, B’Totties

Study Area: Civil Engineering

As a traffic and transport engineer for GHD, and fashion designer of her own business, Lucy Simms leads a busy and varied career:

“Being challenged every day, consistently learning in the engineering industry, establishing relationships with both colleagues and clients and developing an understanding of consulting both technically and practically is the best part of my role at GHD.”

GHD is one of the world’s leading engineering, architecture and environmental consultancy firms, which focuses on delivering innovative, safe and sustainable solutions to clients in the areas of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation.

Project management and client relationship management are integral to Lucy’s role, which involves traffic and transport analyses, site inspections and report writing.

Outside of GHD, Lucy and business partner, Amanda Cordner, are busy growing their fashion label, B’totties:

‘With my business, it’s completely stepping outside my comfort zone, having a lot of fun with my business partner along the way and learning a number of business management skills like, marketing, website design, and manufacturing that I would never have otherwise experienced. We’ve just launched our children’s range!’

Lucy also recently completed a very successful painting exhibition on the South Coast.

Civil Engineering 5

Salary InformationThe following information represents salaries for engineers at various levels in their careers. According to Graduate Opportunities website, the average graduate salary for Civil Engineers ranges from $50,000-$59,900.

MyCareer website provides data on the average minimum/maximum salary ranges for Civil Engineering:

Average min: $55,000 Average max: $200,000 Average: $121,812

Salaries typically increase with additional experience, and/or educational qualifications and salaries fluctuate based on market demand.

Job OutlookAccording to the Australian Government’s Job Outlook website*:

• Job Prospects for Civil Engineering Professionals are good.

• EmploymentforCivilEngineeringProfessionals to 2015-16 is expected to grow very strongly. Employment in this very large occupation (49 800 in November 2010) rose strongly in the past five years and rose very strongly in the long-term (ten years).

• CivilEngineeringProfessionalsareemployed across several industries including: Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; Construction; Public Administration and Safety; and Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services.

• The(internet)vacancylevelforCivilEngineering Professionals is very high.

• ThemixofindustriesemployingCivilEngineering Professionals is very favourable for employment growth prospects.

*The Data on Job Outlook is updated on a yearly basis and is compiled from national statistics which may not reflect either regional variations or more recent changes in employment conditions.

Graduate Attributes for EmploymentAs a graduate civil engineer you will have:

• asoundfundamentalunderstandingofthe scientific principles underlying various sub-disciplines including sustainability, environmental processes, structural engineering, geotechnical and hydraulic engineering, transport, and project management.

• genericskills,includingmanagement,communication, problem-solving and design and innovation in civil engineering.

• opportunitiestointeractwithindustryprofessionals through guest lectures, field and project work.

On completion, you should be able to:

• Discussthesustainabilityofinfrastructurewith regard to environmental, economic and civic issues

• Utilisearangeofanalyticaltoolsuseful for assessing the environmental and financial sustainability of infrastructure

• Identifykeyissuesinthedesignandoperation across a broad range of infrastructure

• Exploreissuesofgovernance,ethics and competing stakeholder interests.

Designingbridgesandothertransportrelated infrastructure is Joanna McMahon’s key responsibility as a Structural Engineer for AECOM:

“The best part of my job is working with great people, and [exposure to] the technical nature of bridge design, which provides endless challenges.”

AECOM is a global provider of professional technical and management support services to markets including transportation, facilities, environmental, energy, water and government.

Inatypicalday,Joannacalculatesdesigndata, via models and spreadsheets, or pen

and paper calculations. She also plays a key role in interdisciplinary meetings involving her project, and visits the project site to monitor the design taking shape.

“The highlight of my career has been driving over my first bridge!”

Joanna values the technical depth of her degree and the opportunity she had to networkwithemployersduringUniversityfunctions, which resulted in securing her job at AECOM:

“Graduating from Melbourne gave me a great technical foundation on which to start my career.”

JOAnnA McMAhOn

Structural Engineer, AEcOM

Study Area: civil Engineering

Job Search Sites• Careers Online

• Seek – Engineering Jobs

• Engineering Jobs

• Civil Jobs

• MyCareer Civil Engineering Jobs

• Just Engineers

Recruiters• Recruitment and Consulting Services

Association’s Member Index

• Seek recruiter search

Professional Associations, etc• Engineers Australia

• Civil Contractors

• Consult Australia(formerlyTheAssociationofConsultingEngineers)

• APESMA

• Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia

Licensing and registrationCivilengineersworkinginthebuildingindustryarerequiredtobelicensed.Forinformation,contacttheBuilding Commission.

International Students/GraduatesWorking in Victoria: An Engineer’s Guide

Overseas Qualifications Assessment Team (OSQA)Engineers Australia

CivilEngineeringPathways.AuthorisedbytheIndustryRelationsManager,MelbourneSchoolofEngineering.PublishedbyTheMelbourneSchoolofEngineering,July2012.

Copyright:©CopyrightUniversityofMelbourne2012.CopyrightinthispublicationisownedbytheUniversityandnopartofitmaybereproducedwithoutthepermissionoftheUniversity.

CRICOSprovidercode00116K.Disclaimer:TheUniversityhasuseditsbestendeavourstoensurethatmaterialcontainedinthispublicationwascorrectatthetimeofprinting.TheUniversitygivesnowarrantyandacceptsno

responsibilityfortheaccuracyorcompletenessofinformationandtheUniversityreservestherighttomakechangeswithoutnoticeatanytimeatitsabsolutediscretion.

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