Construction recruitment
Civil Engineer Recruitment
Civil Engineers design and manage the delivery of civil engineering works including earthworks, drainage, foundations, roads, retaining structures, and site infrastructure. The role spans design-office and site-based environments, with many civil engineers working across both during their careers. ICE chartership (CEng or IEng via the Institution of Civil Engineers) is the profession's primary qualification and is the most significant career milestone in terms of earning potential and seniority. We recruit Civil Engineers from graduate level through to principal and associate grade for consultancies, main contractors, and infrastructure frameworks across the UK.
What the role involves
- Designing civil engineering elements including foundations, drainage schemes, earthworks, and road layouts to specification and statutory requirements, including adoptable roads and sewers where Section 38 and Section 104 agreements apply
- Producing civil engineering drawings, specifications, and calculation packages using AutoCAD, Revit Civil, Bentley OpenRoads, or similar, and preparing technical submissions for approval by statutory authorities and checking engineers
- Managing site civil engineering works and coordinating groundworks, drainage, and infrastructure subcontractors, ensuring works are constructed in accordance with drawings, specifications, and the approved inspection and test plans
- Conducting site investigations, reviewing geotechnical reports, and incorporating ground condition findings into design solutions
- Ensuring compliance with design specifications, Building Regulations, Sewers for Adoption, and relevant statutory requirements
- Preparing and reviewing method statements for civil engineering activities including dewatering, temporary works, and earthmoving
Who employers are looking for
A BEng or MEng in Civil Engineering is the standard qualification for graduate entry. ICE membership and progression toward CEng or IEng via the ICE is the recognised professional route, with most civil engineers achieving chartership six to eight years post-graduation. Graduate civil engineers typically start at Assistant Engineer or Graduate Engineer level before moving to Engineer and then Senior Engineer as they build site experience and chartership evidence. Design software proficiency is expected: AutoCAD is fundamental, with Bentley OpenRoads, MX Roads, or similar highway design software expected in highways roles.
Chartered civil engineers (CEng) earn 10 - 15% above unchartered equivalents and are preferred for senior and principal engineer roles. Civil engineers working in infrastructure, particularly on highway frameworks, AMP water programmes, and energy projects, earn above building sector equivalents at comparable grades. Contract civil engineers on major infrastructure programmes earn £300 - £550 per day. Site experience alongside design exposure is a differentiator in a market where many graduates follow a purely office-based route.
Consultancy civil engineers and contractor-side civil engineers develop different skill profiles that are not always interchangeable at mid-career. Consultancy engineers gain broader design exposure, including feasibility, outline design, and detailed design, often across multiple project types. Contractor engineers develop stronger site delivery, quality management, and subcontractor coordination skills. Employers at consultancies value candidates who can demonstrate independent design responsibility from concept to construction issue. Contractor-side employers prioritise candidates who have worked under the NEC3 or NEC4 contract, managed design queries, and can apply engineering judgement on site without waiting for design team sign-off. The UK infrastructure pipeline, including National Highways frameworks, AMP8 water investment, and offshore and onshore energy projects, is sustaining high demand for civil engineers at all levels through to at least 2030.
Salary benchmarks
Chartered civil engineers (CEng) earn 10 - 15% above unchartered equivalents. Infrastructure civil engineers earn above building sector equivalents. London and major infrastructure projects command 15 - 25% premiums. Contract civil engineers earn £300 - £550 per day.
Industries that hire Civil Engineers
- Infrastructure: highways, flood defence, rail civils, and utilities works where civil engineering underpins the whole programme, and where engineers work within framework delivery teams on long-term contracts for Highways England, Network Rail, or water companies
- Housebuilding: site infrastructure design and delivery including adoptable roads, drainage, and ground remediation, working closely with the planning and commercial teams to ensure infrastructure costs are captured accurately at feasibility stage
- Commercial construction: substructure engineering, foundations, and drainage on commercial building projects
- Water and wastewater: treatment works civil infrastructure and pumping station design under AMP programmes
- Energy: onshore wind, solar farm civil infrastructure, and grid connection earthworks and access roads
Related roles
- Site Engineer: on-site technical role supporting civil construction delivery, often the entry point to site-based civil engineering
- Construction Project Manager: manages overall project delivery, often relying on the Civil Engineer for technical design and quality sign-off
- Planning Engineer: works alongside Civil Engineers on infrastructure schemes, programming civil works sequences
- Design Manager: coordinates the Civil Engineer's design output with other disciplines on design and build projects
Where we place Civil Engineer professionals
We place Civil Engineer professionals across the UK. Browse by location or register your CV for roles that match your experience.
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