Job Details
Sector(s)
Component Manufacturing and Research & Development, Project Development; Construction; Operations & Maintenance
Median Pay
$88,570 per year
$42.58 per hour
Job Type
Entry- to Mid-Level
Typical Entry-Level Education and Work Experience Requirements
Bachelor's degree required; little to no experience required
Position Title
Civil Engineer
Alternate Titles
Geotechnical engineer, structural engineer, environmental engineer, water resources engineer, dam Safety engineer, dam safety inspector, and dam engineer.
Job Description
Civil engineers in the hydropower industry plan, design, test, and oversee the construction, operation, and maintenance of hydropower structures.
Education and Training Description
Civil engineers must have a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Employers also value experience, so internships or cooperative-education engineering programs while at universities are a plus. To be hired into formal engineering roles, civil engineers generally need to acquire a Fundamentals of Engineering license by passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam.
With a Fundamentals of Engineering license and 4 or more years of work experience, civil engineers can take a test to acquire a Professional Engineering license. Civil engineers with a professional engineering license can be a technical specialist within the civil engineering discipline, oversee other engineers, develop designs and specifications, and oversee construction activities. An advanced degree, additional work experience, and a professional engineer license can lead to career advancement as well as job opportunities in the research and development sector, training and education field, and management field.
Job Profile
Civil engineers in the hydropower industry plan, design, test, and oversee the construction, operation, and maintenance of hydropower structures. Civil engineers assess the integrity of and help maintain hydropower facility structures. Civil engineers perform detailed calculations and develop technical drawings and specifications to ensure compliance with relevant specifications, codes, and standards.
Civil Engineers in the hydropower industry are needed across the United States. Civil engineers work on computers and in engineering labs to analyze topographic and geologic data, design construction plans, and write specifications. They are also often required to travel to hydropower sites to perform field assessments for planned facilities and/or guide construction for structural/geotechnical safety inspections of operational facilities (dam safety). They often work with others involved in the component manufacturing, project development, and building and construction hydropower sectors. Civil engineering technicians may assist them in performing their work.
Civil engineers typically:
- Analyze long range plans, survey reports, maps, and other data to plan and design hydropower infrastructure projects
- Assess government regulations, potential environmental hazards, and other factors to inform planning, design development, and risk-analysis stages of a project
- Oversee and analyze the results of soil testing and building materials (e.g., concrete, wood, asphalt, steel) to determine the design requirements for hydropower infrastructure
- Prepare cost estimates for materials, equipment, and labor to determine anticipated project costs
- Use design software and perform calculations to plan and design site grading and earthwork, hydraulics, and structures in line with industry and government standards and codes
- Perform or oversee surveying operations to establish hydropower locations, site layouts, reference points, grades, and elevations to guide construction
- Perform analysis and design to determine repair, maintenance, and replacement needs for hydropower infrastructure.
There are a variety of different disciplines within civil engineering, including geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, and environmental engineering. Geotechnical engineers ensure that the natural foundations (rock and soil) for hydropower facilities can safely support the planned infrastructure and operations. Structural and dam safety engineers ensure that the planned hydropower infrastructure is safe and durable enough to withstand physical loads. Environmental engineers may work on a range of environmental activities associated with hydropower, including planning and design of earthwork, waterway improvements, and fish passage. See the environmental engineering job description for more details.
Job Skills
Civil engineers typically need:
- Complex problem-solving skills. Civil engineers work at the highest level of design and plan large infrastructure projects, such as hydropower dams and foundations, access roads, waterways, and environmental improvements, which requires solving complex problems that have the potential to impact not only project cost but also the community and environment.
- Decision-making skills. Civil engineers conduct research and analysis and develop plans to determine the feasibility of infrastructure and its implications on project costs and safety.
- Communication skills. Civil engineers work closely with other engineers and technicians. They must be able to clearly explain their designs and specifications, and work effectively with other disciplines, such as surveyors, construction managers, and technicians. They may also need to explain complex issues to people who have little or no technical expertise.
- Math skills. Civil engineers use the principles of calculus, trigonometry, hydraulics, hydrology, water quality, structural mechanics, materials, soil mechanics, seismic, and other advanced topics in mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.
- Project management skills. Only professionally licensed civil engineers can sign and stamp the plans for infrastructure projects. Civil engineers are also responsible for overseeing construction to ensure the project is built as specified within a defined budget and schedule.
- Writing skills. Civil engineers must be able to communicate with other professionals involved in hydropower project development, operations, and regulation. This means that civil engineers must be able to write clear reports that people without an engineering background can follow.
More Information
For more information on civil engineering jobs, see: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Civil Engineers.