Construction projects are usually huge projects, and it's the job of the construction engineer to oversee the construction team in order to efficiently and safely transform blueprints into completed structures. The engineer for construction projects is accountable for the supervision of the major elements of construction work, such as organizing the purchase of materials equipment, workers and materials and planning costs and managing the project to ensure that it stays within budget, executing the actual construction work and making sure that the finished structure is in line with the clients' requirements for quality and complies with the building codes and regulations.
In certain instances the project engineer may be located on site and moving, interacting with the ground with engineers, laborers and managers to resolve issues as they occur. Certain project managers in construction may be responsible for overseeing multiple construction projects at the same time.
Construction project engineers should have an knowledge of construction and engineering principles and local building codes and be able to handle the many aspects of a huge complex project. They should be extremely organized and have the communication skills to effectively manage the various teams and projects involved in their construction processes.
To be a construction engineer, you must have at minimum the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from an accredited engineering program that has the emphasis on construction along with additional mathematics and science courses. A master's degree in engineering management or business administration can greatly improve your chances of getting a job. Project engineers typically start their careers as field engineers, project managers or as assistants to experienced project engineers.