Latest release
Unit Group

2432 Civil Engineering Professionals

OSCA - Occupation Standard Classification for Australia
Reference period
2024, Version 1.0

2432 Civil Engineering Professionals

Design, plan, organise and oversee the construction of civil engineering projects such as dams, bridges, pipelines, gas and water supply schemes, sewerage systems, roads, airports and other structures, analyse the likely behaviour of soil and rock when placed under pressure by proposed structures and design structural foundations, analyse the statical properties of all types of structures and test the behaviour and durability of materials used in their construction, and plan and develop transportation systems.

OSCA skill level

The occupations in this unit group have a skill level corresponding to the qualifications and experience below.

  • Skill Level 1: Bachelor Degree, higher qualification, or at least five years of relevant experience
Occupation

243231 Civil Engineer

Plans, designs, organises and oversees the construction and operation of dams, bridges, pipelines, gas supply schemes, airports and other civil engineering projects.

Registration or licensing may be required.

Rail Engineers and Water Engineers are excluded from this occupation. Rail Engineers are included in Occupation 243233 Rail Engineer. Water Engineers are included in Occupation 243236 Water Engineer.

Specialisations

  • Airfield Engineer Officer (Air Force)
  • Coastal Engineer
  • Construction Engineer
  • Road Engineer

Skill level: 1

Main tasks

  • Analyses site locations and conducts surveys to determine the feasibility and requirements of civil engineering projects
  • Undertakes calculations, designs and develops specifications for civil engineering projects, and provides solutions to design-related issues
  • Studies, evaluates and reports on the environmental implications of civil engineering projects to ensure compliance with existing regulations
  • Determines construction methods, materials and quality standards for civil engineering projects
Occupation

243232 Geotechnical Engineer

Plans, directs and conducts survey work to analyse the mechanics of soil and rock, and its applications to engineering problems to support the safe and efficient design and construction of infrastructure projects.

Registration or licensing may be required.

Skill level: 1

Main tasks

  • Assesses construction plans to determine its feasibility based on the understanding of the construction site gathered from geological maps, aerial photographs, project data, collected historical information and other sources
  • Collects and tests soil and rock samples to determine their properties and assist in the assessment of geotechnical parameters used in design
  • Assesses the impact of soil and rock mechanical properties on the stability of existing structures
  • Performs geotechnical calculations and modelling to evaluate the characteristics of the site under study, and use the results from their analysis to design foundations and other geotechnical structures
  • Investigates, identifies and analyses geological risks and hazards related to the site, such as landslides, liquefaction or soil erosion
  • Develops strategies to minimise risks and recommend appropriate safety measures, such as drainage systems, soil improvement techniques and slope stabilisation methods, to incorporate in the project design
Occupation

243233 Rail Engineer

Plans, designs and develops rail tracks and support structures for rail systems to enable safe and optimised operations.

Registration or licensing may be required.

Rail Signalling Engineers are excluded from this occupation. Rail Signalling Engineers are included in Occupation 243332 Rail Signalling Engineer.

Specialisations

  • Rail Track Engineer
  • Rolling Stock Engineer

Skill level: 1

Main tasks

  • Designs, plans and develops rail tracks and rail system infrastructure, and forecasts the cost of rail projects
  • Identifies suitable rail routes to develop effective and sustainable rail systems that meet the needs of clients and communities
  • Analyses issues or faults in rail systems and provides advice on suitable engineering solutions
  • Ensures building work on rail projects complies with existing safety standards and regulations
Occupation

243234 Structural Engineer

Analyses, calculates and predicts the stability, strength and rigidity of built structures, tests the behaviour and durability of materials used in their construction, and designs and supervises the construction of all types of structures.

Registration or licensing may be required.

Alternative title

  • Structural Design Engineer

Specialisations

  • Bridge Engineer
  • Facade Engineer
  • Tunnel Engineer

Skill level: 1

Main tasks

  • Calculates pressures, loads and stresses on structural foundations to ensure the safety of the construction
  • Studies and analyses the strength of building materials to select and advise on the suitable ones for the construction
  • Conducts structural inspections to evaluate the conditions and foundations, and assess the structural integrity
  • Uses computer models to simulate and predict the structure's behaviour under varying conditions, such as high winds, flooding or earthquakes
  • Researches and improves construction techniques and structural designs
Occupation

243235 Transport Engineer

Plans, designs and develops transport systems to optimise infrastructure efficiency, safety, and the cost effectiveness of moving people and freight.

Registration or licensing may be required.

Rail Engineers are excluded from this occupation. Rail Engineers are included in Occupation 243233 Rail Engineer.

Specialisation

  • Traffic Engineer

Skill level: 1

Main tasks

  • Designs, plans and evaluates transportation systems or parts of systems, such as highways, urban transit, ports, rail and airports
  • Analyses traffic data to identify and predict future travel flow patterns, and conducts studies to determine the feasibility and costs of transportation projects
  • Researches and analyses existing transport systems to identify needs and issues, and plans modifications to improve safety
  • Uses computer models to simulate transport problems to identify suitable engineering solutions
Occupation

243236 Water Engineer

Plans, designs, researches, manages and oversees water-related engineering projects involving the supply of clean water, prevention of flood damage, and disposal of wastewater and sewage.

Registration or licensing may be required.

Coastal engineers and hydraulic engineers (mechanical) are excluded from this occupation. Coastal engineers are included in Occupation 243231 Civil Engineer. Hydraulic engineers (mechanical) are included in Occupation 243532 Mechanical Engineer.

Specialisations

  • Hydraulic Engineer (Civil)
  • Water and Wastewater Engineer
  • Water Resources Engineer

Skill level: 1

Main tasks

  • Plans, develops and improves water facilities and equipment, such as sewers, pipes and pumping stations
  • Develops plans for controlling runoff and overland flow to minimise the risk of contamination of nearby bodies of water, such as rivers and lakes, by polluted water
  • Studies water quality to identify and characterise sources of water pollution
  • Uses computer models to simulate risks of flooding and propose engineering solutions
  • Evaluates the operation and maintenance of water or wastewater systems to identify ways to improve their efficiency in a sustainable way
  • Designs building features to ensure the supply or removal of fluids in a safe and efficient way
  • Designs water or wastewater treatment plants, sewage systems, stormwater capture and treated water reuse schemes