Nature of work
A highway engineer is a civil engineer who plans and helps building thousand miles of roads built across a country. There are three major branches of highway engineering: planning, research, and construction. Most highway engineers specialize in one of these areas. A highway engineer must also consider the effect of new roads will have on environment. A highway engineer who specializes in research is concerned with finding new ways and means for building highways. He/she investigates new machines and technology, new pavement designs, and improved maintenance operations. This research is the basis for well-planned and well-built highways. In construction, government-employed highway engineer supervises the contractors who have been chosen to build the new roads. He/she engineer works on site to check the quality of the work. He/she makes sure the cost of the project is not more than the amount of money that has been budgeted for it. A contractor sometimes employs a highway engineer for the same purpose. He/she works with building materials such as concrete, earth, steel, and asphalt. He/she works with a wide range of tools, from earthmoving equipment to computers. Environment of work
A highway engineer can work either outdoors or indoors. His/her work depends on the branch of highway engineering he/she pursues. An engineer who works outdoors can expect some discomfort because of the weather. Most highway work continues through the winter so no work time is lost. A highway engineer typically works a forty-hour week with extra payment for overtime. An engineer often works extra hours when deadlines have to be met. Professional life
In most cases, progress in this field depends on the ability of an engineer. An experienced highway engineer can become construction supervisor. He/she can supervise technical workers in engineering. Some engineers become project engineers or consulting engineers, while others become heads of construction firms. Increased traffic and changing traffic patterns will spur the need for new roads and redesigned roads, so there will always be a need for highway engineers. Many job openings will arise with the retirement or transfer of current employees.Range of typical starting salaries: 55000 SYP plus potential bonuses.
Getting the job
A bachelor's degree in civil engineering is essential to enter the field. Some employers may require highway engineers to be licensed as professional engineers. In highway engineering, the more education an applicant has, the better the job opportunities and the higher the pay. High school courses in physics, mathematics, mechanical drawing, and art are recommended. In civil engineering programs, college courses include engineering dynamics, and the mechanics of fluids and materials. Specialized courses in highway engineering include structural design, traffic control, surveying, and highway pavement design. Summer jobs relating to highway construction provide valuable experience and possible contacts for future job opportunities. Part-time jobs in surveying or traffic study are excellent ways for a college student to gain experience. A highway engineer must have an aptitude for estimating, as well as a strong sense of imagination and responsibility. An engineer must also have the ability to work with others. Skills
There are many skills he/she needs to have and tries to improve, such as:Decision Making, considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Mathematics, using mathematics to solve problems.
Critical Thinking, using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operations Analysis, analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Technology Design, generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.
Communication skills, communicating orally and in written very well.
Sources and references
If you need any further information on what is included in this file, you can visit the following websites:· The Order of Syrian engineers, Damascus, Tel: 6627256
· www.arab-eng.org, Arab Engineers Forum.
· Arab Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008, Ed. Arab Labor Organization.