Getting Started as a Planning Engineer

What is the role of a planning engineer?

The planning and coordination of the materials, plant, equipment, and labor for significant building projects is the responsibility of planning engineers, also referred to as project planners or engineering planners. They create tenders, gathering data from buyers, quantity surveyors, and estimators to establish a contract schedule and schedule the project in the most logical and cost-effective manner.

If the bid is accepted, planning engineers communicate with construction managers and subcontractors to monitor project progress and make any required schedule adjustments to achieve completion dates. Engineering planners are in charge of making sure that all resources are used in the most economical and effective manner possible. They are also sometimes referred to as project managers in construction.

What's the working environment like for a planning engineer?

Planning engineers generally work a 40-hour week, although this will vary where deadlines must be met.

The work is mainly office-based involving extensive use of computers, but also includes visits to sites which may be cold, dirty, dusty and noisy. This involves long or short stays away from home and a considerable degree of travel.

What does it take to become a planning engineer?

To be a planning engineer you should:

• Have an interest in engineering and construction
• Have a sound knowledge of health and safety requirements
• Have a meticulous and logical approach
• Have strong planning and organizational skills
• Be able to anticipate problems and provide effective solutions
• Have good verbal and written communication skills
• Have computer skills and be numerate.

Planning engineer job opportunities

Most planning engineers' jobs are with large or medium- sized building contractors and civil engineering contractors. There are also engineering planner job opportunities with large organizations which have regular construction requirements, such as local and national government bodies, and major retail, industrial and commercial firms. In addition, there are job opportunities abroad for those with language skills.

It is possible for planning engineers to move up the construction management chain, perhaps starting as contracts manager. Beyond that there are opportunities to move into more general construction management careers. Alternatively, it is possible to work independently as a consultant planner to a number of different construction contracts.