By: Joan Tupponce, Joan Tupponce & Associates, Inc.

The job of civil engineer is multi-faceted.

"You wear many hats," says Roy Covington, P.E., director of utilities for Chesterfield County. "There are a lot of disciplines within the civil engineering field."

Civil engineering disciplines include transportation, structural, water, wastewater and environmental.

"All public infrastructures are designed and built by civil engineers," Covington explains.

Job duties depend on the discipline within civil engineering.

"In a public sector group like the Chesterfield Utilities Department, we oversee the design of water, wastewater and environmental systems," Covington says. "We apply design standards and we oversee those types of components."

Civil engineers in Covington’s department make sure that processes are designed to effectively meet all water quality standards.

"We not only look at the processes to make the water pure and safe but we also have to deliver the water to our customers," Covington says. "We design water pumping stations, transmission mains in the street and storage tanks."

In regard to wastewater, civil engineers make sure that sanitary sewer lines as well as wastewater pumping systems are adequately designed to deliver wastewater to treatment plants.

"We look at the processes within the wastewater plant," Covington says. "Civil engineers design those processes and assist in the operation of those processes."

In their jobs, civil engineers can work in the office designing and reviewing plans or in the field, depending on their duties and responsibilities.

A degree from an accredited college or university is a requirement of the job.

"Some civil engineers opt to get an advanced degree," Covington says. "But, you can come in right out of college and begin to get on-the-job experience."

Anyone working in the field needs to have good problem-solving skills, creativity and an aptitude for math. "You need good mathematical skills," Covington says. "You also need a good foundation for how the physical world works." Civil engineers carry a great responsibility.

"The things we do have an impact on the health, safety and well-being of the public," Covington says. "Each and every project presents different challenges. You’re asked to solve a problem with each assignment you have."

Covington enjoys rising to those challenges.

"It gives you satisfaction," he says. "We take a lot of pride in the products and services we provide. Every day we do something good for our customers and for the environment."

The field is one of growth, he adds.

"Jobs will be in demand," Covington says.

Pull Quote box: Chesterfield County’s Recruiter and Representatives from the Division of Community Development will be available to discuss engineering and other career opportunities at the Diversity Career Fair on Tuesday, May 20 at the Science Museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information related to employment opportunities, visit Chesterfield County’s website at careers.chesterfield.gov or contact Human Resource Management at (804) 748-1551.