Site engineer has similar jobs to construction (site) manager on a construction project. They manage parts of a construction project (also known as packages), providing technical advice, supervising staff on site and ensuring that their packages are completed on time and within budget.

The main difference between site managers and site engineers is that site engineers tend to have a more specific, technical knowledge and expertise. Site engineers typically come from a civil, structural, geotechnical, building services, mechanical or electrical engineering background and manage packages related to those areas.

Key tasks of the job include:

• managing parts of construction projects
• overseeing building work
• undertaking surveys
• setting out sites 
• checking technical designs and drawings to ensure that they are followed correctly
• supervising contracted staff
• ensuring project packages meet agreed specifications, budgets and/or timescales
• liaising with clients, subcontractors and other professional staff, especially quantity surveyors and the overall project manager
• providing technical advice and solving problems on site
• preparing site reports and filling in other paperwork
• liaising with quantity surveyors about the ordering and the pricing of materials
• ensuring that health and safety and sustainability policies and legislation are adhered to.

Key skills for site engineers

• Commercial awareness – an understanding of how your actions can affect profitability of a project
• Teamworking and relationship-building skills
• Communication skills
• Technical skills
• An eye for detail
• Problem solving
• Leadership and management.