Civil Engineer Resume Keywords 2026

Use these specific keywords in your resume to help you pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and catch the attention of recruiters hiring for Civil Engineer roles.

Hard Skills

  • Structural analysis
  • Geotechnical engineering
  • Transportation engineering
  • Hydraulic and hydrologic design
  • Site development
  • Roadway and highway design
  • Concrete and steel design
  • Earthwork and grading
  • Stormwater management
  • Water and wastewater systems
  • Construction management
  • Cost estimating and budgeting
  • Quantity takeoffs
  • Technical report writing
  • Code compliance and permitting

Technical Proficiencies

  • AutoCAD
  • Civil 3D
  • MicroStation
  • Revit
  • SAP2000
  • ETABS
  • STAAD.Pro
  • HEC-RAS
  • HEC-HMS
  • WaterCAD / SewerCAD
  • GIS (ArcGIS, QGIS)
  • Microsoft Project
  • Primavera P6
  • Bluebeam Revu
  • MATLAB / Excel modeling

Industry Knowledge

  • Building codes and standards
  • AASHTO standards
  • ACI / AISC standards
  • OSHA safety regulations
  • LEED and sustainable design
  • Value engineering
  • Risk assessment and mitigation
  • Quality assurance / quality control (QA/QC)
  • Submittal and RFI review
  • Field inspections and testing

Soft Skills

  • Project management
  • Client communication
  • Stakeholder coordination
  • Team leadership
  • Cross-functional collaboration
  • Problem solving
  • Analytical thinking
  • Time management
  • Attention to detail
  • Presentation skills

Industry Certifications

  • Professional Engineer (PE)
  • Engineer-in-Training (EIT) / FE
  • Project Management Professional (PMP)
  • LEED Accredited Professional
  • OSHA 30-hour Certification
  • Certified Construction Manager (CCM)

Action Verbs

  • Designed
  • Engineered
  • Analyzed
  • Modeled
  • Managed
  • Coordinated
  • Supervised
  • Optimized
  • Reviewed
  • Implemented
  • Inspected
  • Estimated
  • Drafted
  • Validated
  • Delivered
Pro Tip

Don't just list these keywords! Weave them naturally into your Professional Summary and Work Experience bullet points to show how you used these skills to achieve results.

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