Transport engineer

A Transport Engineer (or Transportation Engineer) plans, designs, and manages transportation systems that ensure the safe and efficient movement of people and goods. They work on infrastructure such as roads, highways, railways, airports, and public transit networks, integrating technical design with environmental, economic, and social considerations. Transport Engineers play a key role in improving mobility, reducing congestion, and developing sustainable and smart transportation solutions for growing urban populations.

The main duties of a Transport Engineer include:

• Designing and overseeing the construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and transit systems.
• Conducting traffic studies, capacity analyses, and safety assessments to improve system performance.
• Using modeling and simulation tools to forecast traffic flow and evaluate design alternatives.
• Developing transportation plans that consider accessibility, sustainability, and urban development.
• Implementing intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and smart mobility technologies.
• Preparing project reports, cost estimates, and technical documentation for planning and approval.
• Ensuring compliance with transportation standards, safety regulations, and environmental policies.
• Collaborating with civil engineers, planners, and local authorities on infrastructure projects.
• Evaluating the impact of new developments on existing transportation networks.
• Promoting sustainable mobility options such as cycling infrastructure, electric vehicles, and public transport.

The following job titles also refer to transport engineer:

transport project engineer
transportation engineering consultant
traffic engineer
transportation engineer
transport infrastructure engineer
transportation engineering adviser
highways engineer
transportation engineering expert
transportation project engineer
transport projects engineer
chartered transport engineer
transportation infrastructure engineer
roads engineer
transportation engineering specialist

Transport Engineers work in a mix of office, field, and design environments. Office tasks include planning, analysis, and project coordination, while fieldwork involves site inspections, surveys, and supervision of construction activities. The role often requires travel to project sites and meetings with stakeholders. Standard full-time hours are typical, though deadlines, public consultations, or construction phases may require extended work periods. The job demands strong attention to safety, regulatory compliance, and community impact.

A bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, transportation engineering, or a related field is required. Specialized coursework in traffic engineering, urban planning, and infrastructure design is beneficial. Practical experience through internships, co-op programs, or engineering consultancies provides valuable exposure to real-world projects. Proficiency with modeling software such as SYNCHRO, VISSIM, or AutoCAD Civil 3D is an advantage. Professional certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE), Chartered Engineer (CEng), or membership in organizations like the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) strengthen career prospects. Key skills include analytical thinking, communication, and a commitment to sustainable and efficient transport solutions.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Transport engineer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to transport engineer.

environmental mining engineer
geological engineer
logistics engineer
surface engineer
agricultural engineer

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of transport engineer.

• Engineering principles: The engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.
• Mathematics: Mathematics is the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves the identification of patterns and formulating new conjectures based on them. Mathematicians strive to prove the truth or falsity of these conjectures. There are many fields of mathematics, some of which are widely used for practical applications.
• Design principles: The elements used in design such as unity, scale, proportion, balance, symmetry, space, form, texture, colour, light, shade and congruence and their application into practice.
• Technical drawings: Drawing software and the various symbols, perspectives, units of measurement, notation systems, visual styles and page layouts used in technical drawings.
• Engineering processes: The systematic approach to the development and maintenance of engineering systems.
• Transportation methods: Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and optimal work strategies.
• Zoning codes: The division of land into zones where various uses and activities are allowed, such as residential, agricultural, and industrial activities. These zones are regulated by legislative procedures and local authorities.
• Urban planning: Political and technical process that seeks to design the urban environment and optimize land use by considering various aspects such as infrastructure, water, and green and social spaces.
• Civil engineering: The engineering discipline that studies the design, construction and maintenance of naturally built works such as roads, buildings, and canals.
• Construction methods: The various techniques and methods for erecting buildings and other constructions.
• Mining, construction and civil engineering machinery products: The offered mining, construction and civil engineering machinery products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
• Transportation engineering: The subdiscipline of civil engineering that plans, designs and studies the operation and management of the transportation of people and goods in a safe, efficient, comfortable, economical and environmentally friendly manner.

These skills are necessary for the role of transport engineer.

• Design transportation systems: Outline and design airports, public transport systems and highways in order to assess how to move people and goods in a safe and efficient manner.
• Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
• Ensure compliance with safety legislation: Implement safety programmes to comply with national laws and legislation. Ensure that equipment and processes are compliant with safety regulations.
• Execute analytical mathematical calculations: Apply mathematical methods and make use of calculation technologies in order to perform analyses and devise solutions to specific problems.
• Adjust engineering designs: Adjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.
• Perform scientific research: Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
• Use technical drawing software: Create technical designs and technical drawings using specialised software.
• Advise on use of land: Recommend the best ways to use land and resources. Advise on locations for roads, schools, parks, etc.
• Carry out statistical forecasts: Undertake a systematic statistical examination of data representing past observed behaviour of the system to be forecast, including observations of useful predictors outside the system.
• Approve engineering design: Give consent to the finished engineering design to go over to the actual manufacturing and assembly of the product.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of transport engineer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Air traffic management: Thoroughly understand the major activities in air traffic management, such as air traffic control, air traffic flow management, and aeronautic information services.
• Multimodal transport logistics: Understand logistics and multimodal transport as the planning and control of the movement of goods or people, and all related logistical supporting activities.
• Non-destructive testing: The techniques used to assess the characteristics of materials, products and systems without causing damage, such as ultrasonic, radiographic, and remote visual inspection and testing.
• Green logistics: Know about green logistics, in which significant efforts are made to minimise the ecological impact of logistics activities.
• Traffic engineering: The subdiscipline of civil engineering that applies engineering methods to create safe and efficient traffic flows of people and goods on roadways, including sidewalks, traffic lights, and cycle facilities.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of transport engineer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Conduct land surveys: Conduct surveys to determine the location and features of natural and man-made structures, on surface level as well as underground and underwater. Operate electronic distance-measuring equipment and digital measuring instruments.
• Inspect construction supplies: Check construction supplies for damage, moisture, loss or other problems before using the material.
• Use methods of logistical data analysis: Read and interpret supply chain and transportation data. Analyse the reliability and availability of findings by using methods such as data mining, data modelling and cost-benefit analysis.
• Simulate transport problems: Implement transport-related data in software and computer models to simulate transport issues such as traffic jams in order to find innovative solutions.
• Analyse road traffic patterns: Determine the most efficient road traffic patterns and peak times in order to increase schedule efficiency.
• Study traffic flow: Study the synergy between vehicles, chauffeurs, and the transportation infrastructure such as roads, road signs and lights in order to create a road network where traffic can move efficiently and without many traffic jams.
• Analyse transport studies: Interpret data from transport studies dealing with transport planning, management, operations and engineering.
• Use CAD software: Use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.
• Conduct field work: Conduct field work or research which is the collection of information outside of a laboratory or workplace setting. Visit places in order to collect specific information about the field.
• Execute feasibility study: Perform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of a project, plan, proposition or new idea. Realise a standardised study which is based on extensive investigation and research to support the process of decision making.
• Monitor contractor performance: Manage the performance of the contractor, assess whether they are meeting the agreed standard and correct underperformance if needed.
• Develop efficiency plans for logistics operations: Elaborate and implement plans in order to increase efficiency and reduce waste during logistics operations.

2142 – Civil engineers 

---

 References

1. Transport engineer – ESCO
2. Featured image: Image by Steven Liao from Pixabay