Highway technicians provide technical support and services to civil engineers and contractors to help design and build roads. Duties often include field work and office tasks. Highway technicians, sometimes known as construction technicians or civil engineering technologist, are employed by engineering consultants, federal and provincial transportation departments, construction firms and municipal public works.
You duties as a highway technician vary from project to project. At the beginning of a project, you conduct land surveys, test the ground, and take measurements. Once this information has been gathered, yo sort and analyze the data, calculate formulas, and then use the combined information with a computer program to develop a specific road design.
Training is a constant requirement in this job. If you are just starting out, you will be exposed to the various aspects of the operation, both in the field and in the office. Your fundamental training objective is to develop an understanding of how all the elements fit together in a project to form a finished product. You are assessed on a project-by-project basis and are taught the methods specific to every project you tackle.
You are expected to keep informed on new design methods, materials, equipment, and technology. Changing municipal and provincial standards and codes also demand that you keep up-to-date with their practices. Frequent seminars and courses are a common part of your ongoing education and training.
A new technician aims to become registered as a Certified Engineering Technician (CET) or Certified Technician (C. Tech.), a level of professionalism that requires two years of practical experience in a chosen specialization. Certification is available to those who graduate from an accredited technician program or who successfully complete the exams offered by a provincial association.
You work a standard forty-hour week, though overtime is not uncommon. People new to the field receive an hourly wage and should expect to work overtime. Once you are established, you earn a salary.
Field work can be a demanding aspect of this job. Working long hours outdoors, covering rough terrain, and covering long distances requires stamina. In the office, computer skills and any experience with drafting programs are a definite advantage.
In this job, you should enjoy problem solving. Gathering and interpreting data requires a rational, analytical approach and an understanding of all the factors that comprise a project. Creative ability may be useful in regard to some of the design work involved.
Since you work as part of a project team, strong interpersonal skills are vital. Communicating ideas with other members of the team is necessary for the success of any assignment.