Traffic and Transport Engineering Employment in Britain
What You Need to Know and Why
Where are Jobs Located?
The employment demand for engineers with transport and traffic engineering experience, is strong and growing. However, in recent years, the industry has evolved, with British consultancies becoming more global and many smaller specialist consultancies emerging as strong competitors.
The trick now is to find the opportunities that best match your experience. The best way to do this is to register with a recruitment agency and have a good idea of what you want to do based on what is available. That is what this page is all about!
- where you will be able to find work
- what sorts of projects you will work on
- how much money you can earn
- technical specifications that you should be aware of
Engineering employment opportunities are available UK-wide but generally, the bigger the city the bigger the demand but jobs can also be found in regional towns. Traffic and transport hotspots can be found in such locations as:
- Central London
- Greater London (just outside the M25)
- Edinburgh
- Manchester
- Birmingham
- Portsmouth
- Southampton
- Exeter
- Glasgow
- Bristol
Tip: If you have a preference for a particular part of the UK, it is a good idea to research that area first to ensure positions are available.
Outlook for Traffic and Transport Employment
Traffic and transport is a huge industry in the UK. Civil engineering and transport engineering have been critical to London’s economic strength. The continual addition of new infrastructure and the evolution of traffic management will ensure that traffic and transport engineering will maintain an important role long into the future. Due to the sheer size of the system, it also means that projects are as diverse as they are challenging.
So if you’re looking for a job with a bias to traffic and transport, rest assured that you are in high demand! As a bonus, you will also gain extremely valuable skills for the future.
Scope
The scope of the UK’s roads and highways as well as public transport is impressive in size and diversity and this is reflected in the number of civil – traffic and transportation engineering jobs available.
The UK’s need to both maintain old and develop new infrastructure is fuelled by a strong and globally-influential economy; and the increasing demands of an expanding population.
Projects include are:
- Highway tunnel schemes
- Motorway extension and widening
- Real-time passenger information systems
- Highway lighting and traffic signal schemes
- Road user pricing projects
- Lane rental projects
Most large traffic and transport projects (such as highway design and construction) exist in the private sector. The National Highways is a government body which oversees the UK transport and traffic projects and is responsible for procuring companies to undertake projects. This allows the National Highways to tap the expertise and resources of private agencies while maintaining the overall control of the project.
Prospects
As with all types of engineering jobs in the UK, if you are moving from overseas it is preferable to have at least 2 or more years of experience.
Graduates may be able to find suitable employment, however, an employer who is investing in your training may require a time commitment which, depending on your visa situation, might be more than you can guarantee.
Traffic and transport engineers with 3 – 6+ years of experience will find a greater range of opportunities available to them in both contract and potentially permanent positions (based on visa).
Recruitment
Recruitment agencies play a critical role in the UK job market. A recruitment agency’s business is built on its ability to provide quality candidates for employers while at the same time ensuring timely employment for job seekers.
To find your perfect job:
- You can register with recruitment agencies before you plan to travel to the UK. In order to find the best job, recruitment agencies will contact you for further confirmation before submitting your CV to potential employers.
- Begin applying for jobs about three months before you arrive. If you register with an agency, a recruitment consultant will begin the process of arranging interviews as your arrival date draws closer.
- Aim to be in contact with 2-3 recruitment agencies who you feel comfortable with. Since traffic and transport are very specialist you will find recruitment consultants who deal mainly in this area.
- If your travel plans or arrival date changes, make sure you inform your recruitment consultant – this will help them to help you.
Would you prefer the freedom of temporary engineering employment with a CAD contract job or perhaps you are looking to develop your career in engineering? Whatever you’re looking for, specialised engineering recruitment agencies can be very helpful.
What types of jobs are available for traffic and transport engineers?
Traffic and transport engineering position titles are:
- Traffic design engineer
- Highway engineer
- Rail engineer
- Transport modeller/planner
- Project manager
- Site Manager
- CAD technician (usually Auto CAD programme jobs)
- Traffic Signals Engineer
What are the earnings for traffic and transport engineers?
Traffic and transport posts are well-paid in the UK. As is always the case, your earning power will correspond to your experience.
This hierarchy can be used as a general guide for all specialities which fall within the category of traffic and transport engineering:
| Grade | Experience (yrs) | Salary Range £/hr (Contract) | Salary range p/a (Permanent*) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate / Trainee | - | N/A | £25-30K + benefits |
| Junior | 1-6+ | £17-33 | £33-41K + benefits |
| Senior | 6-10+ | £20-37 | £40 - 45K + benefits |
| Principal | 10-15+ | N/A | £44 - 58K + benefits |
New arrivals to the UK should not expect to earn premium contract rates immediately. Employers are aware that you will need to adjust to the specifics of working in the UK and may need some extra training. Often, you can re-negotiate your contract rates after your first 2 or 3 months in the UK.
Working as a traffic or transport engineer
Standards — the Eurocodes
The Eurocodes standards provide the common everyday design principles and rules for the design of structures and component products.
Until 2010 the Eurocodes were (slowly) introduced throughout the UK. As different sections of the code were consecutively rolled out there was a co-existence period for each section. (For example — BS 594: Part 1: Specification for constituent materials and asphalt mixes has been superseded by, BS EN 13108-4: 2006: Bituminous mixtures – Material specifications – Part 4: Hot Rolled Asphalt) In 2010 the Eurocodes completely replaced the existing national standards.
The introduction of the Eurocodes represented a significant challenge to the British traffic and transport engineering industry but it also represents an exciting opportunity for overseas workers to gain valuable experience in one of the most used standards in the world.
Software and applications
Apart from the more senior roles working as an engineer will require you to have experience in the use of industry-specific software.
Common software used in Britain includes:
- AutoCAD
- Microsoft Excel
- Python
- Google Earth
- Autodesk Civil 3D
- PTV VISSIM
- PARAMICS
- SATURN
- TransCAD
- LinSig
- SIDRA
- JUNCTIONS
- GIS
- Open roads Designer
- Novapoint
Traffic Simulation
- VISSIM
- AIMSUN
- SUMO
- TransModeler
Transport Model Applications used in the UK are:
- ARCADY
- LINSIG
- PICADY
- TRANSYT
- VISSIM
- SATURN
- CUBE
- EMME/2
- VISUM
- CONTRAM
Training for new software packages is usually offered for those taking on a new position (particularly in permanent roles).
Your qualifications
An appropriate engineering degree or diploma from an approved tertiary institution will usually be recognised in the UK. Some employers might have specific qualifications and experience requirements thus, I suggest, you must tailor your job applications to highlight the specific skills and experience required for each position.
While there are UK-specific qualifications which you may later wish to attain, you do not require them in order to commence working.
Important information for your CV
Be sure your CV includes a list of the jobs you have worked on throughout your career in transportation engineering, including specific details on the scope of the projects and your responsibilities within them.
Information such as project value, type of project and a basic description of the work required will ensure that the full depth of your experience is communicated to specialised engineering agencies and future employers.
Be sure to list your experience in reverse-chronological order (i.e. most recent experience first please!)
Use dot points where possible as these enable the reader to scan and understand your experience and abilities quickly.
Example:
Mar 2016 — Present
Main Roads, Country
Engineer (Traffic Operations)
Responsibilities:
- Project management of traffic performance and safety projects
- Analysis and coordination of traffic signal routes, including the use of software package and space-time diagram tool.
- Project management of the Road Maintenance Performance Contract. (Value $55M/ annum)
- Approval of Traffic Management Plans
Software:
TRANSYT (Advanced), TRIPS (Intermediate)
Table of Contents
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