Construction engineering is about the planning and management of the construction of structures. These construction engineering projects might include airports, railroads, highways, bridges, buildings, dams, and reservoirs. The construction of these types of projects requires specific knowledge of engineering and management principles as well as business procedures, economics, and human behaviour.

Construction engineers engage in the design of temporary structures, quality control and quality assurance, building and site layout surveys, on-site material testing, concrete mix design, planning and scheduling, safety engineering, materials procurement, cost estimating, selection of equipment, and cost engineering and budget.

Construction Engineering is differentiated from Construction Management from the standpoint of the level of mathematics, science and engineering used to analyze problems and design a construction process.