field engineer

engineer

superintendent

laborer

structural engineer

Kiewit Corporation

Nobody knows heavy civil construction like Kiewit, but that comes at a major price to your well being.  As an engineer they will WORK YOU TO DEATH.  They expect everything from you and give practically nothing in return.  They are famous for treating their employees like trash.  Expect to work a MINIMUM of 12-14 hr/day plus 6+ hours on Saturday regardless if crews are working or not, and even Sundays depending on the project.

My first project out-of-college with them I was required to arrive no-later-than 6 am and typically leave around 9-10 pm 7 days a week with every other Sunday off.  And if you left after only 12 hours the PM would criticize your "work ethic" and label you as lazy.  

They breed a culture that few can handle and most see as intolerable and hateful.  They don't care what your family situation is, your health, your well being, etc.  They only care that you put your 12+ hours in M-Sat and take the constant criticism and hatred they spew at all levels.  They truly are cut throat.  A PM got mad at me for buying a dog, he said it makes it harder to move me around.  He suggested I take it out to the woods and leave it, and he wasn't joking.  He told me a story of how a piece of metal got lodged in his cornea at work.  A doctor told him he had to fly to another state to see a specialist or he could lose his sight!  Then his boss tried to convince him to delay it because they had an important water tie-in to do later that week!  Their former VP bragged in a meeting I was in on how they "robbed" the City of Seattle "blind" with change orders on a rail job.  I worked with a business manager that only inquired about an open position in a different district, within Kiewit mind you.  His boss somehow found out and immediately fired him!  All he did was look into it, nothing more!  The seasoned guys would joke and laugh about how everyone gets divorced and their kids hate them because they're never there for their families.  I'd say at least 70% of the people I worked with were negative all the time, always talking down on people, constantly grouchy and rude and hard to work with.  So many are like that that if you don't convert they see you as a p*ssy and chew you up and spit you out.  

In my 3 years with them I worked 6 projects.  Every one of them either an inspector, engineer, or owner's rep told me how they hate working with Kiewit.  They view every change order with extreme skepticism because Kiewit is known as a change order happy company.  They said they go into every meeting with the expectation that there'll be some sort of argument or shouting match.  

Most companies in the industry consider Kiewit as an Engineer Boot Camp.  You start off with them, they treat you horribly and grind you down till you're nothing, you do learn from a lot in the process - I'll give em that, then you move on to other companies after a couple of years.

Every day starts with the morning safety meeting for each craft to discuss the plan for the day, then stretch and flex to avoid mussel strains, then each person or crew fills out their operation start card (JHA) for what they will be doing that day and their Foreman or Superintendent will review the Start Card and make sure all hazards are documented and mediation plans are in place, then each person or crew gathers their tools and/or equipment and begins their day. then the daily task are preformed efficiently and safely. any issues throughout the day are escalated as necessary to be resolved to maintain quality and safety. Foremen and Superintendents will meet throughout the day to maintain communication, and Superintendents and Management will meet once a day to update the schedule and plan for the next three weeks. At the end of the day due to the fact that most Kiewit projects run round the clock day and night shift Foremen and Superintendents document their progress on specific task and claim quantities to track progress, and set the next shift up for success.
  I have learned the importance of a good safety culture, good clear communication from all craft, Unique and valuable management and interpersonal skills, the value of honest and raw data, and the importance of really listening to the people are doing the work and taking note of what they are telling their supervisors.
  In my honest opinion management is currently about a 50/50 split between those that actually know and understand how to manage and those that believe that they do and simply know someone that does.
  Workplace culture is one of the best and one of the worst in my opinion, you become like family due to the fact that you actually in most cases spend more time with coworkers than you do with your family, the hours are long, weekends are short and work life balance is almost non-existent, unless you are a project manager or above, and some project managers don't have a work life balance due to work load.
  The hardest part of the job isn't even the long hrs. it's the fact that most employees are at minimum 5-6 hrs. away from home, (more often than not 10 -18hrs.) and work 6 days a week and if they are a staff employee they get to go home every 2 to 3 weeks (2 days for 2 weeks - 3 days for 3 weeks - no travel time).
that makes it hard to get home very often, especially for hourly people because they don't get time off with out being docked for it.
  The most enjoyable part is seeing a project complete, on schedule, and under budget. And the comradery of the entire project team to make that happen. the since of accomplishment.  

As a Field Engineer (FE), who is currently on-site, you will have long work hours and work weeks. You will get paid handsomely for your long hours (you will not make overtime because you will be a salary employee), but it can be taxing on your work/life balance. Another requirement is that you must be open to traveling to job sites for months or even years at a time. This could mean moving across the country or even commuting 30+ minutes every day to a job site if needed. Travel is really encouraged in your first few years as an FE as you will gain a tremendous amount of experience on-site. You will have the opportunity to advance in your career very fast if you are willing to travel and take any and all opportunities.

Now, although I was hired as an FE, with the expectation I would be on a construction site, I have been in an estimation role since my start. I am still an FE, but I am currently in an estimating rotation. A rotation like this can last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. As an estimator, I worked in an office setting 100% of the time. The work is interesting and offers rewarding challenges. You have the opportunity to take on as much responsibility as you want. You will work a regular 9-5 40 hr work week as an estimator. My management and coworkers were great, and my work/life balance as an estimator was amazing as well. Of course, this estimating assignment is only a part of your rotation process as an FE, and it will not be what you are expected to do for the rest of your career

That all being said, the people at Kiewit are great, and I never felt like I was on my own. You can always take on more responsibility if you want to advance fast. The only downside, which may just be specific to me, is the pressure to travel (at least your first few years) as an FE. After those first few years of travel, you will get more of a say on where you want to travel or what role you'd rather do (i.e., something more office-oriented).  Other than that, if you want to go out and get experience fast, this is the job for you.

1. A typical day at work
Work begins at 7 am or earlier. The expectation for employees is to show up at least 30 minutes prior to start off shift. There is a “Play of the day” meeting every morning before start of shift, and once more at noon. Typically, Field engineers have on average 2 meetings a day. You are expected to be out in the field for 50-70% of your day enforcing safety and quality expectations- this includes kiewit craft (laborers, carpenters, etc) and subcontractors. This changes from job to job though. Typical/minimum work hours are 7a-5p, 5-7 days a week. Weekend work changes from job to job, but Saturday’s are generally expected from everyone. Tight schedule deadlines (which is common) might require you to work Sundays and 12+ hour shifts.  

2. What you learned
You will learn a lot very quickly. I learned almost all of the facets of construction. I learned a lot about tooling, what the proper tool for the job is, setting up contracts with other contractors or vendors, etc.  

3. Management
Typically older, most have the mindset that you need to work as many hours and days as possible to get the job done. I got told once, as I was leaving at 4:50, that I “needed to add more work to my plate.” 

4. Workplace culture
Depends on the job. Typically it’s pretty toxic. If you’re not working 10 hour days you’re a “part timer” or “working bankers hours”. There is very little concern for life outside of work. For many of the people that work for kiewit, their work is their life. If you want a work life balance, or a social life, you will not find it here. 

5. The hardest part of the job
The hours, early mornings, weekend work, the stress from working in very fast pace environments. 

6. The most enjoyable part of the job
Talking to the craft in the field and learning all that you can about the construction project you are on. I learned so much from the foreman and craft guys since most have done the work for 20+ years. Seeing the final products in construction is also a very rewarding feeling. 

The Good:
Kiewit provides strong benefits, competitive starting salaries, and extensive opportunities to gain hands-on experience early in your career. The company frequently hosts training sessions, volunteer events, and social activities that create an engaging workplace culture. They also offer flexibility for occasional work-from-home situations when needed, though the culture is primarily in-office. Overall, it is a fast-paced environment where motivated engineers can learn quickly.

The Challenges:
Upward mobility can be slow, as promotions are heavily tied to the annual performance review process. Because management feedback weighs so heavily in advancement decisions, your career progression can depend greatly on the specific lead or project manager you work under. A supportive manager can make your experience very positive, while a less effective one can hinder visibility, development, and growth. The culture can vary significantly from project to project, which creates inconsistency in employee experience.

The Concerns:
The company takes performance reviews and internal alignment very seriously, and disagreements with management can escalate quickly. In my experience, when an employee advocates for themselves or voices concerns, it can be viewed negatively, which may affect how they’re treated or transitioned out. After speaking with others who left for similar reasons, this seems to be a recurring pattern—if you conflict with certain leadership styles, the outcome may not be favorable.

Conclusion:
Kiewit is an excellent stepping stone for early-career engineers seeking rapid exposure to the power industry and large-scale EPC projects. You will gain significant technical experience and access to valuable resources. However, long-term growth can be challenging and is highly dependent on team assignment and the management dynamics within your project.

Kiewit is a company where the culture is stuck in the past...all the managers are older men that came up in the rough construction industry of the 80s and 90s and have expectations of others similar to what their antiquated expectations were. If you don't meet these expectations you are looked down on and not looked at for advancement opportunities, even if you perform well.

It is such a large and well-known company in the industry that all the youngest employees are easily replaceable and treated as such. They are placed in positions requiring and expecting many of the following: 14+ hour work days, night shifts, Saturday and Sunday shifts, swing shifts starting at every thinkable hour, daily long distance travel to projects, expected relocation to far projects around the country with no regard to personal life, etc. 

These work conditions do not go away resulting in most employees eventually moving on. This high turnover results in a lack of young supervisors with experience, leaving lot of older, heavily experienced managers and a big drop off in experience with a lot of unsuspecting young engineers.

Kiewit underpays their employees severely, from the new hire engineers all the way up to more experienced project managers. This especially comes into play with the long work hours and no additional compensation. It is clear that this is a revenue creating tactic by Kiewit to get the most work for the least amount of pay from its employees.

Kiewit does put young engineers in the middle of high stress management situations on large projects which bodes well for their upcoming career. Therefore, Kiewit is definitely a good stepping stone towards higher paying job opportunities. Expect at least a 20%-40% raise when moving on to other companies in the industry.

Kiewit offers great salaries and benefits, but the culture is either a hit or miss. There is an elite group that runs the entire company that you either are or are not a part of. This causes tension on the "lower tiers" of the company. Some mid-level managers fight desperately to rise in ranks and thus treat their co-workers terribly- using any and all tactics to rise. Some people plain do not care about the hierarchy ("its just a job" attitude), and the others just quit. There is little to no socializing at work. If you want to catch up with a coworker, you've got 5 minutes at the coffee machine in the morning or very few minutes at the tail end of a meeting, then it's off to the cubicle for you! (Intimidation is a very common tactic for keeping employees quiet and in line).  

For the elite, they live and breath work and expect anyone who wants to rise to do the same. Travel and relocation is not only obnoxiously common but expected. There is no such thing as work/life balance in the elite. Work is life. If you want to go to happy hour, go with your coworkers. If you want to go on vacation, bring and check your phone for important emails the entire time (or suffer the passive aggressive consequences the rest of your career). 

There is job security here. If you prove you have what it takes to rise to that elite group, you will and so will your salary. I would actually recommend Kiewit, amidst the snarky review, because the company itself turns out great results. Day-to-day is stifling and not well suited for a social butterfly or anyone family oriented, but the way they conduct business is always fair and ethical.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The best part of working at Kiewit is the family-based structure of the company. Being in business for over 140 years, Kiewit speaks volumes about the company's business platform. Everyone wants to make more money. I was well compensated for the job I did for Kiewit Technology Group. I loved going to work every day. I loved saying I worked at Kiewit, knowing that it is one of the largest construction companies in the world. Knowing that going down the right path personally would lead to a lifetime of employment. I was lucky to have the experience and great people to work for. I will miss working there 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The last year of my career there was the most stressful. I shouldn't have run from something I didn't like. The most stress I had while I worked there was brought on by myself, not the company. I had no business changing careers this late in my life. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The environment and the culture are phenomenal. I made what I believe to be lifelong friends. The VP of the technology group I'd consider to be a mentor. He'd take the time to say hello to me at my desk. My leadership was amazing. That comes from the very top down. I will miss that. I fear I will never have that experience again  

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I'd be given tasks to do and would get them done with excellent feedback from my immediate boss—good or bad. I'd have look-ahead discussions with my supervisors throughout the day. I was always shown how to add measurable, sustainable value to the company.

I did not have a great experience at Kiewit. To be fair I was about 3-5 weeks in before covid hit. At the same time my knowledgeable supervisor was hired for another roll and 4 other people were now in charge of my department. They knew about as much as I did. When I had a question I was not encouraged to reach out to some one. Instead I was directed to go through process documents. My team of seven turned into a team of four yet the work continued to grow. Our goal was to close 60 cases a week- mind you when I first started it was a goal of 50- that not every one was meeting. We were assigned well over 200 cases. Were we had to match up information. If one detail was off we would have to reach out to vendors for corrections. Not so bad except we played middle man to the team that processed the information and the field crews. So what should take a day to do could take weeks. So conflicts in the company would occur constantly. We also had to handle another email queue, take chat questions, and account reconciliation. They would provide overtime options to other teams but not us. When I did request overtime it was immediately shut down and I was then called into meetings.. not trainings. I was not informed that they wanted to extend my contract or asked if I wanted to continue to work with them. Pros of working here is strictly the team I was on. My lead was amazing, understanding and would fight for us when they would scold us for not having cases completed- which completely depended and a whole different department. I did learn a lot about accounts payable! Which lined up with the next job I took. So after all is said and done makes it worth it.

Sadly, I would not recommend Kiewit for any role.  I was excited to begin my journey with Kiewit but quickly realized that the company did not share my values in many ways. I was in a unique position that allowed me to get insight into multiple departments. Needless to say, I was disappointed. 

Pros
Large company. Lots of places to move if you don't care about work life balance. 

Cons
Kiewit does not value its Blue-Collar team members. 
The company prefers to hire young professionals or new grads.  Especially for any kind of office role.  
There is not clear concise communication from management. 
In most cases, you will not get honest feedback from your leaders or the teams you support.  Instead of giving direct feedback and allowing its team members to improve or offer solutions, leaders will go directly to your superiors and complain about what you feel they are doing wrong. 
No work life balance
Sink or swim mentality. 
Horrible 401K Vesting 
Expensive insurance for the size of the company
Departments often over hire in anticipation for large projects then lay off when they don't win bids.  
Most leaders don't think outside of the box. Often times, managers lure in potential candidates with a promise of growth and work on different types of projects than they can at their current employer.  This is often not the case. 
I feel like there is a bit of age discrimination.  

Overall, Kiewit may seem like an exciting company to work for but, there companies that offer better pay, more balance, and more support than Kiewit offers.  




Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Field engineer 34 salaries reported	$84,001 per year
Engineer 5 salaries reported	$72,886 per year
Superintendent 5 salaries reported	$111,754 per year
Laborer 12 salaries reported	$21.14 per hour
Structural engineer 4 salaries reported	$113,041 per year

Working at Kiewit Corporation: Company Overview and Reviews

Kiewit Corporation

Kiewit Corporation Ratings

Popular jobs at Kiewit Corporation

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected