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This paper concerns the role of civil engineers in smart cities. Initially, the profession of civil engineering as it is, is presented. Modern technological tools such as sensors, crowdsourcing and citizen science, actuators, data transmitters, internet of things, big data analytics and blockchain that can be used to support and manage a smart city. It was necessary to analyze what is a smart city and examine its individual systems in order to make the scope of technological innovations evident. Moreover, the challenges that civil engineers have to overcome at the digital innovation era, are addressed. Finally, the contribution of the civil engineer in smart cities was analyzed, which is pivotal and divided into several levels. The role of a civil engineer is: (1) master designer: civil engineers can identify ready applications of technologies that enable the improvement of the provision of urban resources and services. (2) steward: civil engineers must consider both the environmental and social impacts of smart infrastructure applications. (3) connecting link: civil engineers should be integrated into various fields and expert groups to develop smart infrastructure programs. (4) risk manager: civil engineers should manage the existing and increasing risks of natural disasters, emergencies and climate change; they should also manage new vulnerabilities to the privacy and security of individuals and households introduced by smart technologies · and (5) decision-maker: civil engineers can lead discussions on smart infrastructure and the development of appropriate policy.