I worked for a civil engineering firm. You are typically hired by and owner to draw up plans. You put jobs out for bid but the contracts are between the owner

I worked for a civil engineering firm. You are typically hired by and owner to draw up plans. You put jobs out for bid but the contracts are between the owner and the construction company. Insurance and the threat of lawsuits keep the engineering part of the business pretty clean. I think your conflating them with city inspectors which come by and make sure construction is up to code.