Safiullah joined BUET as a lecturer in civil engineering in 1973 and eventually became a professor in 1984. He held the position of the 10th vice-chancellor of BUET from August 2006 until August 2010. He was among the panel of experts appointed by the Government of Bangladesh for construction of Bangabandhu Bridge, and the panel of experts for construction of the Padma bridge (the largest structure to be built in Bangladesh).
