ADD ADVICE TO FAVStructural engineering
Fancy designing or building a tower in Dubai, preparing London for the Olympics or creating a long-span suspension or cable-stayed bridge such as the Millau Viaduct? Qualify as a structural engineer and you could find yourself working on varied projects across the world.
Structural engineering is a global profession; as projects become larger and more complex, teams of engineers from different countries collaborate in their design and construction. Many UK firms are involved with projects overseas, and structural engineers who may be nominally based in the UK can find themselves working on construction projects anywhere in the world.
Current exciting projects include construction of the structures for the China Olympics, planning and design of the structures for the London Olympics, and construction of the world’s tallest building (the Burj Dubai) in the United Arab Emirates.
Even if you are based in the UK, you can expect international contact and involvement. Colin Woolford, Resourcing Manager at engineering recruitment firm Beechwood, says: ’Graduate engineers spend more time than ever collaborating with international colleagues, so even a rudimentary knowledge of another language is an added bonus on the CV.’
Structural engineering in the UK
In the UK, work opportunities are expanding. The Government’s plan to expand the housing stock in the south east of England has increased the buoyancy of the market, and development continues apace.
Where can graduate structural engineers work?
Large construction companies or engineering consultancies have well-established graduate trainee schemes.
Structural engineers in smaller companies generally handle less high-profile projects, but, while the work may be less ’glamorous’ than working on huge prestigious projects, the level of involvement and responsibility for the project may be higher, and can be just as well rewarded.
Structural engineering job descriptions
Developing engineering skills
Structural engineers need a wide range of specialist skills. These include
- investigating the soil strength and designing adequate foundations
- understanding basic structural concepts (how elements of the structure interact and carry their loads)
- analysis (2-D and 3-D)
- structural design (behaviour of beams and columns, etc in steel, concrete or other materials) to ensure the structure has the strength required to perform its function safely, economically and with a shape and appearance that is visually satisfying.
’Right now is a particularly interesting time to be a structural engineer,’ says Phil Williams, Director of Communications and Practice at the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE). ’Structural engineers play a key role in the development of worldwide projects, helping clients to realise their aspirations and delivering the design and construction safely, on time, and to budget. There are new challenges to address, not least how to help make the construction industry more sustainable’.
Professional bodies for structural engineers
IStructE is the world’s largest professional body dedicated to structural engineering, with some 22,000 members in over 100 countries.
IStructE’s professional qualifications are among the most highly respected across all engineering sectors.
