Structural Engineer Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a structural engineer. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a structural engineer.
Who is a Structural Engineer?
A structural engineer is a professional in charge of planning and ensuring the security of structures including buildings, bridges, and dams. A structural engineer studies and creates the structural support systems for buildings and other substantial structures like bridges and dams. They are in charge of making sure these constructions are structurally sound. The “bones and muscles” that give man-made buildings their form and shape are designed by structural engineers, a branch of civil engineering. Structural engineers must also comprehend and compute the stability, strength, stiffness, and earthquake-susceptibility of constructed structures for buildings and nonbuilding structures.
The structural designs are integrated with those of other designers, such as architects and building services engineers, and they often control the on-site execution of projects by contractors. They may also be engaged in the design of machinery, medical devices, and vehicles whose structural integrity has an impact on their functionality and safety. Structures that can endure stress and pressure are designed by structural engineers. Buildings, bridges, and other structures must be both robust and flexible enough to retain their integrity during earthquakes, hurricanes, and other dangerous events. Structural engineers must take into account how various materials twist, flex and vibrate. To ensure that each building project is secure and safe, they include mathematical and scientific ideas in their designs. To find more effective, affordable, and secure ways to design and construct crucial buildings, these engineers investigate and assess alternative building materials, construction techniques, and structural approaches.
Typically regarded as a subfield of civil engineering, structural engineering is a separate field of study. It varies from state to state, but the majority of structural engineers in practice in the United States are today civil engineers with licences. To build specialised or high-risk facilities like schools, hospitals, or skyscrapers, several jurisdictions have additional licensure requirements for structural engineers. In the United Kingdom, the majority of structural engineers who work in the construction sector are members of the Institution of Structural Engineers or the Institution of Civil Engineers. Buildings, skyscrapers, stadiums, and bridges are some of the common structures that structural engineers create. A structural engineer may also be responsible for the design of other constructions including ships, aeroplanes, and oil rigs in space.
Structural engineers are working in the aerospace, automotive, and shipbuilding sectors in addition to the construction sector, which employs the majority of them. They collaborate closely with construction managers, quantity surveyors, mechanical, electrical, and civil engineers in the construction sector. A building or bridge must be strong and stable enough to withstand all appropriate structural loads, such as gravity, wind, snow, rain, seismic (earthquake), earth pressure, temperature, and traffic, to avoid or minimise casualties. Structural engineers make sure that this is the case when designing buildings and bridges. Additionally, they create structures with appropriate rigidity so that they won’t flex or shake too much. Typical consideration of the limitations is human comfort. When designing bridges, aeroplanes, or other structures that are subjected to repeated cycles of stress during their lifespan, fatigue is a crucial factor to take into account. In addition, the material’s resistance to potential degradation that can reduce performance during the design lifespan is taken into account.
A structural engineer often begins by looking through the project’s specifications. Then, keeping in mind the constraints of the materials and construction techniques at hand, they will design a building that satisfies those needs. Any environmental elements that can have an impact on the structure, including wind or earthquakes, must also be considered by the structural engineer. The structural engineer will collaborate with the architect and builders once the design is finished to make sure the building is constructed appropriately and securely. Once the building is finished, they could also be in charge of doing inspections and upkeep. To evaluate a structure’s strength and safety, structural engineers use a range of instruments and methods. They often use the finite element approach, which enables them to simulate how a building would behave under different loads. Using this information, it will be possible to decide if any alterations are necessary to assure the structure’s safety.
Safety evaluation is yet another crucial aspect of structural engineering. This entails inspecting a building to see how it would react in the case of an emergency, such as a fire or earthquake. In the case of an emergency, using this knowledge will make it easier to prepare for and evacuate a facility. Structural engineers need to be accurate, commercially aware and have excellent communication skills to succeed. They also need to have a keen interest in ensuring the safety and physical integrity of buildings and other large structures. Top applicants will be well-versed in building methods, materials, and legal requirements as well as excellent project and budget management abilities.
Structural Engineer Job Description
Below are the structural engineer job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a structural engineer job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
- Manage all engineering efforts for medium- to large-scale civil projects and ensure that resources, both human and financial, are used effectively.
- Assist all designers and engineers in different quality improvement procedures, provide advice to various departments on all technical issues, and conduct routine technical aspect analyses.
- Keep your knowledge of various civil engineering processes up to date with the aid of different methodologies, and cooperate with multiple departments for all project-related technical operations.
- Assist different civil engineering departments with professional technical knowledge, manage all project-related facilities, create fruitful client connections, and provide suitable technical proposals for all possible projects.
- Prepare designs by all relevant norms and laws, verify that all civil contracts are signed, create specifications for all equipment used in projects, assess supplier data, and carry out the necessary testing.
- Create diverse maintenance plans, effective standard operating procedures, effective training manuals for all staff at the client site, efficient surveys of all projects, and effective safety analyses.
- Maintain expertise in all technologies, and determine the budget and personnel needs for each project by the timeline.
- Prepare all necessary technical documents, review all project requirements, and, if necessary, suggest modifications and changes. You should also take part in various design meetings to bargain with all the subcontractors.
- Evaluate each civil process, guarantee effective quality control on every project, and always help the engineering team in keeping the timetable.
Qualifications
- A degree in civil or structural engineering is essential
- Years of experience as a structural engineer are essential
- Professionally associated with the Institute of Structural Engineers.
- Project management expertise.
- Advanced understanding of building techniques, materials, and regulatory requirements.
- Solid mathematical and physical knowledge.
- The capacity to communicate with experts in various areas.
- Intellectual ability and innovation.
- Strong problem-solving abilities and analytical thinking skills.
- Excellent organising abilities and meticulous attention to detail.
- The capacity to operate under duress and fulfil deadlines.
- Ability to function both individually and in a team.
- Excellent IT and communication skills.
Essential Skills
Computer proficiency: Structural engineers employ a range of computer applications to carry out their jobs. Engineering software tools may be used to assist you to interact with customers or team members, or to develop designs and progress reports. Excellent computer abilities may enable you to utilise planning and design applications to create a project. You may build precise plans that include information regarding project development, such as a project’s supplies, budget, and deadlines, using several software packages.
Budgeting skills: You could adhere to a tight budget as a structural engineer while placing material orders and organising labour and duties. Clients often give you a budget that your team can adhere to, and you may change the budget based on the project’s viability. For instance, you may adjust the budget to account for the steel if a project calls for a certain kind of steel that may be more costly.
Time management skills: Engineers must adhere to deadlines while working on structural engineering projects. It may be beneficial for a structural engineer to employ time management techniques to rank jobs in order of priority. You can meet deadlines and finish tasks on time by doing this.
Adaptability skills: Since structural engineers often operate in regions with a variety of topography and climatic conditions, it’s advantageous for you to be able to adapt to numerous situations. Depending on the setting, you may also work with a range of materials. For instance, you may deal with steel, wood, or concrete. Being adaptive could enable you to deal with various materials and settings.
Structural analysis skills: With structural analysis abilities, you may spot possible problems in already-built infrastructure or analyse the plans for a project to build new infrastructure to see if there are any problems. These abilities enable you to evaluate an infrastructure’s quality, safety, and dependability before your team builds it. Finding components that might lead to a risky working environment requires careful analysis of a project.
Problem-solving skills: You may utilise your problem-solving abilities to pinpoint infrastructure improvement opportunities and employ engineering procedures to come up with innovative solutions. When working on a project, structural engineers often run across challenging technical issues, such as when the weather makes it impossible to construct an outside building or when a design has errors in the calculations. To tackle these problems and guarantee that your team can finish the project before the deadline, apply your problem-solving abilities.
Project management expertise: With the aid of project management expertise, your team can remain on track and meet project objectives. You can think about giving your team members feedback on their assignments or frequent updates on the project’s status. Structural engineers often alter a project’s specifications as it develops because the client’s wants or budget might change. You may utilise your project management abilities to make the required changes and alert your team members of recent changes. You might also respond to inquiries and provide advice on the project’s spending plan, safety guidelines, level of quality, or timetable.
Technical writing skills: Structural engineers often write technical reports on the safety of a project. You may provide this report to management, your customer, or other interested parties. You may include the exact engineering procedures your team uses in this report, as well as the measures you take to maintain a safe working environment. You may add information about the intricate procedures or engineering methods used by your team in a manner that is simple to grasp for readers who may not be acquainted with structural engineering procedures by using technical writing abilities.
Mathematics skills:: If you’re working on a project, having strong math abilities may help you solve challenging calculations. To guarantee the stability of infrastructure, structural engineering often applies mathematical and physical concepts. Making sure your calculations are precise the second time around can help to reduce the possibility of problems during project completion.
How to Become a Structural Engineer
Step 1. Earn a degree
For employment as a structural engineer, you normally require an undergraduate degree. This equips you with the necessary theoretical understanding and background data to create designs that complement already-existing work while being secure and engaging. A bachelor’s degree in structural engineering, civil engineering, or a similar discipline is required for structural engineers. These programmes often provide math, physics, chemistry, engineering, and design courses. Additionally, you might get a degree in engineering that is broader and then pursue a master’s degree in structural engineering. Although it’s not often a necessity for the position, having a master’s degree might impress hiring managers since it demonstrates your commitment, curiosity, and high level of knowledge.
Step 2. Apprenticeship and work experience
The majority of structural engineers’ training is acquired via internships and entry-level jobs. Internships may be completed by students in a range of fields, including manufacturing, design, and architecture. To understand more about the business, structural engineers might also perform internships in engineering businesses. Another option is to seek a structural engineering apprenticeship. Apprenticeships include working on projects with professionals in the field to learn. You receive actual job experience and learn how to function effectively in that setting. Some apprenticeship programmes also contain a more conventional educational component that allows you to get a degree while working for the company. Any application for a structural engineer looks wonderful if you have relevant job experience. Work experience educates you about the nature of the work you perform, the workplace culture, and how to be successful on the job. As part of your study, engineering courses often involve time spent working for an engineering business. If you have additional experience, such as through an internship, you may further impress a hiring manager. You may do an internship over the summer or after receiving your degree. Entry-level jobs may help structural engineers develop their skills. Engineers may get a greater knowledge of the business and their particular technical speciality by working in entry-level roles. They may aid them in improving their leadership and communication abilities.
Step 3. Obtain certificate and other professional qualifications
You must have structural engineering certification to work as a recognised engineering professional, and the majority of states also want a state licence. A variety of professional credentials are available for those working in engineering. These show prospective clients or employers that you are knowledgeable and have a strong skill set for the position. Becoming a chartered engineer is the pinnacle of professional advancement.
Where to Work as a Structural Engineer
Structural engineers often work for construction or engineering corporations. They could also be employed by governmental bodies, academic institutions, or architectural businesses. Airports, coastal/marine structures, buildings, bridges, energy/power plants, railways, highways, tunnels, water, and public health structures are just a few of the frequent businesses that need structural engineers. Typically, structural engineers are either consultants or contractors. The bulk of the time consultants spend at work is in an office setting. They create blueprints or reports, oversee projects, and establish plans.
These engineers often work a conventional weekday schedule and spend most of the day at a desk. To fulfil a tight deadline, they would sometimes put in extra hours. Even though they periodically go to building sites, this only takes up a minor amount of their time. The majority of the time is spent on the building site by structural engineers who are independent contractors. They manage the practical side of engineering, leading construction crews and carefully monitoring the building of projects. For some of the projects, these structural engineers could work with subcontractors. They are in charge of leading the group and supervising all on-site operations as the structural plans come to life. They typically put in a 40-hour work week, but they could put in more if they have a deadline to fulfil. Some structural engineers visit the sites of new projects to supervise the execution of their plans.
Structural Engineer Salary Scale
In Nigeria, the average monthly salary for a civil engineer is around 321,000 NGN. From 154,000 to 504,000 NGN are paid in salary. In the United States, the average income for structural engineers is $69,394, with the normal range being between $57,038 and $73,687. Salary ranges may vary significantly based on a variety of crucial aspects, including schooling, credentials, supplementary talents, and the length of time you’ve been working in a certain field.