Boss taking risks, advice please

[Forensic74]

I'm an SE who works at a small (3 licensed SE's) structural engineering firm. The department manager/lead SE is the one who runs the projects and stamps them. Typically the company does small stuff but was awarded a large complex industrial building. The dept manager coordinated the project and stamped it. The problem is I question his judgement on a lot of things. He pushed the design down paths I never would have gone because of risk. I did some design work on this project, but it was a learning experience the entire way, and I let him know it from the beginning. He did a lot of detailing that I thought was really questionable, but he somehow justified it all. The project as a whole seems to be begging for a lawsuit. The job is just getting started putting in foundations in the field.

I've only been with the company 7 months and I'm considering quitting because of this situation. Before I do, I wanted to see if any of you had ideas/experiences along the way. I fear that even if I quit I'll be dragged back if something happens. I know I didn't stamp the set, but I am licensed and worked with/under him....

All comments are appreciated!

 

[Ron]

Just because you would do something differently doesn't mean the other approach is wrong. You also stated that you were in a learning mode throughout the project. Any chance that the Senior Engineer has enough experience to make some calls that you might consider risks, and have them turn out OK?

If you have true concerns, then sit down with the Sr. engineer and go through those concerns....one by one. Hopefully he will satisfy your need to know.

If he's wrong and you can, without question, refute his technical considerations, then the conversation will be difficult but you must have it. If you consider the designs to compromise life safety, then you must say so and if no action is taken you need to go to the building official or the state board.

 

[JedClampett]

I'd stick around and see how things turn out. If you're right, there will be a lot of RFIs and Field changes to work out. And if you're wrong, you'll have the valuable experience of realizing that there are several ways to skin a cat.
What would your quitting accomplish? Would it make the structure better? Are recruiters knocking on your doors?
As far as liability, I wouldn't worry. Your boss sealed the drawings, it's his hindquarters on the line. The company has insurance for lawsuits. Unless you feel the design is dangerous, you should sit back and observe.
I'll bet you'll get a lot of responses just the opposite of mine.

 

[Forensic74]

To clarify, the department manager only has 5 more years of experience than I do. He was learning on this as well.

Very difficult to define "dangerous". There are many examples where I wouldn't push the design to the brink of assumed loads, especially when it comes to connections.

I was planning on leaving next year to move closer to family. This job was just a temporary position.

 

[hokie66]

I agree with Ron and Jed. We have no way of knowing which of you is "right or wrong", or maybe there is some combination of both. If you are planning to leave anyway, suit your own schedule. As Jed says, you may learn some things as the construction progresses, and I wouldn't worry about your personal liability.

 

[msquared48]

Perhaps the OP, MainMan10, would like to share some specific concerns here and get some unbiased feedback? Yea, like that's possible...

Perhaps with sketches and some comments?

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[rowingengineer]

Stop looking at the small picture, start looking at the big picture. Has this risk taker been so risky as to take into account semi rigid behaviour, post plastic analysis, wind tunnel testing, live load predictive modelling/vibration and other advances methods to design a building for it least loading and most advanced analysis?

Don’t be too quick to assume that because someone sharpens their pencil that they are risky, generally the more experienced the “better” the design. You only need to ensure every link in the chain is as strong as the last and all are stronger than the loading. However detailing is the big key, if you details are good more than half the battle is won.


ANY FOOL CAN DESIGN A STRUCTURE. IT TAKES AN ENGINEER TO DESIGN A CONNECTION.”