Career Advice - Bridges to Smaller Buildings

[A4North]

I'm a younger structural engineer (in training) that's been dealing with bridge and culvert engineering for the last three years or so. As of lately, I've spent a lot of time looking at my career, analyzing and probably over thinking but I did come to some conclusions.

My goal, even before starting university was to deal with smaller residential and commercial projects and to become competent in the field. As most of you probably know, right out of university most people don't exactly get to choose what they end up working in, I ended up working with bridges. I still have a great amount of interest in the area and would like to take my career in that direction, at this time I believe that I have two options,

1. Leave bridge engineering for full time employment in buildings.

2. Make buildings my hobby and find someone (small firm) to give me work for evenings and weekends in order to learn, for a relatively low wage.

I personally like option 2 a lot more, and would like to know if anyone thinks that it's a realistic option or if anyone can suggest the best way to approach a smaller firm with my idea.

Any insight is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

North

 

[IsaacStructural]

There are firms that do both buildings and bridges, can you find one of these in your area?

M.S. Structural Engineering
Licensed Structural Engineer and Licensed Professional Engineer (Illinois)

 

[cvg]

I don't see option 2 working for an inexperienced, un-registered engineer.
pick any one of the top 25 large firms, they will have an office in your area and will likely design everything. we are always looking for a good general purpose structural engineer. You might need to relocate

http://enr.construction.com/toplists/DesignFirms/001-100.asp

 

[MiketheEngineer]

I do option #2 all the time - BUT I did have some very good training in that area.

 

[strucguy]

A4North,

I am exactly in the opposite side of the aisle you are in. I have been designing buildings for the past 7 years, though I always wanted to be a bridge engineer. Even now I think of switching, but worried about having to build my career from scratch again. With some good advice, I finally decided to look for companies that do both, so that all the years of engineering experience that I have gained so far is given due credit, and at the same time I get to become what I always wanted to. No luck yet. Let me know if you want to exchange jobs with me

 

[A4North]

Well, i'm fairly sure that the larger firms (top 25) have a strong divide between their bridge and buildings departments. I currently work for one of the big firms, and have received offers from others such as AMEC and AECOM, all of which also have this divide. I'm located in Toronto, Ontario so location isn't the problem either.

Want to train me Mike? Just send me over some drawings and i'll hash out the details!

I'd trade with you in a second strucguy, bridges are a very sensitive field, all projects are basically funded by the government.


Once I graduated, I started out with a small company that dealt with only bridges, I left a year ago because there was no work coming in, infact I went in for a chat with my old boss about a month ago and things are still extremely slow. It seems that the larger companies are winning all of the contracts and I have a slight idea that there is some funny business involved.

On a personal level, i'd much prefer to work for a small company than a large corporation. I felt much more valued and involved in a small company and also feel that the rate at which I was learning was incredible when compared to a large corporation.

Can anyone provide more insight on learning the design of buildings, I'm actually willing to do it for minimum wage in order to learn.

For me SKILL = HAPPINESS

Thanks,
North

 

[abusementpark]

I'd start reading up about lateral force resisting systems (shearwalls, frames, diaphragms, etc) and try to understand how they work. That is a big hurdle for someone coming out of school.

You might be able to find someone who needs help with checking shop drawings. That could be a way to "ease in" in to building design.

Another big question is if you have any experience in wood, masonry, and cold-formed metal framing. These materials are commonly used for small-scale building construction.

 

[steellion]

My advice: pick one. Bridge and buildings are completely different animals, and each are much too complex to not devote your entire time. I wouldn't trust someone doing building engineering as a "hobby" to do my work. The good news is you're still young, and it is not too late to switch to buildings if you find that work to be more interesting. You have an engineering degree, the physics are the same, knowing the codes and how building components fit together is completely different. Be willing to accept an entry level position from a company willing to take you on as a building engineer.