is there such thing as a part time structural engineer

[wrantler]

I am trying to see if it is worth pursuing some part time structural work out there. My thought is 2 days per week (2x8hr days). I could do 3 if needed...

Do you think any companies will even be open to this?

I have 10ish years of exp in structural work in the true north strong and free.

 

[SJBombero]

There is a company here in CA that recruits part-time engineers. I wouldn't expect it to be very difficult to find other similar opportunities as long as you are capable of completing projects without guidance and supervision.

 

[JStructsteel]

Just call it full time, but only work 20 hrs. Some other full time work 60, so it evens out, lol.

We have a lady who works 3 days a week. She is very competent, and does a great job.

 

[phamENG]

You might find somebody to take you on, but don't expect to find a job posting. The only part time structural engineer I knew made a late life career change. He had already been a department head at a major firm and was at our firm to 'slow down' a little. He slowed down to about 12 hours a week for a few years. Last I talked to him he'd gone back full time at another firm. I'd bet JStructsteel's story is about a woman who worked there full time for some time and then went part time - maybe following maternity leave? That's common in other industries, and I'm sure it happens in ours (the SE community around here is skewed male even for engineering, so I don't know).

You'll probably have to approach firms and sell them on the idea. "Oh, you want a junior engineer? I can do that work for you in a third of the time. In fact, that's all I want to work. So hire me!"

Other option is to hang your own shingle. Since you're only looking at doing a few days a week anyway, I'm guessing you can stomach (or ignore?) the financial stress that comes with starting up. Just be careful and selective in the projects you take on and find good clients who understand you wont be at their beck and call 24/7.

 

[Lomarandil]

We have a few part-time engineers in our group. 20-30 hours depending on the week, and all at the PE level of experience. Most started full time and tapered down for life circumstances (parenting, etc), but given the hiring climate right now I think we'd hire a part-time candidate directly if their experience and personality aligned.

 

[skeletron]

The ultimate way to get there is to start full-time and taper down. Obviously that would take a 5-year plan or something, depending on the size of the firm. The next best way to get there is to hang your own shingle! Although, I'm not completely convinced you'd be working 12 hours a week in that scenario...

From my experience, it is challenging to convince a potential employer to hire for part-time work. Most companies (big and small) initiate the hiring process because they are absolutely swamped or looking to chew on some bigger projects. A lot of job postings also use the common buzzphrases of "thrives under pressure" or "suited to fast paced workplace" or "works hard, plays hard" which don't really converge with part-time work.

With a part-time worker, there is less opportunity to be trained (ie. less hours available = less time for integration into the company process) and also there is a fixed capacity that the worker can contribute to. Could they lean on a part-time worker to work an extra 3-4 hours this week like they lean on a full-time worker? Probably not because it kind of crosses a boundary that the part-time worker has established from the start.

If you had a disability or a diagnosis that necessitated part-time work, I actually think it would be an interesting exercise to look for a part-time professional engineering job. With the introduction of EDI requirements, it would be interesting to see how companies would approach this.

That being said, if your experience is right, your presentation of your abilities is top-level, and personality fits, I could see a company being open to it. As @phamEng pointed out, you'd have to sell the company on the idea. Usually the part-time work is reserved for the old-dog on the verge of retirement, who is best suited to reviewing plans or coming up with conceptual ideas, and someone who is already fluent in the company's own processes/standards/etc.

 

[Boiler106]

we have a part time engineer / stay at home mom that handles our construction administration. Works out really well for us

 

[WARose]

I worked at a place where we had semi-retired guys who were "part-time". They only wanted about 10-20 hrs per week.....but it became sort of a running joke that they were in there for 40 every time issue dates got close.

 

[PEinc]

is there such thing as a part time structural engineer

Work-wise, yes. Risk-wise, no.

http://www.PeirceEngineering.com

 

[LittleInch]

This post essentially closed in January - only got reopened because someone spammed it with an advert (now removed).

So suggest no one else posts to it unless the OP comes back.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[phamENG]

So suggest no one else posts to it unless the OP comes back.

If they don't, so what? If people have information to share or discuss, let 'em. Sometimes these threads turn into nice repositories for information for those capable of using the forum search function and/or Google.

And this is more "a thing" than I realized. I've actually hired one this year! For anyone interested in this route, check with small firms/one person shops. I have lots of work, but scaling from one engineer to two engineers is incredibly difficult. Scaling from one engineer to 1.33 engineers, on the other hand, is a bit easier.

 

[LittleInch]

Fair enough - I think the way to approach people is simply to say that you will be "flexible" and can do batches of work as required. Give them a max (say no more than 30hrs/week for 3-4 weeks) but you don't want a minimum either.

Most consultancies get fluctuating workloads so especially if you can add high level high grade experience to more junior engineers to do a final review or one in a bit more depth than the overworked principal Engineer / designer but they don't have to worry about you sitting around doing nothing when times are slow then I think it can work.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[JoshPlumSE]

Do you think any companies will even be open to this?

Definitely! There are a lot of companies that have too much work for too little staff.

The companies that will be most open to this are the non-traditional ones. I know companies that specialize in Plan Check engineering, where cities sent them there plan checks. I know engineers who have worked at these places part time.

I have a number of friends who (when they were moms with young children) went a non-traditional route part time with companies like APA, Hilti, Simpson, etc. And, I'm pretty sure that a number of them were "part time" and flexible hours for these ladies.

 

[udraft]

Definitely. Worked for years in civil, we often farmed out Structural stuff.