Structural engineer's professional development

[STpipe]

Starting with a little background on myself.

I'm on my first job after graduation, and I've been working there for a little over 2 years. I work for a relatively small company that develops products with applications in typical civil engineering structures. As part of that, we sometimes design the entire structure (rarely and usually for really small structures), but for most projects we at least design part of the structure and work closely with the engineer of record. The last year has been difficult to say the least. With the economy the way it is, the company has repeatedly delayed our paycheck due to cash flow issues.

However my primary concern at this point in time, is whether I'm getting sufficient experience in my field. I have mostly been working on proposals which involve some preliminary engineering analysis and design that we use when we bid for jobs, however up to this point, none of them have transformed into actual projects. The few times I have been involved in the design of a structure that is being built, it is because one of the other senior engineers needed help to design a beam since they were occupied with other things. In other instances, I've helped with calculations and the design of miscellaneous things, but I'm kept completely out of the loop, and generally I don't see the big picture.

So I'm left wondering, what is the typical career path of a structural engineer? What responsibilities should an engineer in my current career stage have? My company doesn't seem to have a plan for my professional development (or anyone else's), we don't do performance reviews, no official mentoring etc... My local professional association does offer some courses which can help advance my knowledge, but other than that, there doesn't seem to be much that I can do.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Yes - we all have problems.

You need to get four years of "engineering experience" - loosely defined in order to sit for your PE. You also need 4 PEs to verify and sign off on that.

It sounds like what you are doing is "probably" OK - but only your board can answer that - but it also depends on how you word it to them - DON"T FORGET THAT!!!

No go forward - get your PE and find a new job....

 

[SteelPE]

Well I'll answer your question with another question, what career path do you want to take? Do you want to become a licensed professional or are you happy with your current work load?

When I first started out I work for a contractor doing DB projects. I would create the plans they would use for estimating purposes. Once the project was sold, I would help transfer the work to the EOR. As time went on I gradually switched from doing the estimating to getting the jobs from the estimator to compete the design for the EOR (working with the EOR very closely). Eventually I became licensed and moved into the engineering company. I can't even say if it was planned this way.... or if my career went in this direction because of my will.

The reason I ask about your goals is because if you plan on taking the PE Exam is a lot easier if you have a vast design background (at least I think so). I know of someone who only designs in wood.... he had a terrible time trying to pass the exam because of his past experience.

just my $0.02

 

[shacked]

ST, from your job description it sounds like you work for a copmany that sells some type propietary (stuff) to be used in a structure. Not sure about that, but based on how long you have been there it seems that you should be doing more then a few beam calcs now and then.

I have worked for a small company with less then 5 people and in the first year I was doing vertical and lateral analysis on residential structures.

Maybe a little more info about where you want to go in the future and your company niche would be helpfull.

 

[STpipe]

Mike,

I'm not too concerned about whether I'll be eligible for the PE, as I'm pretty sure that my experience falls within their requirements for "engineering experience" or getting 4 PEs to sign off on that. However, that requirement is just the bare minimum. I'm more concerned about my actual experience and future job prospects. If two years down the line I'm looking for another job, will my qualifications match those of your typical structural engineer with four years of experience.

SteelPE,

My boss wants all of us to become licensed professional engineers even if we don't need it, and I'll be taking the exam this spring (I have a masters and one year of experience as an undergrad plus the two at my current company). However, in my jurisdiction, we don't have to take a technical exam, only the law/ethics exam which is where some of my concerns come from. The person you know is a perfect example of what I'm afraid could happen since I also only deal with one of the three major building materials.

For my career, I've always wanted to be a very good engineer with strong technical skills, and to work with interesting structures. I do believe that my current company is working on interesting projects, however I am not really seeing the big picture as I said in my original post. Things relating to budgets for projects we're bidding for or have won, design changes for various reasons, working closely with the architects, contractors or EOR are all things I'm not exposed to yet.

 

[msquared48]

"...in my jurisdiction, we don't have to take a technical exam, only the law/ethics exam which is where some of my concerns come from."

And where might that be - seems a little odd to me to say the least.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com

 

[PicoStruc]

And where might that be - seems a little odd to me to say the least.

It is the same thing in the eastern Canada, where I live/work.

Only an 3 part ethic exam is required. It's not the same in the western canada !

 

[msquared48]

Maybe so in Canada, but I believe the OP is in the US.

The only time I have not run into the requirement to pass the CE/SE test, was when I applied thru comity for licensure in another state. Even then, the fact that I had obtained my license by passing the tests in Washington was a factor they considered.

What state is this?

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com

 

[SteelPE]

M^2

He has never said where he is from yet. That was a question I originally had but just assumed that he was in the US.

 

[STpipe]

I am in Canada which is why I won't have to write a technical exam. However having to write the exam in Western Canada is complete news to me!

 

[PicoStruc]

Example here :

http://www.apeg.bc.ca/reg/structeng.html

Designated Structural Engineer (Struct.Eng.) is a official professional title in BC. In the rest of canada, structural engineer are 'only' engineer (civil), no exam required !.

 

[STpipe]

Ah yes, I remember hearing about something like that, something to do with designing for earthquakes if I recall.

 

[PicoStruc]

Not really related to earthquake in my opinion. We apply the same building code / seismic requirement in both provinces !

In western Canada, earthquake mainly excite long period building while in western canada (Montreal / LaMalbaie) earthquake content is high frequency vibration.

Thus, building in eastern canada are a lot sensitive to higher mode effect and really change the shear/bending enveloppe. Quebec is quite a important seismic zone. But this is not a fact that is well known by the public and even engineers in general !

Check this map :

http://www.earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/historic-historique/caneqmap-eng.php

What really limits earthquake force in eastern canada are the building height that are a lot less that the BC. Check the LaMalbaie design spectrum (up to 2.3 g !!!) This is insane !

In conclusion, I really think that this 'Title thing' is all about politics/laws from provincial professionnal order and not design related.