Structural engineer

Structural engineers work as part of a team of construction professionals to design and build a range of structures and buildings

Structural engineering is a branch of civil engineering. As a structural engineer, you'll ensure load bearing structures stay strong and safe for people to use them. The work of a structural engineer is a vital part of any structure being developed.

You'll design structures to withstand stresses and pressures imposed through environmental and human impact. You'll also inspect existing buildings and structures to test if they are structurally sound and still fit for purpose.

Working in close partnership with architects, surveyors, builders and other engineers, you'll help to design, test and maintain structures, including residential and public properties such as houses, hospitals, office blocks, bridges, oil rigs, ships and aircraft.

Sophisticated techniques are used to work out the structural integrity of buildings, such as calculating loads and using computer software modelling, so you will need to have strong mathematical skills.

You'll also be responsible for choosing the appropriate materials, such as concrete, steel, timber and masonry, inspecting the work and advising contractors. Being a structural engineer requires great attention to detail and holds a large amount of responsibility for other people’s safety.

Structural engineering is an evolving landscape as the impact of climate change on our structures becomes more prominent.

Types of structural engineering

You may specialise in a particular area of structural engineering, such as:

• modelling and structural analysis
• residential houses and extensions
• seismic (securing structures against earthquakes)
• buildings
• disaster relief (rebuilding communities)
• forensic (investigating structural failures)
• conservation of historical buildings
• bridges
• vehicles
• tunnels
• pipelines
• industrial
• aircraft
• spacecraft.

Responsibilities

As a structural engineer, you'll need to:

• design new additions or renovations to existing structures, alongside the architects
• calculate factors that impact structures such as load, weather and human impact, using mathematical formulas and modelling software
• analyse configurations of the basic components of a structure
• advise on the best materials to use when building or adding to existing structures, taking into account safety, sustainability, usage and cost
• work with other designers, including architects, to agree on safe designs and their fit with the aesthetic concept of the construction
• examine structures at risk of collapse and advise how to improve their structural integrity
• make drawings, specifications and computer models of structures for building contractors.

Salary

• Your salary as a graduate structural engineering trainee will typically start from £27,000.
• With five years' experience, you can earn up to £45,000 and higher once you become a chartered member, using the designation MIStructE.
• As a senior, project or technical lead engineer, you can earn in excess of £80,000.
• If you work as a self-employed contractor, hourly rates range from £45 to £65 per hour but you do need to pay your own tax out of that amount.

Some companies offer additional benefits, such as a company car and private health insurance.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Your working hours will usually be 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, with some occasional evening and weekend work where necessary. However flexible hours and hybrid working (a mixture of home and site/office based work) is now extremely common as part of company policies.

Self-employment is possible as the building of a structure involves projects that are put out to tender. Structural engineers that work on a contract basis are known as contract engineers. Setting up your own consultancy is an option.

Stay up to date with progressions in the industry and get help with finding work again by becoming a member of The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE).

What to expect

• The work is office based with occasional visits to construction sites to see other professionals and clients, or to measure progress of a building project.
• Travel abroad can be involved, depending on the type of structures you specialise in or which company you work for.
• Project based work for self-employed, contract engineers can involve frequent travel abroad and UK-wide to follow the work.
• According to WISE, approximately 10% of engineers are women. There are also only a small number of women studying STEM subjects, around 19% for engineering courses. Various organisations, including WISE and Equate Scotland, aim to redress this imbalance, by encouraging more women into engineering careers.
• As an engineering consultant, you can work on projects anywhere in the world, for example repair projects following large-scale natural disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis.

Qualifications

To become a structural engineer you will need an accredited degree in either civil or structural engineering and there are different ways you can achieve this. You could study full time at university, complete a degree apprenticeship or enter the industry as an engineering technician and study for a degree part time at university.

If you have a degree in a related discipline like mechanical engineering, mathematics or physics, you could enter the profession by completing a Masters degree in structural engineering. Options also include studying a four-year (five in Scotland) MEng degree which includes an integrated Masters from the start.

As a graduate structural engineer, you can work towards the professional qualifications of Associate Member and Chartered Member with IStructE. To become an Associate Member (AMIStructE), you must have a degree that is accredited by the IStructE. Some equivalent qualifications may also be accepted. Contact the IStructE for full details.

To progress on to become a Chartered Member (MIStructE) with the IStructE, you will need to have an accredited Masters qualification or equivalent. A list of relevant courses is available at JBM (Joint Board of Moderators).

Skills

You will need to have:

• good analytical and problem-solving skills
• strong mathematical ability
• computer literacy
• a grasp of physics
• three-dimensional conceptual skills
• excellent oral and written communication skills
• diagrammatic skills
• the ability to teamwork
• attention to detail
• the ability to liaise well with professionals from other disciplines
• an interest in the design and structure of buildings.

Work experience

Doing some relevant work experience or a work placement is a great way to develop your skills and it will enable you to evidence your competence and commitment in job applications and interviews. Many degree courses offer a year in industry which usually takes place in between second and third years of an undergraduate degree.

There are also often opportunities for 12-week summer placements that are usually available to students in the summer of their second year of undergraduate studies.

These experiences can provide valuable opportunities for building contacts and networking, which may lead to future job opportunities.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Structural engineers often work in consultancies. These range from large international companies to small firms. The large companies, often offering a full 'design and build' service, provide a high level of training, a range of work and opportunities for international travel. Smaller firms, often contracting engineers for projects, tend to specialise in specific areas of engineering, and the geographical spread of their clients is less extensive.

Other employers include:

• aircraft manufacturers
• local authorities
• oil companies
• railway operators.

University departments employ structural engineers as researchers and lecturers. You can make speculative applications using Find an Engineer to search for structural engineering practices.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Careers in Construction
• ICErecruit - job website of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
• JustEngineers
• The Structural Engineer Jobs - online recruitment site for the IStructE.

Recruitment agencies specialising in engineering vacancies include:

• Matchtech
• Precision People
• Thomas Telford Recruitment
• Walker Dendle

Professional development

As a graduate structural engineer, you'll work towards the professional status of Associate or Chartered Member with the IStructE.

To do this you must meet three requirements:

• Academic requirements - for associate membership this is an accredited degree; for chartered membership, you'll need an accredited Masters.
• Initial Professional Development (IPD) - trainees gain experience in the workplace (usually over a period of three to four years), which is matched against specific core objectives identified by IStructE. Many employers offer structured training schemes to ensure these requirements are met.
• Professional review - comprising an interview with qualified engineers and a final examination.

You can opt to take IPD accredited by ICE and then the final exam of the IStructE or to follow the direct route of training accredited by IStructE. Many structural engineers qualify with both institutions, as it affords more career flexibility later.

Once you've achieved professional status with the IStructE, you can choose to become registered with the Engineering Council, taking on the designation of either Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng).

You can join IStructE as a student and then graduate member while you are early on in your career.

Career prospects

Most large organisations have a formal progression structure, but if you work for a smaller company, you may need to move to another employer to progress.

Career options include:

• moving from an engineering consultancy to a construction company
• specialising in a niche area of structural engineering
• working as a self-employed contract engineer
• becoming a project manager
• setting up your own consultancy
• teaching or research work.

There are many opportunities to move to other parts of the UK and to work on international projects. Gaining chartered status with the IStructE allows for professional recognition in an increasing number of countries around the world.

As a chartered member, you can go on to become a Fellow of the IStructE, once you have built up a significant amount of experience and have met an exacting set of standards. This is the most senior grade of membership available and is recognition of excellence in structural engineering.