Job Profile / Description / Responsibilities
Structural engineering is a field which comes under civil engineering. The main responsibility of structural engineering services is to work with buildings and structures. As the word implies, structural designing entails taking into consideration certain factors during the course of construction, such as the strength and safety of the building, meeting design specifications and more. The basic duty of the structural engineer is to design a perfect support system that will seek to eliminate the risk of a collapse of the building. The structural engineer should design the structure with sufficient deflection to avoid discomfort for the inhabitants. Structural engineers should make sure that the design and the identification of the materials is perfectly fit in the budget of the project.
They must undertake adequate research, designing, planning and inspection of the structural systems by taking certain important factors in to consideration including the economic, environmental, and aesthetic issues. The safety of the construction will then be analyzed by the structural civil engineers.
Requirements
Academic
As per the requirements of the employers, a person who aspires to be a structural engineer should have a diploma in civil engineering as most of the educational institutions do not have a specific discipline for structural engineering. This specific area of expertise is rolled into civil engineering. So, the persons who aspire to be structural engineers must either study this area of expertise in civil engineering or pursue a separate program in structural engineering. The applicants should be proficient in computer as well as software. The applicants should be proficient in cover material mechanics, structural design, and numerical analysis and material science. They should obtain a license to work as a structural engineer in the state in which they are working.
Skill Set
The job aspirants should have a strong high school background which comprises courses such as Calculus, Science, English, Physics and drafting. The applicant should have strong communication abilities. They should have proficiency in working in small groups which is essential in order to be a part of a team and also to convey complicated ideas to colleagues and customers. It is necessary to have a high level of efficiency along with knowledge in being a good structural engineer. You should seek the mentor-ship of an experienced and successful structural engineer whose knowledge will be an added advantage in the resume. Individuals who aspire to become structural engineers should update themselves with the latest and innovative methods in the industry.
Training
The structural engineers will be given on-the-job training by the company once they are recruited. Most of the educational institutions offer internships and other real time projects in order to mould them into good structural engineers.
Prior Experience
Most of the employers would not demand experience as a requisite for the job of a structural engineer. There are several firms who recruit civil and structural engineering graduates as trainees and provide adequate training.
Employment Outlook
Career Prospects (globally)
The increase in the big scale development projects in major countries have brought about a rapid increase in the demand for the job of structural engineers. Apart from this, they will be able to try their hand in research and lecturing, project management and also along with disaster management agencies.
Salaries
If the job aspirants are graduates, their salary structure will range from about $18,000 to $22,000. If the candidate is a person with a few years of experience, they will be able to get about $33,000. The salary structures of senior engineers will range up to $37,000 to $45,000. Those persons having specialized qualifications will see a considerable rise in the structure of the salary.
Conclusion
The profession of structural engineering is suitable for those persons who often look forward to taking up challenges, opportunities, excitement and responsibilities. Though much of the role is office-based engineers can simulate a range of solutions for the particular structures that they designed. In most cases, structural engineering firms work as a team and contribute in developing the constructions that shape buildings around the world. If the job aspirants are able to brush up their skills, they will be able to find numerous career advancement opportunities in various sectors for structural engineers.
