A Day in the Life of a Structural Engineer

We spoke to him about the part his role he plays within the Structural Engineering team, as well as the advice he would impart to any budding structural engineers looking to break into the sector.

What does a typical day as a structural engineer involve?

I begin my working day at 8:30am by catching up with my emails and checking over my calendar. First, I identify all of the tasks at hand and prioritise them based on the deadlines.

Typical daily activities will include:

• Structural report writing
• Site visits to undertake structural surveys of buildings
• Reviewing structural reports written by others
• Undertaking structural design calculations
• Attending client meetings and answering queries.

What are your responsibilities within the team?

My responsibilities within the team are to ensure that the delivery of projects are both on time and on budget. I ensure that all documents issued to the client have gone through our Quality assurance process and are of high standard. Client emails and queries are responded to promptly, and I am also proactive when it comes to enquiring about repeat work.

How did you start out within the structural engineering sector? Did you require specific training/qualifications?

To become a structural engineer, I undertook a degree in Civil Engineering and then specialised in structures, followed by a Master’s degree in Urban Engineering. I then acquired enough experience in structural engineering to qualify for the Part Three exam of the Institution of Structural Engineers, before qualifying as a chartered structural engineer in 1999.

What type of projects have you worked on? Are there any of note that are high profile/ of particular interest?

I have worked on a variety of multimillion and multibillion-pound projects over the course of my career, including high profile refurbishment works, the design and check of high rise buildings, combined sewer overflows, as well as major railway stations.

What is your favourite thing about working for SOCOTEC?

I take pride in my work and I am pleased when I deliver a quality job that meet my client’s needs on time and on budget. I also enjoy giving professional advice to my clients at meetings, mentoring young engineers and liaising with different business units/teams across SOCOTEC UK.

How does your role fit in with the wider team/broader project delivery?

I consider myself to be key to the delivery of the projects that I have to work on, as I undertake inspections, write reports and undertake structural calculations on my own. However, other members of the team add value to my work by checking and approving my work before issuing.

Do you have any advice for anyone looking to start a career within structural engineering?

The world of structural engineering is exciting – it is one of the engineering disciplines where you can proudly point out to others what you have designed. I would advise anyone interested in pursuing structural engineering as a career to be humble when admitting your mistakes and correct them, as otherwise a catastrophic failure can occur. Always check your calculations and drawings before passing them on to the checking engineer. Finally, if you do not have the experience and skill to undertake a certain task, admit it.