What does a Structural Design Engineer do?
A Structural Engineer is specialized in designing and analyzing various structures. They provide detailed calculations about the strength and stability of structures like bridges and buildings. A Structural Engineer will then collaborate with various departments from network engineers to support and operations to ensure a plan is in motion safely build the structure. A Structural Engineer works to balance various aspects of the project like safety to design. Additionally, a Structural Engineer researches advanced technology regarding best practices in the field and determines the most cost-effective solution.
A Structural Engineer is generally located in the building industry and work alongside other professionals to meet create concepts to meet client needs. They usually begin as Civil Engineers and as they advance on their career path within the company will become promoted to the role. A bachelor's degree is required for the position, with many holding degrees in Civil Engineering or related engineering fields. Individuals with a firm holistic understanding of both the operational and physical aspects of projects tend to excel in this position.
- Mentor Civil Engineers and facilitate a holistic understanding as to the scope and plan for projects
- Work closely with building department within the company to ensure hardware is available for projects and working properly
- Define clear goals for all aspects of a project and develop steps for their proper execution
- Provide detailed specifications for proposed solutions including time and scope involved
- Account for possible project challenges or constraints and proactively seek to manage challenges
- Assist other department engineers in creating practical demonstrations of proposed solutions and demonstrating them to other members of the team
- Work alongside project management teams to successfully monitor progress and implementation of initiatives
- Establish a framework for necessary contributions from various departments and facilitate their collaboration
- Master's degree in Structural Engineering preferred
- Experience developing schematics for structures in accordance with client specifications and safety standards
- Project development and leadership skills are essential
- Professional work experience in developing blueprints and designs for proposed structures
- Extensive knowledge and experience working with various operating systems
- Ability to work with various departments to facilitate the orderly execution of a proposed project plan
- Experience with software engineering, customer experience and design architecture
- Advanced understanding of build materials, techniques and processes
- Up to date understanding of best practices regarding building safety measures
Structural Design Engineer Salaries near Canada
Average Base Pay
Structural Design Engineer Career Path
Learn how to become a Structural Design Engineer, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.
Years of Experience Distribution
Structural Design Engineer Insights
Con Edison“Not much fun if your manager is not a fun person Rules are applied to hurt you not help you”
Haerte Widya Konsultan Engineers“Salary raise is slow and depend on whether we ask for it or not and how good our negotiation is.”
Beca“Not the best pay for junior and intermediates who are not part of the shareholder scheme.”
“The best part is its very good for people interested to learn and get a taste of real life sceenarios.”
Airbus“Work life balance can be great (as a structures graduate however this is debatable)”
“High Turnover Rate that would be considered Embarassment at other Workplaces is Celebrated amongst Engineering Management.”
“Director Mr. Tejas Sura is one of the best mentors I've got the opportunity to learn from.”
HOK“Would recommend starting a career somewhere else where the team is bigger and the framework for learning is better”
Frequently asked questions about the role and responsibilities of structural engineers
Structural engineers spend their workday designing and analyzing large structures including buildings and bridges. Common daily tasks include working with architects on the layout and design of plans, creating structure maintenance plans, and analyzing data and calculations to determine safe structural systems.
Structural engineering is an in-demand career due to consistent global economic growth and expansion. The field is complex but it's also interesting and rewarding since it gives engineers the opportunity to make a positive impact on the world through construction and development.
The average base pay for a structural engineer in Canada is $80,577 per year. Salaries vary based on the employee's location and experience. Earning an advanced degree, like a master's in engineering, can also increase salary.
Simply becoming a structural engineer is difficult due to the rigorous educational requirements. Like other jobs, working as a structural engineer can be challenging and stressful at times because the consequences of errors can be complicated and expensive to correct, so there can be a lot of pressure for perfection.
