Structural Engineer

Structural engineers design structures that will withstand the pressures they have to endure. These range from houses, theatres, sports stadia, hospitals and office blocks to bridges, oil rigs and space satellites.

They develop initial designs, using mathematics to calculate the stress that could arise at each point in the structure, and simulate and model possible situations, such as high winds and earth movements. When construction has begun, they are often involved in inspecting the work and advising contractors.

Structural engineers often work in partnership with architects. They also examine buildings, bridges and other structures to discover whether or not they are structurally sound.

Structural engineers ensure that structures serve their function without collapsing, bending, twisting or vibrating in undesirable ways. Their aim is to make efficient use of funds and materials to achieve these structural goals.

Much of the role is office-based and engineers use computers to simulate a range of solutions for the structure that is being designed. The work also involves examining existing structures and modifying buildings whose usage is being changed to ensure they are safe to fulfill their intended purpose.

Typical work activities include: analyzing suitable configurations of the basic structural components of a building or other structure, communicating the design of a structure through drawings, specifications and computer models so that others can construct it, applying expert knowledge of the forces that act on various structures, using computer-aided design (CAD) technology for simulation purposes.