changing career

[midsidenode]

I realize that this a pretty broad question - even a little bizarre, but I'll ask it anyway. For the past 15 years or so, I've worked as a strength and structures engineer in the aerospace world. I've become pretty versed in the required skills and techniques but I'm a little curious about something. What would it take for me to make a leap into the civil/structural world? Is that even possible? Has anyone known others that have done something similar to this? My degree is in mechanical engineering and I have an engineering license but obviously my structural background is in aerospace.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

Has anyone known others that have done something similar to this?

I did. But it was earlier in my career than the 15 year point. Also, it was quite a while ago when civil/structural engineering was "different" (not really as code based or computerized).

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[rb1957]

learned mech, worked in aerospace, interested in civil structural, yet "mining" is your discipline ... (smile).

Licensing, and working with the civil design codes, are probably your biggest issues.

GL

another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?

 

[WARose]

Building design and aerospace are different animals. About the only people I know who have made that transition did something for the aerospace company (at one point) that involved design around the facility. (E.g. fixing ramps, adding steel framing to roofs for cranes, etc.)

 

[JoshPlumSE]

I've seen people go the opposite direction. Specialized in structural design of industrial structures. Then got involved in FEM analysis of Aerospace structures and went in that direction for a number of years.

I also know someone who had a degree in civil / structural engineering that went into aerospace structures for a number of years. I believe he tried to transition back to civil / structural and didn't have much luck. My guess was that he wasn't willing to take an entry level salary and no one wanted to hire him at his elevated salary. But, I'm just speculating.

 

[dhengr]

Midsidenode:
And so, what’s the diff. btwn. an aluminum spar and a cantilevered steel beam for a building, except the size, shape and the modulus of elasticity? The basic engineering principles are the same. The Engineering Mechanics, Statics, Strength of Materials, Theory of Elasticity concepts don’t change just because you call the structure by a different, more exacting name. The margins of safety, some of the details you pay attention to do change because of the nature of the structure you are dealing with, but the basics, not really. It probably has more to do with your aptitude and willingness to learn a whole new set of design rules, codes and stds., and these are getting more complex every year. You will be leaving some part of 15 years of experience behind, in one specific field, and having to catch up on that same amount of knowledge in another area of engineering. You should be a more experienced engineer with a more developed engineering judgement than a new grad., but the employer might opt for the younger grad. who they can mold, at a lesser wage. Work on updating your CV (resume) and put together a good jobs portfolio, of serious structural projects you’ve worked on or managed, and the like. Then, try your hand at a couple interviews, and see if a structural engineering outfit will bite on employing you. You might do better at an office which tends to specialize in special structures and equipment or product design, than at one which does regular civil, buildings, bridges and the like. I would sooner hire a well experienced, mid-career engineer with well developed analytical abilities, good basics, good engineering judgement and a willingness to do some self study to catch up on our different codes, stds., etc., than a new grad. who I had to shepherd every inch of the way.

 

[JedClampett]

If you want to do it, do it. You might take a hit in pay (we structural engineers can't pay you for 15 years of experience based on your background) and have to learn a few things, but you're still ahead of a new graduate.
One of my predecessors was a aeronautical engineer, and except for a few cracks from the owners about his designs possibly flying away, he did fine.

 

[JoelTXCive]

I built residential homes for 15 years and then got a civil engineering degree. You can totally do it!

I did take a hit in pay, but I love the work.

 

[JStephen]

It seems to me that the trend is in the direction of requiring more specialized degrees, testing, and licensing. IE, what you propose, I think, would be harder now than it was 20 years or 30 years ago, and is likely to be harder in 20 years than it is now. I don't necessarily like the direction it's headed, but that's still how it is.

There are regional differences in how some of this works, and it will make a considerable difference where you live. Specifically, in the states that don't license by discipline, it's a good deal easier to shift around. But, in some states, you're more expected to have a structural (and not civil) license, in some states, that structural license requires a structural degree regardless of your actual knowledge, etc.

There are also some expectations beyond the actual legal requirements. In years past, dealing with California, it seemed that legally, everything we did there could have been done by a civil engineer, but in nearly all cases, the customers required a structural stamp.

Something else to factor in there, is the demand for engineers in your area, period. If engineers are in very short supply, you're a lot more likely to find somebody willing to work with you on something like this. If you find yourself sending an ME resume to structural jobs, while a bunch of regular structural guys are also sending their resumes in, it's not too likely to work well.