OK....

I do not know how to say this right without putting a little history into this, but please bear with me as I set the stage.

I am a technical individual that has always loved problem solving. The things I liked the most were usually physical or geometrical problems.

The things I excelled in as a child were things like perspective drawing and physics. An innate love of things physical and how they related to the world.

Now, combine that with a knack for math and Engineering was a natural result.

Now, some 15 years after graduating with a masters an a PE in my belt, I have found that most of what I love really isn't in engineering. You do a small piece where you figure out the problem, how it will work, and then the rest of the time finding the code that applies, some details that someone else drew up 10 years ago that will apply, and handling all the specific design t-crossing and i-dotting that is only surpassed by Detailers doing shop drawings.

Needless to say, it rarely involves seeing things in 3D and playing with anything but the basics in physics and calculus....

And with that I get to the actual question I wish to ask.

What other careers relate to Structural Engineering closely enough that they would require a minimum of re-training in order to persue? I have tried Googling this, only to have the results tell me how to BE a Structural Engineer :rolleyes:

The key here is twofold. Not only to make what I have worked so long and hard worth the time and effort, but to find something different that may appeal more to my sense of 3D relations and actual physical interactions.

That not withstanding, careers that may take advantage of my technical proficiency and ability to communicate would be another route to take.

ANY suggestions would be welcome at this point, as many net searches seem to point in vague directions, if anywhere at all.

TIA!

Working on projects from star-architects.

Unfortunately, if they don't have work then you don't.
And not everyone can get such opportunity even with right qualifications.  

Working in a field where you are free to define your own solutions. Such as automotive!

Cheers

Greg Locock


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Consider academia...you might be well-suited for teaching.

Machine design generally, taking aircraft and vehicles as types of machine, may allow you more of what you want.

However, even there, sometimes engineers concentrate on number crunching more that the actual designing as such.

Some aerospace engineers are working on high-end structural engineering solutions

Intern: I had the dream of working more in league with Architects when I first got my degree, being the first one to get an Architecture Minor at my school which they SAID was offered, but only was after I created it... :P

As for some of the others:

Automotive seems interesting, but it never got to me. My brother and cousin both enjoy it greatly, one being a mechanic and the other a salesman, but I am not sure my degree in Structural will go very far in any field requiring more of a fatigue strength and mechanical background....

Academia was something I have also contemplated, but the lack of funding there makes it difficult to persue with existing financial obligations. That may change, however. (Note: My mother is a teacher!! ;) )

Aerotech also seems interesting, but another that, as you have said, may lead to more of a minute cubby-hole type position that concentrates more on widgets and wingnuts than the greater design.

Lastly, Aerospace also seems interesting, but not too lucrative unless a military application is in order. I do not mean the job would not pay, but the field is narrow and hard to break into. If Advanced Engineering Mathematics, Thermo and other advanced science classes are any indication of what may be involved, something atthat extreme level may be too much to seek... :(


Thank you all for your input! I look forward to reading more! Even if a suggestion is not something I seek to follow, it does get me thinking......

You have just joined Eng-Tips.  Welcome.  Hang around here for a while until we get to know you, and perhaps then we can give some better advice.  Many of us have worked and enjoyed our entire careers in the field which you are finding unsatisfying, so you may not get a lot of sympathy.

Well, the fatigue properties of the chassis are of great interest, and of course the crash simulation boys produce many hours of entertaining animations, some of which are useful. Of course that is time dependent non linear analysis, which may be a bit of a stretch.



 

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies  http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

"You do a small piece where you figure out the problem, how it will work, and then..."

Sounds like you need to be getting some experience at management, be it going back to school, or a training program in a firm etc.  That way you can globally throw solutions out and have the minions do all the 'i' dotting and 't' crossing.   

I don't think the majority of consulting structurals love to get their ideas out onto paper or electronic media, but how else would the designs be implemented?  The greatest solutions to problems in the world are worthless unless that final step is completed, communication is number one in our field.

Hokie is right about the audience.  Good luck in your search for the right fit.   

    

Building failures/forensics may appeal to you.  Existing conditions means that it's always a new challenge to figure out how to perform repairs.  The more you actually understand structures, the better you'll be.

Or you can get into the construction industry.  You won't get to do much design, but PE's are valuable to large construction firms who will value your ability to create field details or to know when the design engineer is being too conservative in design.

Step back, but change of scenery:
http://www.engineerjobs.com/job.php?jobid=70165
 

@ greg: crash simulation...non linear analysis, which may be a bit of a stretch.  no pun intended?

 

A few possibilities:

The business risk people are always happy to employ engineers.

If you are good with computers then there are computer programmers that specialise in physics of computer games.

Construction management - often the building of it is the most challenging thing.
Temporary works/Falsework - see above.
Structural inspection.
Towers and signs.

Not sure if any of these would match your criteria though.

 

Petrochem plant design includes a structural side. I had fun with a CE designing the support of a tall vessel with wide excursions of temps, that required a structural support cage. The vessel had sliding supports selected for a natural freq well above the wind vortex frequency. The cage was guyed to the ground. This is one of the out of the ordinary CE endeavors.

CSD, thanks.

Some of what you were saying does align with what I was thinking.

The key here is that I like problem solving, learning new things, and have an affinity for classical physics and 3D spacial relations.

I also like economizing design by way of spreadsheets and other mechanisms (taking the banal redundancy out of design and other things).

My wife has mentioned some Business Solution work, but the category itself is too vague. It is like recommending "Engineering" to a HS grad. I need to do more research on that.

Inspection? Been there and done that. Forensics sounds fun in that you are not just in the field with a hard hat and tape measure, but you also try to model the building and its loads to replicate the failure mechanism and determine what went wrong. I have always liked thinking like that. the hard part is slogging around the site looking for it. (After doing bridge inspections in NJ in January, I am not in so much of a rush to get back "outside" ;) )

Video games? Sounds great! Problem being, that industry is (from what I have heard from people in it) like Paralegal. They take in fresh blood and pump it until it is dry. While that may be fun for some time, with a wife and kid, it would be hard to give up my life for something that may not yield much in the long run.

Plas. Petro sounds good to. And so does Nuclear. The only problem with each being that, as told by a former co-worker, work is sporadic and can be scarce at times. It is such a specialized field that much of the experience you gather can only be used for that area. He had to switch when the call for new facilities waned about (10?) years ago.

Anyway, as negative as I sound with all these comments, I really do appreciate the input. As for the ones saying that these questions would not be well received, the only thing to say is that if I really did not like anything about SE, why would I be asking at all? The only people that would know best what might be connected with the profession are those that practice it, so who better to ask?

Your opinions are valued, and so is the profession I spent so much time and money on. I do not want to forfeit this if there is something that can still satisfy my love for problem solving, physical interaction and 3D spacial relations.

Thanks again!

hmmm i work as a structural engineer inside a petrochemical plant. a genius like you would be bored in petrochem/oil and gas industry. we just do simple structures here, which i find hard by the way coz i'm not a genius. haha.


 

You want the physical interaction but not to be outdoors?  I guess I agree with those who suggested the building of smaller things that fit under a roof, like automotive or aerospace.  Also, unlike buildings or bridges, mass-manufactured items can be prototyped and destructively tested, so you get to break stuff!

Hg

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Yeah, I can attest to that. I work in the manufacturing industry. Destructive testing is a fairly satisfying way of solving ongoing problems :)

I know the reply is a bit late but perhaps I have a bit of advice.  When I graduated, I was involved with classical building design, meaning low and high rise structures and I became tired of it within my first year.  I ended up changing structural engineering fields and moved to the marine side of things after relocating across the continent.  I found that codes aren't well established, loads aren't clearly defined, and proficient detailing is rarely found.  Also, we usually take things from concept through completion with minimal input from shop detailers.  My suggestion would be to look for advancing fields within structural engineering that would play to your knowledge base yet still intrigue you.  Think outside the box as to what these may be.  May or may not be feasible, depending where you live and where your interests lay, but it's a thought.  Another idea is to work for a company involved with research and application of proprietary systems or products.  You may find something more "cutting-edge".

I do hillside grading which incorporates the artistic seeing in 3D side of things designing in a plan view, while problem solving Architect's site plans to work within specific City and County Civil Engineering codes.  The benefit for your background is that you can also design the retaining walls and foundations too.  I know some companies are full service and definitely can use someone like yourself as the engineering is harder to learn than the artistry if you have good spatial skills.

If building makes a comeback this could be a very natural fit for you.  My current business partner has basically done Structural Engineering his whole life and is now working with me.

 

B+W Engineering and Design
Los Angeles Civil and Structural Engineering
http://bwengr.com

Machine tool design and factory machinery design might suit your interests. Electronic packaging involves some really cool machines, for example. Robotics might be another area of interest; there are quite a few companies working on robotics these days.

You may look into companies like Proctor & Gamble. They go to extraordinary lengths to save pennies in packaging, since their quantities are so high. So, structural adequacy analysis is a big deal to them.

I've found that there's a lot of opportunities for jobs that involve figuring stuff out, but the trick is finding the right one.