Engineer transitioning to developer 1

[ATaraneer]

I have been working as a structural engineer for the past 10 years. I got my start in one of the world renowned firms for high rise design. I currently work for a smaller structural firm but my role has expanded; I am running the drawing production and acting as project manager for the company. I am thinking of leaving and starting my own practice. The trouble is I don't know if engineering is the path I want to embark on. Most of the clients I have dealt with (or currently provide services for) are developers. The development process interests me more than the engineering. Does anyone have any advice/experience with making the transition to another part of the construction process? Thanks in advance.

 

[Ron]

Lock your engineering ethics in a little box and throw away the key.

 

[bpstruct]

No need to rid yourself of ethics. I started my own engineering practice about 7 years ago and I have renovated a few properties on my own (not really the same as developing raw property, but similar). The challenge is, unless your background is different than mine, that you aren't taught certain necessary skills in college - I learned a lot about the business side of engineering and property renovations the hard way. You have to be good at time management (there is a lot more to a business than what you do to make money - hence your companies big fat overhead rate now), make good judgments regarding money management, be willing to really hunt for good deals, etc.

I can tell you that I have really enjoyed property renovations.

 

[SethGuthrie]

Are you talking about development, like software development? Bentley Systems helps lots of engineers move into software development roles, you should contact Bentley HR.