×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Contact US

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Carrier Shift from Structural (buildings) to Offshore Structural Eng.

Carrier Shift from Structural (buildings) to Offshore Structural Eng.

Carrier Shift from Structural (buildings) to Offshore Structural Eng.

(OP)
Hi Everone. I have a general question regarding a career change. I have 8 years of experience in the design of buildings (steel, concrete, etc.) and thinking about switching to marine (offshore) structural engineering. My job isn't as well paid as I wish, there are crazy deadlines, and I can't really get involved in one projection in terms of design (there are too many of them at once). I don't feel fulfilled in general. I like the idea of marine engineering (e.g subsea), however

1. Did anyone manage to switch to marine eng. if so how did you do it? Is it even possible to switch to it from buildings? what can be done to achieve this? Just getting a job seems difficult. Maybe Masters's degree or some course would help?

2. What is the job like, is it fulfilling? Building design is extremely fast-paced, it requires creativity thou.

3. What about pay, from my research it seems that it pays better.

Thank you all in advance!!

RE: Carrier Shift from Structural (buildings) to Offshore Structural Eng.

Get ready to quadruple your pace. Nobody is more impatient then petroleum companies trying to get their $750M platforms in the black as soon as possible. I started with heavy industrial, refineries and pulp and paper plants, then drifted into nuclear plants and finally backed into doing platform modifications for adding pipeline facilities here and there, adding deck extensions, helicopter landing pads, valve operating platforms, boat landings, pipeline riser guards and even adding chutes and marble pig handling structures to them. It was a lot more interesting than the generial commercial line ups.

A masters would help open that door, or alternatively just be in the right place at the right time. Haven't done any of that since the late 80's, so that's all I can say.

--Einstein gave the same test to students every year. When asked why he would do something like that, "Because the answers had changed."

RE: Carrier Shift from Structural (buildings) to Offshore Structural Eng.

You will never know before you try! This, as any other branch, is a multiple of different jobs and situations.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members! Already a Member? Login


Resources

Low-Volume Rapid Injection Molding With 3D Printed Molds
Learn methods and guidelines for using stereolithography (SLA) 3D printed molds in the injection molding process to lower costs and lead time. Discover how this hybrid manufacturing process enables on-demand mold fabrication to quickly produce small batches of thermoplastic parts. Download Now
Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM)
Examine how the principles of DfAM upend many of the long-standing rules around manufacturability - allowing engineers and designers to place a part’s function at the center of their design considerations. Download Now
Taking Control of Engineering Documents
This ebook covers tips for creating and managing workflows, security best practices and protection of intellectual property, Cloud vs. on-premise software solutions, CAD file management, compliance, and more. Download Now

Close Box

Join Eng-Tips® Today!

Join your peers on the Internet's largest technical engineering professional community.
It's easy to join and it's free.

Here's Why Members Love Eng-Tips Forums:

Register now while it's still free!

Already a member? Close this window and log in.

Join Us             Close