Structural Engineer Job Description

Introduction:
A structural engineer is responsible for designing any kind of structure so that it can fulfil a specific purpose, and remain safe, economic and functioning throughout its intended lifetime. Structural engineering is about investigating both the immediate loads and demands on the structure, as well as any likely future changes, and ensuring a structure is designed to withstand those loads.
As well as designing new builds, structural engineers also ensure older structures remain safe, and often design refurbishment schemes to ensure long life for existing structures.
As a structural engineer, you could be working on many areas of construction, including building design, construction, repairs, conversions and extensions. Projects could range from a simple, single building like a house, school or shop, to major schemes including hospitals, sports arenas
The structural engineer has to ensure that the structure being designed remains ‘fit for purpose’ throughout its design life, so must consider what might happen as well as what will happen to it during this time.

Duties:
A structural engineer divides his or her time between design review and site visits, to make sure that the build complies with the plans, local and territorial codes, environmental factors, best industry practices, and sound engineering principles. If there are discrepancies, he makes recommendations and verifies that required changes are made before he signs off on the finished project.
Structural engineers are primarily concerned with designing aesthetically pleasing buildings and structures that are safe and capable of withstanding the elements to which they will be exposed.
Key tasks include:
• preparing reports, structure designs, detail drawings and specifications
• Implementation of best practice in Structural Engineering
• using a range of computer packages for developing detailed designs
(Auto Cad,ETABS, SAP, SAFE, CSI Columns  PCACOL, Master Series, Prokon, STAAD)
• Review architectural systems designs for their inter-relationship with structural elements.
• making calculations about loads and stresses
• making 3D structure modeling.
• selecting appropriate construction materials
• providing technical advice
• obtaining planning and/or building regulations approval
• liaising with clients and a variety of professionals including architects and subcontractors
• Responsibility for interfacing with the other disciplines to insure proper co-ordination of the structural aspects of the project
• Requiring to provide the seal and signature of the professional engineer, as appropriate, ensuring compliance with all applicable codes, regulations, and ordinances.
• Maintain project files, to include release logs, contract control codes, weights, and release numbers as well as the project submittal log containing drawing numbers, alpha codes and submittal dates.  Back up and maintain computer files.
• Initiate and route customer change forms to document project requests, revisions, errors, or omissions, or any new orders that are not part of the original customer contract. 
• monitoring and inspecting work undertaken by contractors
• inspecting properties to check conditions/foundations
• making sure the project complies with legal requirements
• Ability to generate site audit reports and evaluation of quality of the installed components  
• Studies project activities regarding structure/civil in design, tender and construction stage. Review structural report systems, outline construction method statement, technical information for the project. Ensures Implementation and updating of Company standards for Civil and Structural works. Provides support to the Projects and assets and carrying out engineering design for Civil and Structural works.

“The ideal situation for a young structural engineer is to be the resident engineer for one of their own designs. This will allow an opportunity to see if they could have produced a more efficient design."
Office Timing:
You would normally work from 9:00am to 6:00pm with one-hour break, Saturday to Thursday, with a combination of office work and site visits.