Structural Designer Job Description

Structural Engineering: A Career in Construction

Civil engineering training includes a sub-discipline of structural engineering, which involves the design of the bones and muscles that make up a structure. Structural engineers must understand calculate the strength, rigidity, and earthquake susceptibility of built structures. Structural designs are integrated with other designers such as architects and building services engineer and often supervise the construction of projects by contractors on site.

See the glossary of structural engineering. Structural engineers are responsible for analyzing structures. Structural engineers at the entry level can design the beams and columns of a building.

Structural design and integrity of a building can be done by more experienced engineers. Structural engineers specialize in particular types of structures, such as buildings, bridges, and industrial tunnels. Structural engineers who specialize in buildings often specialize in particular construction materials such as concrete, steel, wood, masonry, and alloys, and may focus on particular types of buildings such as offices, schools, hospitals, residential, and so forth.

Humans first started to build structures. The industrial revolution in the late 19th century gave rise to architecture as a distinct profession from engineering. The architect and structural engineer were the same thing until then.

The professional structural engineers came into existence after the 19th and early 20th century, when specialized knowledge of structural theories emerged. The structural engineer is usually employed as a sub-consultant on buildings, with the architect usually the lead designer. The degree to which each discipline leads the design depends on the structure.

A Master's Degree in Structural Design

An associate's degree or technical certificate in the field of structural design is enough to get you an entry-level position. Many programs are available for transfer to bachelor's and advanced degree programs. Professionals who want to advance in the field should get a bachelor's degree.

Along with the technology used in your program, there may be other topics relevant to the industries you are entering. You can take courses on architectural design analysis and structural systems to get a background in engineering technology. You can get a qualification in the construction industry by taking courses that cover residential and commercial building codes.