Swap to Engineering design or Manufacturing or go back to all job sectors
Structural engineers help to design and build large structures and buildings, like hospitals, sports stadiums and bridges.
You could work: between 8am and 6pm;
In this role you could:
You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.
You could work in an office, at a client's business, on a construction site or on a demolition site.
Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time and at height.
You can get into this job through:
You can do a degree or postgraduate course in:
Courses that include the opportunity to gain work experience through internships and year in industry placements may give you an advantage. Your university careers service can advise on how to find relevant work experience.
You can find out about courses accredited by professional engineering institutions from the Engineering Council.
You'll usually need:
You can take a Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment (Civil Engineering) at college. This may help you to find work as a trainee engineer. You'll need to do more training on the job to qualify.
You'll usually need:
You could complete a civil engineer degree apprenticeship and take professional training afterwards to qualify in structural engineering.
You'll usually need:
You could start as a civil or construction engineering technician and study for a degree qualification while you're working.
If you're 11 to 18 years old, you can do 'taster' days and short residential courses with the Engineering Development Trust.
This will give you an idea of what it's like to study and work in engineering.
You can become a member of The Institution of Structural Engineers.
You can find out more about careers in structural engineering from The Institution of Structural Engineers and Go Construct.
You could move into:construction design; project management; research; lecturing; freelance consultancy work, like providing services to building insurers; helping on construction and engineering projects overseas with disaster relief agencies like RedR UK
You've also got the option to specialise in an area of work. For example conservation projects, sustainable building materials or forensics, where you investigate why a building or structure has failed.
The Institution of Structural Engineers and Go Construct have more information about careers in structural engineering.