Structural engineer

Structural engineering is a branch of civil engineering. As a structural engineer, you'll ensure load-bearing structures stay strong and safe for people to use. You play a vital role in the development of buildings and infrastructure.

You'll design structures to withstand stresses and pressures from environmental and human impact, and assess existing buildings to ensure they remain structurally sound and fit for purpose. Working closely with architects, surveyors and other engineers, you'll help design and maintain structures such as houses, hospitals, bridges and aircraft.

Advanced techniques, including load calculations and digital modelling software, are used to assess structural integrity, so strong mathematical skills are essential. You'll also select appropriate materials, inspect work and advise contractors. The role requires attention to detail and carries significant responsibility for safety, with growing emphasis on sustainability, resilience and low-carbon design.

Types of structural engineering

You may specialise in a particular area of structural engineering, such as:

• modelling and structural analysis
• buildings, including residential and commercial structures
• bridges and transport infrastructure (e.g. tunnels)
• seismic (securing structures against earthquakes)
• conservation of historical buildings
• forensic engineering (investigating structural failures)
• disaster relief (rebuilding communities)
• industrial structures and pipelines
• offshore and energy structures
• aerospace structures (including aircraft and spacecraft).

Responsibilities

As a structural engineer, you'll need to:

• work with architects and other professionals to design additions or renovations to existing structures
• calculate factors that impact structures such as load, weather and human impact, using mathematical formulas and modelling software
• analyse configurations of the basic components of a structure
• advise on the best materials to use when building or adding to existing structures, taking into account safety, sustainability, usage and cost
• work with other designers, including architects, to agree on safe designs and their fit with the aesthetic concept of the construction
• examine structures at risk of collapse and advise how to improve their structural integrity
• produce drawings, specifications and digital models (e.g. using BIM software) for building contractors
• ensure designs comply with relevant building regulations, standards and codes of practice.

Salary

• You'll usually start on around £26,000 as a graduate structural engineer.
• With five years' experience, you can earn up to £45,000, rising to over £55,000 as a senior structural engineer once chartered (CEng/MIStructE)
• You can earn over £80,000 as a technical director.

If you work as a self-employed contractor, hourly rates typically range from £45 to £90 per hour, depending on experience, location and project complexity, although you'll need to manage your own tax and expenses.

Some companies offer additional benefits, such as a company car, private health insurance, pension schemes and flexible working and performance-related bonuses.

Income data from The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE). Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Your working hours will usually be 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, with some occasional evening and weekend work where necessary. However, flexible and hybrid working arrangements are common in many organisations.

Self-employment is possible as the building of a structure involves projects that are put out to tender. Structural engineers that work on a contract basis are known as contract engineers. Setting up your own consultancy is an option.

Stay up to date with developments in the industry and access professional support and networking opportunities by becoming a member of The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE).

What to expect

• The work is mainly office based, with occasional visits to construction sites to meet with professionals and clients or monitor the progress of a building project.
• Travel abroad may be required, depending on the type of structures you specialise in or the company you work for
• Project-based work for self-employed or contract engineers may involve frequent travel within the UK and overseas.
• According to WISE, women remain underrepresented in engineering, although numbers are gradually increasing. Various organisations, including WISE and Equate Scotland, aim to redress this imbalance by encouraging more women into engineering careers.
• As an engineering consultant, you can work on projects anywhere in the world, for example on infrastructure or repair projects following large-scale natural disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis.

Qualifications

To become a structural engineer, you'll need an accredited degree in either civil or structural engineering, and there are different ways you can achieve this. You could study full time at university, complete a degree apprenticeship or enter the industry as an engineering technician and study for a degree part time while working.

If you have a degree in a related discipline, such as mechanical engineering, mathematics or physics, you could enter the profession by completing a Masters degree in structural engineering. Options also include studying a four-year (five in Scotland) MEng degree, which includes an integrated Masters from the start.

As a graduate structural engineer, you can work towards professional membership as an Associate or Chartered Member of the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE). To become an Associate Member (AMIStructE), you must have a degree that is accredited by the IStructE. Some equivalent qualifications may also be accepted, see the IStructE website for more details.

To progress on to become a Chartered Member (MIStructE) with the IStructE, you will need to have an accredited Masters qualification or equivalent. A list of relevant courses is available at JBM (Joint Board of Moderators).

Skills

You'll need to have:

• good analytical and problem-solving skills
• good mathematical ability
• proficiency in relevant computer software and digital tools
• a grasp of physics
• strong three-dimensional conceptual skills
• excellent oral and written communication skills
• diagrammatic skills
• the ability to work effectively in a team
• attention to detail
• the ability to liaise well with professionals from other disciplines
• an interest in the design and structure of buildings.

Work experience

Doing some relevant work experience or a work placement is a great way to develop your skills and evidence your competence and commitment in job applications and interviews. Many degree courses offer a year in industry, usually between second and third years of an undergraduate degree.

There are also opportunities for summer placements (typically around 12 weeks), often available to students in the summer of their second year.

These experiences can provide valuable opportunities build contacts and network, which may lead to future job opportunities.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Structural engineers often work in consultancies, ranging from large international companies to small firms.

Large companies, offering a full 'design and build' service, provide a high level of training and a range of work opportunities, including the potential to work internationally.
Smaller firms, often working on a project basis, tend to specialise in specific areas of engineering, and the geographical spread of their clients is less extensive.

Other employers include:

• aircraft manufacturers
• local authorities
• oil and energy companies
• railway operators.

University departments employ structural engineers as researchers and lecturers. You can make speculative applications using the Institution of Structural Engineers' Find an Engineer tool to search for structural engineering practices.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Careers in Construction
• ICErecruit - job website of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
• JustEngineers
• The Structural Engineer Jobs - online recruitment site for the IStructE.

Recruitment agencies specialising in engineering vacancies include:

• Matchtech
• Precision People
• Thomas Telford Recruitment
• Walker Dendle

Professional development

The training provision for structural engineering employees depends significantly on the size of the organisation. While both large and small firms offer valuable experience, the structure, variety, and focus of training differ. Larger firms often provide more formal, structured training programs, whereas smaller firms typically offer faster, hands-on, and diverse learning experiences.

As a graduate structural engineer, you'll work towards the professional membership as an Associate or Chartered Member of the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE).

To do this, you must meet three requirements:

• Academic requirements - for associate membership this is an accredited degree; for chartered membership, you'll need an accredited Masters.
• Initial Professional Development (IPD) - trainees gain experience in the workplace (usually over three to four years), which is matched against specific core objectives identified by the IStructE. Many employers offer structured training schemes to ensure these requirements are met.
• Professional review - comprising an interview with qualified engineers and a final examination.

You can opt to take IPD accredited by ICE and then complete the final IStructE examination, or follow the direct route of training accredited by IStructE. Many structural engineers qualify with both institutions, as this can offer greater career flexibility.

Once you've achieved professional status with the IStructE, you can choose to become registered with the Engineering Council, as either an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng).

You can join the IStructE as a student and then progress to graduate membership early in your career.

Career prospects

Most large organisations have a formal progression structure, but if you work for a smaller company, you may need to move to another employer to progress.

Career options include:

• moving from an engineering consultancy to a construction company
• specialising in a niche area of structural engineering
• working as a self-employed contract engineer
• becoming a project manager
• setting up your own consultancy
• moving into teaching or research.

There are many opportunities to move to other parts of the UK and to work on international projects. Gaining chartered status with the IStructE allows for professional recognition in a growing number of countries worldwide.

As a chartered member, you can go on to become a Fellow of the IStructE, once you have built up a significant experience and meet a high standard of professional competence. This is the most senior grade of membership available and recognises excellence in structural engineering.