Posted: 2/26/2012 10:31:34 AM EDT
| Well ive seen alot of other profession threads so I thought I would start one. Im not a civil engineer yet but will finally be graduating in the next year. Post where ya work and what you do guys! |
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Chief Business Development Officer
Shield Engineering Group Civil P.E. and LEED AP I chase work, meet with Clients, prepare Statements of Qualifications, write proposals, prepare invoices, etc. For major Clients, I also supervise design and am in responsible charge of plans. Here are just a few suggestions based on my experience: 1. Don't work for Jacobs Engineering Group. I don't care how much they are offering. They are the worst organization in the engineering field...Period. They like to buy good firms so beware! 2. An MBA is a good idea if you want to move up in a company. Masters degrees in engineering are only useful for the structural guys. 3. Pass your EIT and PE exams the first time, so study hard. 4. Find a good PE and let him be your mentor. You will only be as good as the PE who teaches you. 5. Civil Engineering is a broad field. Make sure that you can master grading, roadway design, storm drain, detention, etc. Beware of the P.E.s who only know how to do one thing. 6. Become an intern if you haven't already, even if it is unpaid. School can only teach you so much. 7. WORK HARD! Many young EITs complain about the hours, but they are looking at it from the wrong perspective. You only have a few years to gather the skills you need before you are in charge. All of those extra hours pay huge dividends. Good Luck, LFOD |
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I'm a Civil/Structural Engineer by degree, but I do a lot of mechanical design, to. I have my own consulting firm, and I specialize in heavy industrial projects. I do a lot of work in grain elevators, steel mills, cement plants and other process facilities, as well as a lot of one-off, oddball deals. I have particular expertise in dust control and collection, material handling, forensic engineering and specialized support structures. I also taught at my alma mater for several years, which I found to be some of the most personally and professionally rewarding experiences of my life. Civil engineers are the utility infielders of engineering. It's such a broad and diverse course of study that you will find civil engineers doing almost every kind of technical job in the world. Good luck!
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Civil/Structural here. Out of school 3 years now and should have my PE in the fall  . Design temporary supports, means & methods, crane lifts, getting big things on and off of barges, and pretty much anything that goes into how something is built for one of the largest contractors in North America.So I don't design the final structure, but I figure out how to put it up. Worked on projects all over the USA and Canada, from little $20 million jobs to the multi-billion variety. Ranging from buildings, heavy industrial, offshore structures, bridges, dams, and other infrastructure work. Nice to have a bit of variety  I never thought I would be working for a contractor, always thought I would be with a small specialized structural consultant but my career thus far has been very challenging and rewarding. |
| Been in the field over 30 years. Get your PE. Most governments require it to get an engineering position. I am very fluent with traffic signal timing and optimization, traffic safety studies, preparing engineering reports and ADA ramp design. The amount of politics vs. engineering competence at the top levels favors the politics. Start networking with the right people can't be emphasized enough. Pay varies widely from grossly underpaid (government) to consultant (well paid). |
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I spent 30 years in land development design as a civil engineer. I owned a small engineering company and loved the design side of the business. Site layout, grading, drainage and utilities. Also some roadway design.
Where the headaches are, is in getting projects approved by local planning/ engineering reviewers at City hall. I loved the battle in my younger days, but found my tolerance for petty bullshit dramatically reduced when I hit 50. I semi retired a year and a half ago. Bought a pawnshop and love going to work everyday. Chat with customers. Talk about guns and buy shit cheap. My stress level is about 5% of where it was doing engineering. |
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Related field here, Im a Land Surveyor. Basically I am the QC for all you CEs   I actually got a dual CE/Surveying degree. Took the FS a few years ago, haven't done anything with it since.
Im getting a dual degree as well. did you go to school in NC? |
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Quoted: Nope, I'm a Yankee carpetbagger.Quoted: Quoted: Related field here, Im a Land Surveyor. Basically I am the QC for all you CEs I actually got a dual CE/Surveying degree. Took the FS a few years ago, haven't done anything with it since. Im getting a dual degree as well. did you go to school in NC? |