Mechanical Engineer Moving to Structural Engineering

I can't help but wonder why.

Not only will you have to deal with some of the ludicrous demands of architects, but even worse, you will have to deal with mechanical engineers!!

Seriously, you have to be crazy, structural is low man on the totem, they have to solve all the problems generated by clients and the other disciplines, at least, it seems that way.

I'm not sure how you go about the switch, you can't start as a new grad.

While I don't think, generally speaking, that changing direction in mid-stream is a good idea, it has been done successfully by a few of the many....

Passington and solareagle have some very valid points that you should heed.

IF you do the switch, then you're going to encounter a very steep learning curve. Not only will you need to know the in's and out's of your state building code as it relates to structural engineering, you're also going to learn and know inside out all matters related to SE: the various structural engineering codes (BOCA, IBC, ASCE-7, etc etc for starters), AISC Steel Manuals (LFRD & ASD), ACI Standards, PCA Standards, Timber Design Standards, Geotechnical Design, AASHTO Standards. That's naming just a few.

Then you have to deal with Architects (frustrated artists IMO) and clients (mostly developers and home owners) that don't pay "jack" or are extremely late in paying....it's enough to make you go "gray" overnight or prematurely!!! ***BILL THE CAT ACKKKKKK ACCCKKKKKKK!!!!!***

Also, you had better be prepared to be proficient in, and have the necessary skills and knowledge base, in any SE design you do, all in accordance with your state's Board of Professional Engineering PE practice guidelines and ethical considerations. In fact, you may have to go back to school to learn some aspects of SE from the Civil Engineering standpoint since various aspects of ME schooling aren't exactly or automatically transformable into SE design and analysis.

Case in point: Back in the day when I was instructing MSCE Structural Engineering candidates I had a few ME's in one of my classes that had decided to switch to the Civil Eng. side of things....not a pretty picture IMO. They really needed to go back and obtain prerequisite courses. I won't get into detail here as it'll take me all day to explain. I'm sure you're a very bright fellow and will figure it out all by yourself without my yakking away.

If you're still hell bent of becoming a SE, just open up the ACI 318 Standards and see what you're up against....that browsing into a small part of the SE world may change your mind entirely!

Good luck, and please have a great weekend!

===signed,

CaptMoosie, PE / PhD

Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineer

ps: Just curious as to why you want to switch from ME to SE? Ya'll got me scratching my noggin' old boy!

The others have covered it pretty well. Structure is the lowest on professional scale on a building project. I remember well my first job going out to the site and being lower paid than the construction laborers.

But if you want to design structure then go for it. ACI-318 appendix D calculations are usually enough to change most minds.

Trudy, welcome to the CR4 Forum! I hope your stay with us is a good one!!! Now, IF you're in the USA then I would suggest take the PE Exam refresher courses first....that's if you're hell bent on switched from ME to SE or CE. If you're a PE your state education dept. wants you to practice in the area of your education, training and skills, therefore you must gain sufficient knowledge in the particular field/discipline you wish to practice. The state ed may require your to demonstrate this as well.

Also, take a lot of online Continuing Education courses to brush-up on structural engineering fundamentals you've forgotten since college....and learn everything you can regarding the AISC Steel Manual, the ACI 318 Standard (for starters), ASCE 07, and the Timber Design Manual. That's just the beginning of a very steep learning curve. You may want to elect to go back and attend college nights or part-time by taking some structural design and analysis courses that you may not have taken as a ME undergrad student.

I wish you much success in your endeavors!

===Signed CaptMoosie, PhD, P.E.

Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineer.....plus a tad of Transportation (Aviation), Forensic Engineering + Land Planning

I'm also thinking of changing to structural because I'm tired of dealing with leed (USGBC) or USGBS as I like to call it.