Any structural engineers here?

Compound · 22 Oct 2011 at 20:58

Sounds like petrochem designers and aerospace designers are viewed the same by both industries. I use catia and don't get chance to do any calcs that's all for the stress department to handle. I only finished my part time degree this year a d really enjoyed to structural element but don't get to use it much at work.

Sadly I think I'd just get viewed as a cad jockey, yes that might be true but there is a skill in designing aircraft even if you don't do so many sums. I wouldn't trust some of the stress engineers at my work to design anything for actual use but they'd know how strong it is! the same can be said for designers doing stress work.

I'm London based and have had a look on a few websites for ideas but not sure what is around London and the south east. Seems like there is loads of work in Aberdeen and ss7 do a conversion course I notice but if possible I'd rather something closer to home seeing as I'm about to get married. Do you know of anyone who might be recruiting down this way?

KaHn · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:02

Look at www.saipem.it, london based who I used to work for, they were recruiting close to 150 engineers just before I left in april, so chances are they still are, they are paying pretty well for draffies (50/hr contract) but I would think they'd try and get you as an engineer (if your qualified) but you just need to apply and apply to lots.

KaHn

Compound · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:12

Thanks for the advice Kahn. Just one more question, what did you mean by the if you're qualified bit in brackets? Do I need to be chareteredmor something?

KaHn · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:16

No no I meant with what you did within your degree and relevant experience, no point in saying every areocourse is the same etc, you could be going for a strucie job after only one course in your degree (which would be wrong as they'd probably try and start you off doing graduate positions) but on the other hand you have a lot of experience in design so I can't really say what you are good at.

Sorry if that comes across like avoiding the question but unless you work with someone you dont know how much they actually know. I've worked with lots of people who should be a lot better than they are.

KaHn

Compound · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:23

Ah ok I think I understand. I only did structural analysis and structural integrity so prob not enough to get in on the structural side of things, I'd prob have to take a big hit on pay to start at the bottom too.

Thanks again for the help, I have already written my covering letter and cv for applications so I guess I should now get it sent out!

KaHn · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:28

Compound said:
Ah ok I think I understand. I only did structural analysis and structural integrity so prob not enough to get in on the structural side of things, I'd prob have to take a big hit on pay to start at the bottom too.

Thanks again for the help, I have already written my covering letter and cv for applications so I guess I should now get it sent out!

Its a really big problem, I really didnt want to go into the aero industry when I graduated and I'm glad I didn't, I got a 2:2 BEng (hons) and a good mate of mine got a 1st MEng and when we spoke about 2 yrs after he was on less money that I was as a graduate.

But thats the nature of the industry.

KaHn

alx · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:46

KaHn said:
Oh yeah sorry, i keep getting you mixed up with Slambo I think who works for SS7, however SS7 will have some chems there.

Going to try and sort out an aberdeen night out as me and -ad- go out quite a bit, probably mid novemember at the moment.

KaHn

Was it you who has a mate working for Talisman?

Another mate of mine said they're a good company to work for, quite tempted to apply once their grad scheme reopens.

KaHn · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:48

alx said:
Was it you who has a mate working for Talisman?

Another mate of mine said they're a good company to work for, quite tempted to apply once their grad scheme reopens.

Yeah that was me, he says their a good company but I've also heard of them firing whole project teams due to missed deadlines which werent the project teams fault, apparently a very aggressive company.

KaHn

Compound · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:52

Yeah the aero industry is nothing like petrochem for money. Everyone I work with envies it and it is one ofthe reasons I am looking into it, that and the fact there isn't much aero industry in the south east.

For example I and an offer from airbus as a lead engineer back in march. Job was really good potentially leading ten people and the salary wasn't even 40k. They made similar offers to around another six designers who I worked with at bae and we all turned them down because the money sucks. They are still trying to fill the role I was offered, surely they realise they should start paying more considering they still need another 300 or something stupid!

alx · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:54

KaHn said:
Yeah that was me, he says their a good company but I've also heard of them firing whole project teams due to missed deadlines which werent the project teams fault, apparently a very aggressive company.

KaHn

Ah fair enough, does sound a tad aggressive!

KaHn · 22 Oct 2011 at 22:00

Compound said:
Yeah the aero industry is nothing like petrochem for money. Everyone I work with envies it and it is one ofthe reasons I am looking into it, that and the fact there isn't much aero industry in the south east.

For example I and an offer from airbus as a lead engineer back in march. Job was really good potentially leading ten people and the salary wasn't even 40k. They made similar offers to around another six designers who I worked with at bae and we all turned them down because the money sucks. They are still trying to fill the role I was offered, surely they realise they should start paying more considering they still need another 300 or something stupid!

Comes down to margins, what I earn is low for what I do but considerably more than any other industry.

You do need the right sort of mentality for it tho.

KaHn

KaHn · 22 Oct 2011 at 22:02

alx said:
Ah fair enough, does sound a tad aggressive!

Most the smaller operators are really aggressive but you'll find that out.

KaHn

alx · 22 Oct 2011 at 22:16

Guess they have to be considering they've got less leeway for error having fewer reserves.

Dunks · 22 Oct 2011 at 22:41

Kahn, besides Sapiem, do you know of any predominantly London based firms?

My girlfriend is from London and will either stay in Scotland (therefore Aberdeen is my main bet) or move back home to London after graduation in the summer, so obviously something down that way would be pretty awesome, but I can't really see much going on that way in terms of grad opportunities.

Considering doing an MSc after my BEng but unsure, do you think it'd be a worthwhile thing to do? I've noticed that there's a pretty even split between firms requiring BEng or MEng/MSc only. I noticed that you said you got a job offer while part-way through yours.

-Ad- · 23 Oct 2011 at 00:26

How excellent to have such a lovely casual Engineering thread on OcUK.

American Pie 3 is on and pub was good, so I'm off for much punishment and cleaning from the fraulines.

Toot

Dunks · 23 Oct 2011 at 00:46

Drunk much?

-Ad- · 23 Oct 2011 at 00:52

Nah, tomorrow lunchtime is party then back to Abz on 7am Mon flight.

I suggest mohrs circle for calcs, that is fun and games!

Dunks · 23 Oct 2011 at 00:56

I've never learned how to use Mohr's circle, we covered it in lectures, I just decided not to learn it. It seems a ridiculous way of doing stuff

Dave · 23 Oct 2011 at 01:19

Dunks said:
I've never learned how to use Mohr's circle, we covered it in lectures, I just decided not to learn it. It seems a ridiculous way of doing stuff

Even I learnt how to use Mohr's circle, and I'm a Chem Eng'er

I'm surrounded by mechanical & aerospace people though, as I'm in the CFD world. Turns out that the aerospace people get it right usually - the design tolerances involved in chem eng means that our simulations are generally a bit rubbish

(as is the vast majority of the empirically-correlated chem eng design & simulation world!)

Amp34 · 23 Oct 2011 at 01:33

panyan said:
ah - you see - we've only been taught the section of Eurocodes that deals with massive structural I-beams, so far, to us, a "steel beam" is a "massive structural I-beam"

(our first project was to design the structure of a 4-storey office block and work out the forces in each member)

Ahhh, first year Civ Eng... So glad I quit after that and became a Geologist!

Dunks said:
Everyone seems to be moving to Aberdeen!

Hopefully there'll be some jobs left when I graduate at this rate.

Meh, London's better! Although I guess the development/engineering side is more based in Aberdeen. Although trips to Aberdeen are still going to be needed!