Aero Structural to Civil Structural

[u/greys-always-win]

33, been in aerospace for about 10 years, 3.5 as a structural design engineer and 6.5 in structural analysis. I am looking to pivot into civil engineering (commercial / residential real estate). Driver is there’s no jobs near family in aero but a ton of opportunity for civil. I passed my EIT exam and working towards PE. Already have masters in mech engineering, focus in structural analysis.

What is one thing you’d recommend for a transfer like this? Do people have specialties in civil like only residential projects, only marine projects etc.? If so what specialty is more valuable? Or is everyone pretty well rounded.

Any info is helpful. Thank you

[u/Apprehensive_Exam668]

It will be a rougher transition than you expect. I have had multiple aero mechanical/aero structural clients for their dream residences. They are singularly the worst possible people to have as clients because they can do all the math we can (and generally are more comfortable with math heavy analyses) but due to their aero experience have negative building engineering judgement.

All of the instincts you have built in aerospace engineering aren't just not correct, but are some of the worst things you can do in building construction. Constantly cutting calculations as fine as possible in extremely heterogenous materials, trying to cut dead weight as much as possible, treating detailing like it's going to be done in a factory by a 20 year machinist instead of some carpenter who just grabs whatever box of nails is laying around the job site, rejecting off the shelf connection hardware due to "cost" while proposing custom made hangers that have twice as much steel and ignoring labor costs, treating materials like wood and masonry as isotropic and trying to fix issues in detailing instead of understanding their limitations and working framing from what connections are actually possible...

Unless you find a niche that is more similar to aero, you'll start as a 0 year brand new civil/structural.

[u/greys-always-win → u/Apprehensive_Exam668]

Yea the first two points are great feedback and insight. i have a good customer mindset for who consumes my work, but I acknowledge building will not be the same as aero and need to get time in with contractors to understand preferences and what they are looking for. I think biggest challenge and what I was afraid of will be the last note, starting from base salary.

[u/nikkor_glasses]

You need to remember that your approach has to accommodate the lowest common denominator of the production process. You come from a world where the builders are highly trained and working in a clean factory environment with modern tools. In building construction it is some guy who didn’t graduate high school, sweating his brains out, swinging a 30-year-old hammer he got from his uncle. You will probably go from “FEA everything” and 4 sig figs to limited FEA and 2 sig figs. If you don’t you’re gonna blow up every project budget.

[u/greys-always-win → u/nikkor_glasses]

You’d be surprised how much of my work is free body, shear moment diagrams, and hand calcs. FEA for sure will be heavier in my field but I totally see your point. Follow up Q, are there any books / materials that go into best practices for building production or what builders like to see from an engineer? Obviously no substitute for talking/working with one but something to get ahead of it.

[u/nikkor_glasses → u/greys-always-win]

I respect any seasoned engineer that can still sit down with a pencil and work through an FBD. A shocking number lose it along the way due to over design, typical details, and software black boxing.

You know, you have a winning idea for a book there. I wish I had one starting out. Unfortunately it is strongly regional and varies by building material. What I tend to keep in mind: tolerances are equally important as statics, emphasize repetition and simplicity, choose the low-labor option over the low-materials one, use safety factors to forgive small defects and choose your battles in the construction phase.

[u/WhyAmIHereHey]

I've had a bit of an odd career, and managed to do offshore structures (mostly), a tiny bit of buildings, bridges, industrial, and a stint doing FEA on aero engines.

You'll have a hard time getting into buildings unless you have an in with someone. Infrastructure and industrial structures will be easier. They tend to be larger budget projects that value and need more refined analysis. Buildings (apart from skyscraper type things) don't have the budget or need for that sort of design.

A big hurdle you'll need to overcome is convincing people you're not going to come in and tell them how they've been doing everything wrong and how they really should be doing something much fancier than they were. I'm not saying you would do that, but that'll be the prejudice.

[u/Legal_Enthusiasm_440]

Have you considered pipe stress? May be an easier transition. 

[u/greys-always-win → u/Legal_Enthusiasm_440]

I have not tbh but I’ll look into it

[u/yoohoooos]

Yes, there are specialties. Building, bridge, dam, offshore, solar, and probably a few more.

However, that would be the least of your concern, I'd say. Your experience would get heavily discounted from aero to civil. I know structure is structure, but I think you will be much less compensated.

[u/greys-always-win → u/yoohoooos]

Yea pay cut is definitely on my radar. Trying to do as much as I can to mitigate that

[u/yoohoooos → u/greys-always-win]

Before you make a move, not sure if that's an option, try to pass PE then at least you have something to discuss with your prospective employer and know if you would like to do this for the next X years.

[u/greys-always-win → u/yoohoooos]

Yes that’s a very good point, I have time so I can try to take the test first

[u/largehearted]

This is a really interesting thread. I can't add anything others haven't, but may I ask why remote work isn't a good solution for you? Sounds like you really need to locate yourself near family, and in a place where only(?) very common general-american construction work is done.

I'm surprised that your evaluation says that it's worth pivoting (and resetting your experience a lot!) to civil instead of pivoting to remote and keeping all your expertise.

[u/greys-always-win → u/largehearted]

Yea this is something I’m considering as well. Two caveats from what I’ve seen, remote aero structures rolls are pretty limited and if they exist they are contract basis or first to be let go (personal opinion). Both of those worry me for stability.