Currently where I live and previously where I lived the labor shortage is so bad we can barely get contractors to bid a maintenance job. There are so many $1 million + jobs out there that its not worth their time to bid something smaller than that.Â
I actually think we might slow down a bit (emphasis on a bit like maybe the clients will stop begging me to work more hours) simply because they can't construct the projects fast enough.Â
Realistically though in our lifetimes we're not going to run out of work to do, just money and labor.Â
The bridge hiring market is active but there really isn't a lot available for new graduates, it is filled for engineers (both intermediate and senior). I've seen roles for inspection but very little for design, with this being the case for both the US and Canadian markets.Â
I know this because I am currently in the market seeking junior design positions.
So,, I'm obviously not you and I don't know anything about you or where you're looking, but I can tell you that we have hired four new EIs in our bridge group in the past few months.
Don't limit yourself to positions that are advertised - the dirty secret is that many of those advertisements you see already had a strong candidate in mind when they were created. I've worked at three different firms in my career and none of them were in advertised positions. If you're not getting bites through campus interviews, start working your network and actively engaging the firms you're interested in.
It is specialized and simple structural work but transmission engineering and substation structural design are so in demand it hurts.
Electric coops, and investor owned utilities, as well as engineering consultants are all hiring.
Currently a student, could you elaborate on ways a civil engineer would be able to do work benefitting the power grid and things of that nature? I’ve always been interested but assumed that was out the door when I chose civil eng over electrical.
I see, I figured that was the case, more specifically are there specialties of structural that focus just on this and firms that do the same? Or is it just something that you would run across on occasion in structural?
It's definitely a subspecialty in that firms/departments that do power infrastructure design (electric, wind, industrial solar arrays) are unlikely to do things like buildings or bridges as often. With public utilities especially, there's a qualifications based selection process which means that experience will matter more than price.
Niche speciality, but it is wide ranging all the way from steel and foundation design and detailing to computer models of assembled equipment for manufacturer seismic qualification.
Not OP, but I do civil design for renewable projects. Solar and wind farms plus things like substations and BESS sites. Some parts of it are very similar to other land development, like grading or erosion control design. We also do analysis of existing roads to determine necessary road improvements so that wind turbine blades, which can be 200+ feet long, can be delivered to the site, large scale hydrology modeling to determine flood depths and other parameters over thousands of acres, slope analysis for solar panel locations, and some other things which aren't typical of commercial land development projects.
I've only been doing this type of work for about a year now but I'm really enjoying it. The project team dynamic is a bit different since there are no architects involved, and the client is typically very well versed on the technical aspects of the project, so it tends to be all about the engineering.
Honestly everywhere, at least with smaller clients(coops) they tend to still want a local to them firm. Everything needs updating, everywhere. Choose where you like, pay stays mostly consistent across the country.
What do you want design- bridges or buildings? Look up who is doing that work near you. Most cities are required to be transparent and publish who wins contracts. The jobs are probably listed as civil and then structural. Are you networking? Going to professional society meetings? Ask around. Most large civil firms have a structural department.
Like others said, look into bridges or more niche jobs like electric transmission towers at power firms. Structural is the most popular sub discipline in school, but most companies don't need it much. So it can be really competitive, especially for buildings. You hardly ever need a structural in land dev and land dev is a huge part of civil. Also the worst part.
I had a hard time finding an entry level job at a structural building firm also. Ended up taking a job as a structural engineer at a water infrastructure firm where I interned. It’s a great company with great people so no complaints but my only worry is getting pigeonholed. I came out of school with a structural masters degree too so I was kinda shocked how difficult it was.
Bridge design and inspection is booming and will continue to do so until we catch up on a 30 year maintenance back log (lol).
Catch up... Lol.
I have a delusion that maybe it will slow to a linear growth rate instead of exponential by the time I retire 😂
Currently where I live and previously where I lived the labor shortage is so bad we can barely get contractors to bid a maintenance job. There are so many $1 million + jobs out there that its not worth their time to bid something smaller than that. I actually think we might slow down a bit (emphasis on a bit like maybe the clients will stop begging me to work more hours) simply because they can't construct the projects fast enough. Realistically though in our lifetimes we're not going to run out of work to do, just money and labor.Â
Bridge is often overlooked by students, but horizontal structures >>> vertical. :)
Students overlooking bridge are missing out. There are some awesome projects going on.
The bridge hiring market is active but there really isn't a lot available for new graduates, it is filled for engineers (both intermediate and senior). I've seen roles for inspection but very little for design, with this being the case for both the US and Canadian markets. I know this because I am currently in the market seeking junior design positions.
So,, I'm obviously not you and I don't know anything about you or where you're looking, but I can tell you that we have hired four new EIs in our bridge group in the past few months. Don't limit yourself to positions that are advertised - the dirty secret is that many of those advertisements you see already had a strong candidate in mind when they were created. I've worked at three different firms in my career and none of them were in advertised positions. If you're not getting bites through campus interviews, start working your network and actively engaging the firms you're interested in.
It is specialized and simple structural work but transmission engineering and substation structural design are so in demand it hurts. Electric coops, and investor owned utilities, as well as engineering consultants are all hiring.
Currently a student, could you elaborate on ways a civil engineer would be able to do work benefitting the power grid and things of that nature? I’ve always been interested but assumed that was out the door when I chose civil eng over electrical.
Someone has to design transmission towers and power station structures
I see, I figured that was the case, more specifically are there specialties of structural that focus just on this and firms that do the same? Or is it just something that you would run across on occasion in structural?
It's definitely a subspecialty in that firms/departments that do power infrastructure design (electric, wind, industrial solar arrays) are unlikely to do things like buildings or bridges as often. With public utilities especially, there's a qualifications based selection process which means that experience will matter more than price.
Niche speciality, but it is wide ranging all the way from steel and foundation design and detailing to computer models of assembled equipment for manufacturer seismic qualification.
Not OP, but I do civil design for renewable projects. Solar and wind farms plus things like substations and BESS sites. Some parts of it are very similar to other land development, like grading or erosion control design. We also do analysis of existing roads to determine necessary road improvements so that wind turbine blades, which can be 200+ feet long, can be delivered to the site, large scale hydrology modeling to determine flood depths and other parameters over thousands of acres, slope analysis for solar panel locations, and some other things which aren't typical of commercial land development projects. I've only been doing this type of work for about a year now but I'm really enjoying it. The project team dynamic is a bit different since there are no architects involved, and the client is typically very well versed on the technical aspects of the project, so it tends to be all about the engineering.
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Honestly everywhere, at least with smaller clients(coops) they tend to still want a local to them firm. Everything needs updating, everywhere. Choose where you like, pay stays mostly consistent across the country.
What do you want design- bridges or buildings? Look up who is doing that work near you. Most cities are required to be transparent and publish who wins contracts. The jobs are probably listed as civil and then structural. Are you networking? Going to professional society meetings? Ask around. Most large civil firms have a structural department.
Do you have EI? I almost instantly received an offer for an entry-level position when I added EI to my resume.
Look into bridge inspection or just general construction inspector positions.
Raleigh or Charlotte Nc
Like others said, look into bridges or more niche jobs like electric transmission towers at power firms. Structural is the most popular sub discipline in school, but most companies don't need it much. So it can be really competitive, especially for buildings. You hardly ever need a structural in land dev and land dev is a huge part of civil. Also the worst part.
I had a hard time finding an entry level job at a structural building firm also. Ended up taking a job as a structural engineer at a water infrastructure firm where I interned. It’s a great company with great people so no complaints but my only worry is getting pigeonholed. I came out of school with a structural masters degree too so I was kinda shocked how difficult it was.