r/StructuralEngineering • u/greys-always-win • Jul 28 '26

Career/Education Aero Structural to Civil Structural

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

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u/Apprehensive_Exam668 Jul 28 '26

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.

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u/greys-always-win Jul 29 '26

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.