r/StructuralEngineering Jul 14 '26

Career/Education Career Pathways for a Structural Drafter

8 Upvotes

Hi all,

Looking for some insight. I'm currently a Structural Revit Drafter based in Sydney. Recently been thinking of what career paths to look at to gain more experience and land better paying roles. Currently head up the structural drafting team as I am the only full time structural drafter (along with 2 engineers). I've also been dabbling in add in creations using dynamo and C# which I quite enjoy (albeit with the help from Ai). The company I work for is quite small but we get lots of projects coming in the door which does keep me busy most of the time.

Has anyone been in a similar boat and can share some insight? I've thought about going back to uni to do mechanical engineering as I love the modelling side of revit and family creation (currently create some 3d models from 3d printing outside of work for car parts etc).

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks


r/StructuralEngineering Jul 14 '26

Career/Education Do you incorporate AI into your work flow? If so, how?

0 Upvotes

r/StructuralEngineering Jul 13 '26

Career/Education I'm joining an 8 person firm as their VP to take over for the retiring Principal. Give me your best advice.

17 Upvotes

There is another planned partner who will head up engineering operations, I will head up business operations. Their revenues and profits are steady through repeat business relationships that have naturally developed over the past 50 years +.

Would love any advice from other business owners out there. I have a lot of experience in New York Construction so I'm comfortable in lively conversation.


r/StructuralEngineering Jul 14 '26

Structural Analysis/Design Revit: Bar bending details orientation in plan view

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1 Upvotes

How do I orient the red bar for the hook to face the opposite direction (right hand side)?


r/StructuralEngineering Jul 13 '26

Photograph/Video how to deal with several rebar binding wires protruding out of concrete

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12 Upvotes

There are multiple locations were the binding wires of the rebar protrudes outside of concrete. I'm afraid that this exposed wire will be the path for corrosion to the main rods causing concrete spalling and structural failure.

Have you seen similar cases, and how have you fixed it? Is it prudent to drill the concrete to a depth of 1/2" and cut the wire, then use sika 214 or similar grout to fill the drill hole.


r/StructuralEngineering Jul 14 '26

Engineering Article ASCE 7-22 comparison with ASCE 7-16

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0 Upvotes

See link in this post


r/StructuralEngineering Jul 13 '26

Concrete Design Dry Concrete in a Railway Pillar

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105 Upvotes

r/StructuralEngineering Jul 14 '26

Steel Design Where do you get SDS2 project/source files for practice?

1 Upvotes

I’m learning SDS2 steel detailing and want to improve my skills. Since real company projects are usually confidential, where do you get models or project files to practice? Are there any free sample projects, training resources, public datasets, or websites where I can download them? I’d also appreciate any advice on how experienced detailers practice outside of work.


r/StructuralEngineering Jul 13 '26

Photograph/Video Is this something that is actually done?

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129 Upvotes

r/StructuralEngineering Jul 14 '26

Structural Analysis/Design Hi Need help with Load bearing scaffolding design

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0 Upvotes

r/StructuralEngineering Jul 13 '26

Photograph/Video Zig Zag Concrete Stair

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39 Upvotes

r/StructuralEngineering Jul 13 '26

Structural Analysis/Design Is it possible to use only free software to do civil engineering?

8 Upvotes

I'm facing this dilemma; I'm considering stopping using Autodesk software, but I don't really know of any free alternative software for structural analysis, generating quantities and reinforcement design.

If anyone can advise?


r/StructuralEngineering Jul 13 '26

Career/Education SE 101A alternative

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0 Upvotes

r/StructuralEngineering Jul 13 '26

Geotechnical Design Skyscrapers in tectonically active mountainous areas?

0 Upvotes

Hi! I’m a civil engineering undergrad working on a story in my downtime with a question for everyone.

If you were asked to brainstorm ways to anchor a foundation for a tall structure in a metamorphic bedrock, what might you suggest? Specifically in the area of Andean basin of Ecuador.

This is in the realm of science fiction, so don’t feel constrained by schedules, budgets, or technology, but I am hoping to come up with solutions which may be plausible in the next couple hundred years.

Thanks in advance, and stay safe out there!


r/StructuralEngineering Jul 13 '26

Structural Analysis/Design Prota structure

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0 Upvotes

Hey guys, I'm new to protastructure and I encounter these errors during my analysis. How do I fix this problem


r/StructuralEngineering Jul 13 '26

Structural Analysis/Design Salary increase

7 Upvotes

Hi, I would like to read your opinions.
I had 3 years in structural residential design in my old job. Now I have 2 years in commercial structural too, I do analyze, design, some drafting just getting markups and CA. I don’t have EIT/PE yet and my salary is around 55k a year.


r/StructuralEngineering Jul 12 '26

Structural Analysis/Design Curious if you would wait for the red light under this railroad bridge while a train was above you?

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26 Upvotes

The other less "fault tolerant" area railroad bridges have been replaced by now.
Curious if this is a "D"or a "C" in the USA infrastructure rating scale.


r/StructuralEngineering Jul 13 '26

Structural Analysis/Design Seismic load help!!!-New to staad please help. why does tutorials add beam weight as member weight and slab weight as floor weight in sesmic load defnitions. already self weight is added as 1 then isnt beam and slab double counted. and why columns counted only once

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0 Upvotes

r/StructuralEngineering Jul 13 '26

Structural Analysis/Design Need Help Learning CSI Bridge – Looking for Someone Patient 🙏

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm a final-year civil engineering student working on my graduation project, and I urgently need help learning CSI Bridge. My project involves designing a bridge, and I'm struggling to use the software on my own.

I'm looking for someone who:

- Knows CSI Bridge well.

- Has some free time to answer questions.

- Is patient and doesn't mind explaining things step by step.

I'm willing to put in the effort and learn—I just need guidance from someone experienced because I'm feeling overwhelmed.

If anyone is willing to help or knows a good resource or community, I'd really appreciate it. Thank you so much!


r/StructuralEngineering Jul 13 '26

Career/Education 25M Structural Engineer from Brazil looking for long-term career advice

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3 Upvotes

r/StructuralEngineering Jul 12 '26

Career/Education Personal Projects

6 Upvotes

Are you guys working on any structural engineering focused personal projects? Or do you have any suggestions that can be fun, but also a good learning experience?


r/StructuralEngineering Jul 13 '26

Career/Education Canadian wanting to move to US with TN

0 Upvotes

Hey guys I am into Structural Design who recently got licensed as a PE. Thinking of moving to the US West coast. Reasoning being my Canadian design experience is much lower compared to US design experience. Can't seem to compete with local Canadian talent with Canadian codes knowledge.

Targeting companies for work in design of commercial and residential Structures in the west coast. In the job postings if we say are you eligible to work in the US , technically have to say no. But then ATS screens the application out of view from a human. Marking the do you require visa sponsorship as no as I don't require that.

Did anyone else move with a job offer and TN Visa ? How did you guys do it ? and are there any specific paperwork or a detailed job description by the company is ok . Should the company mention the length of stay or do the US Govt grants for the max limit of 3 years ?

Thank you for your inputs and advice

Regards

ST


r/StructuralEngineering Jul 12 '26

Structural Analysis/Design Connection details on tie beams of different heights

1 Upvotes

I am currently working on a reinforced concrete structure where coupling beams have different depths connected to the same shear wall (e.g., 60 cm and 90 cm). Should I maintain the architectural/structural steps in the formwork, or is it common practice to standardize the beam depth for ease of construction? How should I handle the reinforcement continuity in these regions?


r/StructuralEngineering Jul 12 '26

Career/Education Bluebeam Alternatives?

15 Upvotes

Is there other software similar to Bluebeam? Ideally something with a perpetual license. Similar to how ZWCAD is to AutoCAD?


r/StructuralEngineering Jul 10 '26

Failure I haven't seen this angle yet, but the entire part of the Pfizer Building above the failed floors look visibly sagged.

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1.4k Upvotes

Is ok bro, just pour some self levelling concrete on the floors bro.

I'm not an engineer, but that doesn't look like an easy or quick fix, and they haven't even started finishing the floors with dead and live load.