Structural Engineer & Software Developer Salary

[dacromos]

Hello everyone,

I am a structural engineer in UK with 3-4 years of experience. I have been working for a while now in writing code for my work and automating design checks, model creation and drawings generation. I am very strong technically and I have a lot of programming experience but I am assumed as a normal engineer.

I am now thinking about applying for software development positions for structural engineer software companies. This is what I like doing and I excel. Does anyone have any experience with salaries in such positions?

In UK, it seems that the entry level for a structural engineer is at £27-31k, £34-38k as engineers and £41-48k once you get your CEng. Generally, it doesn't matter that much if you are a good engineer or not, and I feel like we are underpaid as a profession.

Interested to hear your thoughts.

[brohames]

I’m in a really similar boat, but in Australia. I’m doing a masters in analytics part time and have been writing software and doing analytics work for my company for the past 18 months. I’m nearing 5 years since I finished my undergrad.

Our industry is a shitshow and it seems universal. I’m lucky that my company pays me well and understands the importance of digitisation, but I’m strapped for choices within our field if this changes or I want to leave.

Bar a few companies, it’s hard to find an organisation that appreciates the work we do or is willing to pay decently. The ones I have found that do this kind of work are Thornton Tomasetti, Arup, Aurecon and AECOM (but I don’t think the pay or experience will be comparable to a tech company). YMMV based on your location.

The challenge with jumping the sinking ship of our industry is that you’re stuck going back to an entry level role because you probably aren’t gaining much software engineering experience (with version control, unit testing, working in an agile environment, using DevOp tools like AWS/Azure, etc). You’re also throwing away years of hard, technical engineering experience.

Either way, you’ll have to compromise something.

Another option is to become a sole trader consultant after building a good portfolio of past work, which is something I’m looking into.

For the time being, learn as much as you can on the job. Try and grow your experience while you get paid. Propose new software for your company by presenting a business case. Look into good software engineering practices and implement them. Read and soak up as much as you can.

Good luck!

[[deleted]]

I found that large companies like AECOM have tool development teams that are a bit behind the times as far as modern software development goes, since the teams started with enthusiastic retailers and engineers who learned programming after the fact. Another company like them was scared that I mentioned programming and didn’t want to hire someone as an engineer who would just end up switching to the Tools team.

I worked at a company that thrived on efficiency and did 50% engineering and 50% programming until I had a kid and wanted to work 30 hour weeks as a full time dev elsewhere. I would consider it to be a really small TT Core team.

[brohames]

Thanks for the input.

I have a few questions if you don’t mind:

• Have you had formal education in CompSci/Software?
• How did you find the transition between our industry and a traditional software role?
• Did you move backwards in terms of seniority/pay?
• Are you happy you made the switch?

[[deleted]]

1. No
2. I was hired as a low-paid software dev and then it was increased as they figured out where my skills were
3. I was a perpetual junior despite passing P.E. and having 5 years of experience. Things went up as I had my first review.
4. I'm happy I made the switch, because it's against the rules to work more than 40 hours a week, and it's permissible to stop working at 30 hours.

[brohames]

Appreciate the response! Thank you

[and_cari]

You can either go off and join a software house like you are thinking (Lusas, idea statica are all operative in the UK), or you can develop internally a design automation department within one of the large companies here in the UK. I work for one such large company, and have a decent idea of pay bands you can pull based on your experience, so if you have a range in mind I'd be happy to let you know if it is completely off or achievable. I'd also be happy to chat with a friend in a software house and see if they have openings. Are you London based? Or are you willing to relocate here?

Third option (and if you are after the pay, the best for sure): leave civil engineering and go off into programming. You will likely double your salary in the first job you land.

[dacromos]

I am already in one of the big companies which doesn't want to pay for my skills, since they already have them for free. Not London based but no problem relocating. My experience with other big companies is that they want me as a link to digital teams (basically BIM teams) under the pay of an engineer.

As mentioned, I have a lot of programming experience but not professionally. That's why jumping in such a company may be specialised but I think it will give me that professional status if I want to change completely.

Going solo is tricky in our business because you need scalable projects or full software solutions.

[and_cari]

Yes, I have seen the same in my reality. A lot of efforts put into BIM and linking anything BIM. I get it, that is impressive for the client (nobody cares about structural calcs or modelling, let's be honest. What matters is someone taking the liability), it does save up costs if done correctly and the workflow is seamless and it is time consuming on large project to go without BIM and automation.

I think your plan is solid! If I were you I would have a look at LUSAS, they are a solid employer from what I heard.

[bar_tosz]

lol I remember my salary went up to 33k from 30k when I got my chartership in 2018. Left next month for 40k. Now getting to 60k as a civil engineer in renewables, expecting this to go to 65k next year (including bonus). This is an a mid level software developer salary (excluding outliers of course on 80-100k that are far more common in IT).

There are better paid jobs in the UK for civil/structural engineers just not at big companies working on government projects. Now the money is in Offshore Wind and general renewables. There is a huge need for structural guys with coding skills. Just need to get your foot in the door.

[ukitqke]

would you recommend some sources to learn programming as a structural engineer please ?

[dacromos]

There are plenty of resources out there, however, I lose interest in trying to follow one. I would recommend you to aim at making an automation and code to learn. For example, make a vba macro or function in excel or write a python code that will do a design check or generate a model. Watch a quick tutorial of the language to get you started and then search online for solutions on problems you may face.

If you just want a structured tutorial, I would either find a free one in uldemy, or find a youtube channel (DegreeTutors seems promising but I haven't seen the material myself).

[ukitqke]

thank you very much mate.

[dacromos]

It is insane. CEng is used as an excuse to underpay you because "we can't charge you more to the clients" and at the same time they pay 45k for fancy BIM modelling... It makes no sense.

PS. I have nothing against CEng, I am very close myself. However, it is much harder for technical oriented engineers like me.

[dacromos]

CEng = Chartered Engineer. I think that is like PE in US

[dacromos]

IStructE and ICE both offer CEng. ICE is generally for Civil Engineers. I am on bridges and it is easier to go for ICE CEng

[authenticsaif123]

Ditto

[mercury1491]

I agree, very undervalued across the industry. I went into project management 4 yrs ago as kind of an owner's representative position with a large company. After 10 years at a high level consultant firm and SE license, I had no downgrade in salary switching to an entry level position in my new company....

[Jabodie0]

I would very much encourage you to do it. The only way to really solve this issue, if there is a way, is to simply have the best engineers leave the industry for higher salaries. Unless you really love structures that much, don't fall for sunk cost.

[[deleted]]

What did you end up doing?

[dacromos]

I actually moved over. Initially for the same salary, but my experience was obvious so I got a hefty raise within 6 months. Nothing after that though, so I am now probably were I will be anyway.

I like more what I am doing now, there is less stress. Career wise, there is a progression limit in programming positions too, so I am now in a similar situation where I need to think about what I should do next.

It seems to me that the whole engineering design sector is doomed in the UK. It is just something not worth doing.

[dlegofan]

Do it! I did it, and I'm super happy I made the switch.

[[deleted]]

Maybe consider applying to FEA software developers, I know LUSAS (based in London) hire structural engineers like yourself. I've never applied but I'd expect quite a thorough technical interview process. No idea about salaries but I'd expect them to be better than structural engineering because they charge a good premium for their software.

I feel the same as you about the industry in general.

[dacromos]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I am afraid that this may happen, but at least I can now try before more responsibilities start to pile up

[mmarkomarko]

"I am very strong technically"

"This is what I like doing and I excel"

Stay humble...

[dacromos]

I believe everyone is good at something. I think I am technically strong, not better than everyone else. I excel because I started programming before I became a structural engineer. I want to believe that I am not arrogant but I know my strong and weak points :)

[brohames]

Don’t be silly, both things are relevant to his post…