Design Engineering compared Site Engineering

skybhoy121

Hi, I'm sure there may have been topics like this before discussed but just looking for anyone who could give good constructive advice on the subject or experiences people may have had?

Im currently in final year of a hons degree in Civil Engineering(confident of at least a 2H1), been researching some of my career options. I’ve applied for basically all graduate programmes which have been available but I guess my main two options are Site Engineer(Contractors) or Design Engineer(Consultancy)

I’ve had experience in site work (placement) which I enjoyed to a point even though I only had a fairly brief introduction! Guess the basic pros and cons iv gathered on this is site work means better salary but long hours..designing is better hours but less pay..how accurate is this description? I've also heard that sometimes consultants are reluctant to take on people would started out at contractors?

any information on either career path would be really helpful!!

skybhoy121

Anyone?

CatFromHue

Have you done a search in the forum for any past threads in this area?

I think this has come up before.

krustycustomer

Your on the right track, site requires more confidence and if that path is chosen, you'd be more inclined to go down the management route opposed to "Engineering"

Contractors pay more but typically you'll learn about the industry quickly as your working with all the other subbies. Days are longer but I find go faster as everything is always behind, critical urgent etc.

I wouldn't actually worry too much to TBH as Design lads can end up on sites often and contractors can end up specialising in one area and end up in the office dealing with tyat item one many projects.

Money wise, economy is poor bla bla bla, basic options are seeking a grad position with a large scale co or a local small company. Both have pros and cons, big firms will assign you mentors, line managers, company perks. small companies tend to get too busy to train you but dish out a lot of responsibility in my opinion good way to get experience quickly.

Dr_Bill

As a generalisation: Site Engineering involves building the structure/project, managing resources on site, budgets etc. consultancy involves the design process and overseeing the construction to ensure it is compliant with the design and filling out a lot of paperwork.

My suggestion would be to go down a site engineering route to gain practical experience and learn quickly as it will benefit you later if you decide to consider a career in consultancy as at the end of the day the design must be practical to be able to construct it efficiently.

godtabh

The two jobs are very different.

A site engineer will build what he sees and manages problems with the build.

A consultant will design things.

PM will be massive in both.

Each probably couldnt do the others jobs. Different skill sets/competences.

Also with site engineering you may find it hard to move around. I'm a consultant and have worked in structures, drainage, civils, highways, transportation

REFLINE1

Have worked for a main Contractor for 10+ years and started off as site eng, now am chartered eng but working as Contracts Manager.
Here's a few notes below on the job if you chose to go the site route and typical career path in the industry.

Site Eng- 0-4 Years typically (salary 28-35K but typically in the middle of that range + Phone)

Duties- Setting out structure on site from design information using Total stations, Dumpy levels, pipe lasers etc.
-Quality control & assurance duties ranging from concrete cube tests, general site inspection records of trades,snagging, raising non conformance's, filing certificates and spec sheets for products, submitting same for approval, raising RFI's to design team, maintaining quality filing, Surveying as built of the structure and checking for issues.
-Ordering of materials- mostly reinforcement & concrete, on large site this can be quite a resposibility.
-Taking **** off subcontractors workers who will see you as a jumped up little schoolboy in the early years and try there hardest to break you. (particularly older formwork type guys, rough animals in general)
-You need a very thick skin, sites aren't for the faint hearted or timid.
-work longish hours, best case is 8am-6pm mon-fri

Section Eng/Snr engineer/Project eng- Typically 4-7+ years experience , 35k -55K + car max.

--Supervise a team of set out engineers & students possibly.
-Spend more time dealing with design coordination, workshops, liasing with specialist subcontractor designers & project design team to get drawings/submittals approved for manufacture etc.
-a lot of paperwork, QA audits, QC records.
Problem solving/fire fighting- The one thing that holds true is there will ALWAYS be **** ups ranging from minor hiccups to severe showstoppers, these can cost money and hold up programme, and you will feel the pressure while trying to resolve, even when its a third party who cocked up it will become your problem.
-Health and safety, as you progress towards management you will spend a disproportionate amount of time dealing with H&S paperwork and site issues. painful stuff.
-managing subcontractors- demanding and takes a lot of skill from a PM point of view depending on the trade.


Project manager/Assistant Contracts manger 8-10 years, 50-60K typically +car

-Starting to take resposnsibility for overall programme of a job, maybe under a visting Contracts manger depending on project size.
-High pressure
-Long hours
-need a strong resilient personality
-need good people skills
-organized person essential
-good foresight required.
-might work on tenders for project and devlop construction method statemendt for tender proposals in between projects.
-begin to be more exposed to the commercial side of things, budgets ,perlims etc.

Contracts manger 10yrs + , 60K + car

All the above an more, HIGH pressure.


Pros
-Lots of variety
-exposure to lots of sectors, commercial,residential ,leisure, retail,pharma etc.
-decentish money
-good balance between office and site
-non PC vibe where straight talking is respected in general
-very little office type bull**** politics
-satisfying to look back on completed projects and know you know every nut and bolt of a public building

Cons
-Long hours
-high pressure
-abrasive people at times in industry
-labourers & trades earning more than you can be annoying
-more and more risk and pressure on contractors as years go buy.
-Design team doing less and less design ,and it is now main contractor/subbie specialist doing detailed design which you need to manage.

SF12

Agreement with all posts above. I will just add that if you are going to do site work, doing it while you are relatively young is definitely the time (it's a tough, demanding job). Secondly, if you want to eventually transfer to consultancy, give yourself a timeline on site, and don't leave it too long. 2/3 years max, I think. That way you've learned a good bit, but are not too far from college to start in as a design grad.

I have to say that I really enjoyed my time on site, but after 4-5 years, the hours and the pace of the job started to really wear on myself and the other engineers I worked with.It's exhausting and the constant battles are hard after a while. It's a baptism of fire without a doubt.But you learn a lot, you can deal with pretty much anything that's thrown at you after a while, and you get good PM skills out of it.

Ninja101

Whatever one you do, get the hell out of Ireland (and the UK). Go where there is real money to be made, and proper massive interesting projects with multinational staff, e.g. Middle East, Australia, etc. Do your research. I am serious. Why spend 4 years setting out in the snow in Ireland when you can be learning much more abroad? I wish someone had told me so in the early days.

Pay for Engineers is atrocious in Ireland (and the UK). In Australia a graduate makes $90k for example. Thats more than a Contracts Manager makes in Ireland!

I would have said do Oil & Gas and go to Norway where you could have made a shed load of cash but with the price crash now isn't a good time. However it will come back.