Are you looking for a career path that combines your love of technology and design? Due to the continued integration of technology into some of the world’s most essential industries, there is an increased need to hire professionals with a creative eye and a comprehension of technological systems. If this concept sounds interesting to you, then you might enjoy a career as an architectural engineer.
What is architectural engineering? It’s an engineering discipline developed in the 20th century, that deals directly with the technological aspects of building planning, designing, and construction. As an engineer, it would be your responsibility to review and test building designs developed by architects to provide efficient solutions on building codes, safety standards, efficiency, and expenses.
What Does an Architectural Engineer Do?
Daily tasks for an architectural engineer might include collaborating with architects in the design phase, reviewing blueprints to ensure they’re up to safety standards, analyzing the quality of life components, evaluating the structural integrity of buildings during construction, and monitoring various stages of development to comply with local building regulations.
Academic and Professional Requirements
For those interested in pursuing a career in this engineering discipline, there are a few requirements you’ll need to meet to be considered for a position.
- Bachelor’s Degree – You’ll need to have a college education under your belt to become an architectural engineer. Most employers require applicants to have at least a bachelor’s degree in areas that include science, technology, structural engineering, physics, or construction.
- Certification – While having a certification may not be a requirement for every employer, if you’re going to stand out from other applicants, a certification can go a long way. There are some higher education programs you can take to give you a certificate upon completion and passing of an exam.
Preferred Skills
To perform your job efficiently, it is ideal that you have some of the skills listed below.
- Math Wiz – You may have thought that those equations and formulas you learned about in school wouldn’t amount to much, but if you’re going to be an architectural engineer, you’ll need these math skills. Mathematical equations are used frequently throughout the course of a workday.
- Physics – To accurately assess the structural integrity of a building, architectural engineers will need to have a firm grasp of physics. It will be your responsibility to determine how various forces will impact building structures.
- Architecture – Though architects are frequently responsible for developing building designs, engineers should also have experience with design. Having an architectural or creative background makes it easier for you to make recommendations that enhance the project.
- Effective Communicator- During the various stages of building design and construction, engineers have to interact with others on the project. It’s vital that you’re able to communicate in a manner that is easy for everyone to comprehend.
- Collaboration – You will have to talk with architects, construction workers, and clients, but you’ll also be working as a team. Your ability to collaborate efficiently with each member will be imperative to the success of the build.
- Detail-Oriented – An architectural engineer’s role is crucial to the general public’s overall safety and well-being. Overlooking design errors, safety risks, structural problems, or building code violations wastes a lot of time and resources. It can also put occupants of the building at risk of injury or death.
- Versatile – If you thought that your career as an architectural engineer would be behind a desk or in an office all day, think again. There are days where you’re in the office, out meeting with an architect or client or overseeing a construction site.
If you have a love of technology and design, architectural engineering may be a good fit. After doing some research to learn more about an engineer’s position and everyday life, you’ll need to develop a strategy to land a job. Obtaining the right educational experience, passing exams for industry certifications, and taking steps to enhance the skills mentioned above are the first steps towards accomplishing your goals.
