"I am currently employed as a Project Engineer on a £40 million university office and cleanroom building. This involves undertaking some 3D finite element modelling. I am also Project Manager on a £2.5 million extension to an existing primary school and a new £13 million public library in Crawley. I have a team of four people working for me and I am responsible for managing them.
The best parts of the job for me are:
- being involved in the management aspects of the project whilst also maintaining a hands-on approach to design and 'mucking in' where necessary to get things done,
- seeing new graduates develop and progress when they are working for me, and seeing them start to find their own feet,
- seeing your design finished. It can be frustrating to have to redesign things (to meet new requirements or conditions) but seeing the finished product is very rewarding, when you can stand there and know you were part of it.
As for the future, I hope to sit my Professional Review to become a Chartered Member of the Institution of Structural Engineers."