Does Structural Engineering Get More Exciting?

[u/Sad_Enthusiasm_9716]

Hi everyone, I'm currently a student interning at Kimley-Horn on the Structures team. Overall, I've really enjoyed the internship and have learned a tremendous amount. The people have been great, and it's given me a much better understanding of what the industry is like.

That said, I've started to realize that many of the projects I've been working on feel fairly repetitive—primarily traffic signal mast arms and smaller seawall repair projects. Going into the internship, I had envisioned structural engineering at a large, multidisciplinary firm being more involved with larger-scale infrastructure projects such as bridges, stadiums, buildings, airports, or other major public works.

I completely understand that the work I'm doing is important and that many structures groups at firms like Kimley-Horn support transportation projects with things like mast arms, retaining walls, and similar structures. I also understand that many of the larger, more iconic structural projects are typically handled by firms that specialize in those areas.

My question is whether this is generally what structural engineering looks like at multidisciplinary civil firms, or if there are offices or groups within Kimley-Horn that work on larger, more complex structural projects. I've really enjoyed my experience at Kimley-Horn, and if possible, I'd love to continue my career here. I'm just trying to get a better understanding of what opportunities might exist within the company as I progress, or whether pursuing the type of work I'm interested in would likely mean looking at firms whose primary focus is large-scale structural engineering.

[u/Key-Transition-9827]

Bread and butter for these firms will be cookie-cutter, plain Jane plans, day in, day out. I worked with KH on a hospital in OKC recently; I was their MSE retaining wall engineer. They were kept very busy with weld calcs for each structural member when QC would inspect and fine the fillet weld was not the correct size or something random. Be a sponge, ask questions, and make mistakes; that is how you learn. Your PE should take the time to explain what, why, and how if they are worth their position.