Structural Engineer
Name: Sophie Langley
Career stage: Early career - less than 5 years' experience
Working: On site, Office
High School Subjects: Ancient history, Ext 2 Maths, Physics, Advanced English
Favourite: Extension 2 maths. It was so challenging but at least there was always a right answer. Sitting down to do maths study didn't feel as overwhelming as trying to write an essay - it was broken down into small achievable parts. I got huge satisfaction from solving difficult problems.
Further study: University
where and what: Civil Engineering at University of Technology Sydney
"It's not all blokes. My current team is a 50/50 split and it's awesome. All the women I've come across in my career so far have been hugely supportive and really foster a culture of building each other up."
the inside scoop…
What does a Structural Engineer actually do? Architects decide the purpose of a building and how they want it to look - I make sure it stands up. I work closely day-to-day with the architect and other types of engineers to make sure the structural elements of the building fit in with all the other bits. The structures I design are generally concrete, steel or timber. I also need to think about how a construction team will want to build things on site or what materials are available to them - there's no point designing a building in timber if the builder can't get timber!
What does a day in your life at work look like? Most days I'm in the office and focussing on calculations and drawings - I can't get through the day without a calculator. Between focus time, most days I will have at least one meeting with an architect and speak to builders on the phone multiple times a day. During the busiest period on my last project, the site engineer joked that he spoke to me on the phone more than his girlfriend. I generally go out to site once a week to inspect structural elements and ensure they're built correctly. I like going to site to see things come together, but also like coming back to the office - site can be a bit loud, hot and generally chaotic!
What's the best part of your job? It's super cool walk past a building and be able to say "I worked on that" - I'm sure a lot of people in construction would say the same thing. And as a structural engineer, you play a really key role in that design, second only to maybe the architect. I also love the collaborative aspect of my job and seeing a whole design team come together to solve complex, and importantly, very real problems.
What made you realise construction could be for you? Growing up I didn't know anyone who worked in construction. I fell into it because I loved maths which made engineering seem like a logical option. When I started engineering I didn't really understand the difference between different engineering disciplines, let alone the different career paths they could lead to.
What would you tell your high school self about working in construction? It's not all blokes. My current team is a 50/50 split and it's awesome. All the women I've come across in my career so far have been hugely supportive and really foster a culture of building each other up.
Tell us about a favourite project you're working on.
Do you have any advice for young women picking a career? There are so many different types of projects you can work on and I'm slowly trying them all out. I'm excited to do more school and public place projects - it's exciting knowing that a building will be used by and enjoyed by so many people. I'd love to work on a museum or gallery one day!
Tell us about a favourite project you're working on. I remember a lot of my friends in high school being strongly opposed to an "office job". I definitely accept that it doesn't work for everyone. But also, office doesn't equal boring. My job is engaging, challenging and exciting every day. What matters is what you're doing and with who - not where you're doing it.
Sophie is open to engaging further via: Speaking at a high school, Mentoring a student.
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