Civil engineering
CASE STUDY: HYDRAULIC ENGINEER
Civil engineers plan, design and implement construction projects including buildings, roads, railways, dams, ports, tunnels and bridges.
Frances Elwell works in Cambridge for Mott MacDonald, a worldwide engineering and management consultancy business. She works as a hydraulic engineer, involved in projects concerned with water.
What do hydraulic engineers do?
They are involved in projects such as the design of coastal defences, land drainage (reclaiming land from the sea), river flood defences, the design of dams and reservoirs, and the supply of drinking water.
What does your job involve?
I use computer software to model how water moves. This can be used in a variety of ways, such as flood-risk mapping, modelling sewage outfalls and plotting natural phenomena – like currents in coastal regions of the sea.
Why did you choose this sort of work?
When I applied to university, I didn’t know what sort of engineering I wanted to do. Luckily, Cambridge teaches a general engineering course, so for the first two years you get to try a bit of everything (civil, mechanical, electrical, electronic and materials engineering). In the end, I found environmental fluid dynamics really interesting, so I decided on this field of engineering after finishing my PhD. I also have previous experience of the manufacturing industry and modelling fluid dynamics in jet engines.
What training have you received?
There is an ongoing training scheme for graduates that leads to chartered status, which I am currently doing with the Chartered Institute for Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM).
What hours do you work?
I usually work from 9.00am to 5.30pm, with an hour for lunch. Sometimes I stay a bit late, but overtime is not usually required.
What do you like best about your job?
It’s really interesting! I like the atmosphere – it is stimulating and friendly. The work is only stressful when we have a big deadline approaching. I am learning a lot about different areas of environmental science, which I haven’t done since my GCSEs, and I am able to use aspects of my degree in my work.
What do you dislike about the job?
It’s not the best paid job, but the salary is respectable. Relocation may also be necessary to boost your promotion prospects.
What skills do you need for this job?
You need to be a good team worker, to have good communication skills and a thorough understanding of engineering principles. It’s important to feel comfortable working with computers. It also helps to have an interest in the environment.
What are your plans for the future?
I want to become chartered and to gain more responsibility, such as project managing. It’s also important for me to try and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Frances’s route
• A Levels.
• Degree in Engineering.
• Masters Degree in Engineering.
• PhD. LS
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