Graduate Structural Engineer

Note: This profile provides a market aligned view of this job’s typical core requirements, informed by Korn Ferry’s Success Profile methodology, and will evolve over time.

An entry-level engineering professional in the first two years post-graduation. Uses professional concepts and academic knowledge to assist in solving engineering problems of limited scope and complexity. Contributes to engineering projects involving buildings, bridges, seismic design and structural assessments, supporting the team in delivering high-quality outcomes for clients. Focuses on building practical experience and understanding of engineering practices in a real-world consulting environment.

Responsibilities describe the typical accountabilities and scope of work for this job,  while recognising that individual objectives are set with the manager and may vary over time.

• Client & Customer Management (External): Help senior colleagues manage client and customer relationships by using relevant sales or client systems.


• Community of Practice Management: Participate in a community of practice in a defined area of expertise or consulting to begin to build own expertise.


• Data Collection and Analysis: Collate and analyze data using preset tools, methods, and formats. Involves working independently.


• Engineering Drawings: Create engineering drawings to support the communication, evaluation, and implementation of engineering solutions.


• Engineering Solutions Design: Contribute to the development of, and implement feasibility testing of, proposed engineering solutions to provide feedback and data to validate the design.


• Engineering Standards Specification: Carry out a range of activities under the guidance of more senior colleagues to support the drafting of engineering standards and specifications and the evaluation of the effectiveness of those standards.


• Health, Safety, and Environment: Follow the organization's health, safety, and environment (HSE) policies, procedures, and mandatory instructions to identify and mitigate environmental risks and risks to the well-being of self and others in the workplace; instruct the team in safe working methods; identify instances of risky behaviors within the team and take appropriate action, escalating serious issues as appropriate.


• Monitor Construction Works: Help monitor and oversee the delivery of works to ensure that construction, maintenance, or improvement works are delivered in accordance with quality, cost, and time requirements.


• Personal Capability Building: Develop own capabilities by participating in assessment and development planning activities as well as formal and informal training and coaching. Develop and maintain an understanding of relevant technology, external regulation, and industry best practices through ongoing education, attending conferences, and reading specialist media.


• Project Management: Support others by carrying out a range of project management activities.


• Request for Bid Solicitation/Proposal/Tender Response: Gather information and resources to assist in the drafting of standardized tenders/proposals in response to bid solicitations, request for proposal, and request for tender.


• Research: Support others by carrying out a range of research activities.


• Technical Troubleshooting: Support technical troubleshooting efforts, aiding in the quick and accurate identification, analysis, and resolution of technical issues with equipment and experiments.


• Testing: Use product specifications to design test procedures and standards.

Competencies describe the observable behaviours that differentiate effective performance in this job and guide expectations, feedback, and development discussions.

• Collaborates – Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives. For example, finds many ways to add value to the team; probes to draw out richer input from others; is a valued resource who goes out of the way to help others.


• Communicates Effectively – Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. For example, seeks out others' perspectives and asks good questions. Shares information that people want to know; gives appropriate context and details when speaking.


• Decision Quality – Makes good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward. For example, knows when to act independently and when to escalate issues. Integrates various inputs, decision criteria, and trade-offs to make effective decisions. Typically makes good independent decisions.


• Ensures Accountability – Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments. For example, accepts responsibility for own work, both successes and failures. Handles fair share and does not make excuses for problems. Usually meets commitments to others.


• Manages Complexity – Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems. For example, looks at complex issues from multiple angles; explores issues to uncover underlying issues and root causes; sees the main consequences and implications of different options.


• Optimizes Work Processes – Knows the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement. For example, uses metrics and benchmarks to monitor accuracy and quality. Takes steps to make methods productive and efficient. Promptly and effectively addresses process breakdowns.


• Tech Savvy – Anticipates and adopts innovations in business-building digital and technology applications. For example, investigates technologies to learn some cutting-edge best practices. Uses digital/social media to benefit the team and add value to the work being done; understands how to avoid misuse of these tools.

Skills reflect the technical, professional, and functional capabilities required to perform the job effectively at the expected level, and guide assessment and development.

• Analyze Current State/AS-IS State – Works with full competence to understand business context, needs, rules, and architecture, as well as organizational structure, cultures, capabilities, and processes to document the current state of processes and the business. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Creative Design – Works with full competence to produce design concepts and visualize them, oversee design changes and improvements, integrate technical and visual solutions into a concept and assist with prototype development. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Data Collection and Analysis – Works with full competence to determine and analyze trends from data that is collected to assist in compiling reports that will help in decision-making. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Data Management Techniques - Engineering – Works with full competence to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret technical data from diverse sources to support the design, development, and implementation of engineering solutions. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Define Future State/TO-BE State – Works with full competence to envision and document the future state of processes and products by identifying the solution scope, potential value of the future state, and the changes to the process, products, organization infrastructure, capabilities, and technology necessary to achieve the desired future state. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Engineering Design – Works with full competence to apply appropriate method, tools, processes and software to execute engineering design activities. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Engineering Development – Works with full competence to apply appropriate method, tools, processes and software to achieve engineering development outcomes. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Engineering Implementation – Works with full competence to implement, evaluate and refine engineering design outcomes. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Engineering Specification – Works with full competence to produce technical engineering specifications and related materials. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Engineering Standards and Compliance – Works with full competence to ensure adherence to engineering standards and compliance within interdisciplinary engineering projects. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Engineering Technical Operations Support – Works with full competence to identify, diagnose and resolve operational problems through the development of engineering outcomes. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Engineering Technology – Works with full competence to exploit new and advancing technology to create engineering outcomes. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Engineering Testing – Works with full competence to test, evaluate and replan engineering outcomes. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• In-Depth Questioning – Works with full competence to probe and explore complex subjects thoroughly, extracting comprehensive information through insightful questioning to enhance understanding and decision-making processes. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Systems and Tools - Engineering – Works with full competence to effectively utilize and apply a variety of engineering software, hardware, and methodologies to solve complex technical problems across various engineering disciplines. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.

• Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Level

• General Experience: Sound experience and understanding of straightforward procedures or systems (7 to 12 months)


• Managerial Experience: None