Vikii’s unexpected career journey into Structural Engineering

International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) is an opportunity to celebrate the people behind the projects and recognise the contribution women make in the engineering industry.

We chatted to our Structural Technician, Vikii McCarry to learn how she started in the industry and get an honest perspective on life in structural engineering, the challenges and opportunities the industry can offer.

Meet Vikii, Structural Technician at dbstructural

Not every engineering career follows a traditional path. For Vikii, the journey into structural engineering began unexpectedly and has developed into a varied and fast-paced career spanning more than six years.

Vikii is a Structural Technician working across a wide range of projects, supporting engineering design through technical drawings, coordination and construction-stage problem solving.

How did you get into engineering?

“An architect we work with mentioned to me Darren (Owner of dbstructural) was looking for an AutoCAD technician and I applied for the role without even knowing what structural engineering was.”

What drew you to work in this industry?

“I love construction in general but Structural Engineering is at the centre of all stages of a project. It’s fast paced, constantly changing and no two-days are the same.”

What does a typical day look like for you?

“There is no typical day. One day I might work on five different projects and another I might make a start on one large project. Sometimes I might be working all day on making changes to projects in construction to suit problems found on site or design changes.”

What advice would you give your younger self starting out?

“Having started out thinking I wanted to be an Architect, I would now advise myself to research the industry more thoroughly and do some work experience in the various sectors before deciding which area of design / construction I would most want to go into.”

Using one word, how would you describe the team?

“Excellent!”

What do you think makes a strong team in this industry?

“To have a team of people from different background helps. When people have different approaches to a specific project, it gives you options to finding the most effective solutions.”

What’s the most rewarding part of your role?

“The variety of projects we work on. Each day is different.”

What’s something about your job that would surprise people?

“How creative the Engineering industry is.”

What’s one thing people misunderstand about engineering?

“I think people see the industry as being very structured and people underestimate how creative Structural Engineering is. It is constant problem solving and adapting suit specific situations.”

What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve learned working in this industry?

“How many people start a project with an Architect and don’t know what a Structural Engineer is let alone that they need to appoint one.”

What changes would you like to see in the industry?

“The industry needs to be more visible to younger people. Young people should be taught about the different career paths in Engineering. ‘Engineering’ is too broader term for the huge variety of avenues it offers.”

Why is engineering a good career path?

“It is such a varied role, each project is different and practises are constantly evolving so it’s a career in which you will always be learning something new / developing new skills.”

What advice would you give to other women looking to join the sector?

“Don’t assume it’s a man’s world. There are lots of women in the industry and it’s not as heavily male dominated as it once was.”

What would you say to young women considering engineering?

“Go for it!”

Careers in structural and civil engineering

Darren Ball, Owner of dbstructural said: “To anyone considering a career in engineering: there is no single path, no single background and no single way to succeed. We are always open to having a conversation with anyone interested in starting a career in structural or civil engineering and are proud to support women shaping our industry today and those who will join it tomorrow.”

Read more about what it’s like to work at dbstructural here.