Engineering Schools, Jobs and Resources

UPDATED 1/11/2023

Engineering is such a broad industry with so many different disciplines. So, let's break it down a bit. In this blog, we will discuss Engineering Schools, Disciplines, Job Opportunities, as well as some specific everyday resources used by the DIS-TRAN Steel engineers.

According to usnews.com, the top 5 Engineering Schools offered are:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
• Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
• University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
• Purdue University- West Lafayette (West Lafayette, IN)
• Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburg, PA)

Not to completely leave out the Louisiana Schools that ranked for Top Engineering Schools, here are our locals:

• Louisiana State University (LSU) ranked 121
• Tulane University ranked 127
• Louisiana Tech University ranked 157
• University of Louisiana at Lafayette ranked 161

It is important to research each school and what engineering programs they offer to determine which is the best for you.

There are various disciplines and career opportunities in the field of engineering:

1. Chemical Engineering – involves the application of chemistry, physics, and biology to solve problems related to the production and use of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and materials. Projected to grow 8% from 2022 to 2032*. Job opportunities include Biomedical Engineers, Chemical Technicians, Nuclear Engineers, and Chemist & Materials Scientist.
2. Civil Engineering – the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure, such as buildings, bridges, roads, and other transportation systems. Projected to grow 5% from 2022 to 2032*. Opportunities may consist of Architects, Civil Engineer Technicians, and Construction Managers.
3. Electrical Engineering – focuses on the study and maintenance of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism, including power generation, telecommunications, and electrical systems. Projected to grow 5% from 2022 to 2032*. You may look at Power Engineers, Control Systems Engineers, Telecommunication Engineers, and Renewable Energy Engineers.
4. Mechanical Engineering – consists of the design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems, including machinery, engines, and thermal systems. Projected to grow 10% from 2022 to 2032*. Opportunities include Mechanical Design Engineers, Automotive Engineers, Robotics Engineers, and HVAC Engineers.

These are just some of the TOP disciplines in Engineering. As you can see, there are many opportunities in the utility industry. DIS-TRAN Steel provides civil engineering services along with our products. We design, detail, and fabricate steel transmission and substation structures. Our engineers focus on designing structures that can withstand the loads needed to transport electrical systems to the end user. The two main structure types are Standard Steel and Tapered Tubular. Each structure is made from different steel shapes. Standard Steel structures are made from preformed beams, angles, plates, and tubes. Tapered Tubular structures start off as a flat piece of plate that is then bent and formed into a tapered pole. Just like these structures use different steel pieces they also use different design software and standards.

Design Software:

Standard Shape - typically uses analysis software (RAM, STAAD, SAAP, etc.) as well as calculation sheets created in either Excel or Mathcad. At DIS-TRAN, we currently use STAAD.Pro as our analysis software and rely heavily on Excel to create supporting calculation sheets (i.e. load development & connection design sheets).

Tapered Tubular - The standard edition of PLS-CADD is a line design program that includes all the terrain, sag-tension, loads, clearances, and drafting functions necessary for the design of an entire power line. TOWER analyzes, designs, and optimizes steel lattice towers for transmission and substation applications. PLS-POLE analyzes and designs structures with wood, laminated wood, steel, concrete or fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) poles, or modular aluminum masts. At DIS-TRAN, we currently use PLS_POLE as our analysis software and rely heavily on Excel to create supporting calculation sheets (i.e. load development & connection design sheets).

Design Standards:

Substation Steel Structures - relies mainly on the AISC Steel Construction Manual (Sixteenth Edition) and the ASCE 113-22 Substation Structure Design Guide along with any specific customer requirements.

Transmission Steel Structures- relies mainly on ASCE/SEI 48-19 Design of Steel Transmission Pole Structures and ASCE 74-20 Guidelines for Electrical Transmission Line Structural Loading along with any specific customer requirements.  

In the realm of engineering, the path begins with understanding diverse disciplines and opportunities. From top-tier institutions like MIT to local ones such as LSU, choosing the right school aligns with individual goals. Engineering branches like Chemical, Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical offer unique growth paths. DIS-TRAN Steel exemplifies civil engineering, focusing on steel structures crucial in power transmission. Visit our careers page to see what engineering opportunities we have available.

* U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov)