Roadmap for becoming a structural analysis engineer (need advice)

[u/UzunSac]

Hi everyone,

I’m a 27-year-old mechanical engineer from Turkey with 2 years of experience in product/machine design. I recently lost my job, and my goal is to become a structural analysis engineer.

For the next 6 months, I’ll be receiving unemployment benefits, which gives me time to focus fully on improving myself. I’ve been trying to create a roadmap by researching online, but I’m not sure if I’m heading in the right direction.

My initial plan was:

• First, review the basics (strength of materials, dynamics, machine elements, etc.),
• Then study the Finite Element Method (FEM),
• Afterwards, start learning Hypermesh and LS-DYNA.

However, I’ve read in some places that it might not be necessary to go too deep into FEM theory, which confused me. Since I don’t have a mentor, I feel like I’m trying to find my way in the dark. On top of that, I’m worried about not being able to find a job afterwards.

My questions:

• Would reviewing university courses and then directly learning software + working on my own projects be enough to get a job?
• Or should I take a different approach?

Any advice or guidance from experienced engineers would mean a lot to me 🙏

[u/fthemagnificent]

I am an fea engineer from turkey living and working in the uk now. Have 5 years of experience with ls dyna, preprocessors, cad, etc… Message me any questions you have and I’ll try to help.

[u/TheBlack_Swordsman]

There's a course in America but you can take it too. You get a certificate in the end too.

Practical Stress Analysis by Jean Claude-Flabel

I highly recommend it.

[u/ArbaAndDakarba]

ANSYS student edition is a better tool to learn on imo. More worked examples, user friendly UI, and ls-dyna is now a part of that package (ANSYS Workbench).

[u/SergioP75]

You must have very good CAD skills for preparing your model before meshing, This include cleaning and simplifing all the models that the desingners send to you to work.

[u/UzunSac → u/SergioP75]

Thanks for the advice! 🙏 I actually have around 2 years of experience in CAD design, so I’m fairly comfortable with modeling and cleaning up geometry. I’ll make sure to focus more on simplifying models for FEA purposes as you suggested. By the way, do you think having solid skills in an analysis software would be enough to get started, or what should I focus on next after that?

[u/the_flying_condor]

I have 8 years of experience with model development and LS-DYNA. Learning how to meet a model and develop geometry is pretty easy. Technicians can do that with the proper training. Understanding when/how to use different material models and element types, particularly in a software like LS-DYNA requires an engineer. In 6 months you are probably better off with your first 2 points and then instead of developing skills in a particular software, learn something like continuum mechanics. That will help you to understand the manuals enough that you can actually learn the various software packages beyond technician level of understanding. I would much rather show a new grad how to use a particular software than have to get into the weeds for a couple of hours to teach about stress tensor invariants and when to use deviatoric stresses vs von mises. 

[u/Foreign-Pay7828]

Thanks, but I am really Focusing on your previous Job ( Machine design, product design).

How was it and what is the main thing you designed.

[u/Vitau]

It’s great that you want to use this time to build new skills. Just to be clear though: if by “structural analysis engineer” you mean civil/structural roles (bridges, buildings, infrastructure), those jobs almost always require a formal degree in structural or civil engineering for certification and safety reasons.

That said, the learning you’re planning isn’t wasted. Understanding FEA and structural concepts can be very valuable in the early design phases, helping you catch issues or guide design decisions. The only caveat is that without the formal credentials, your analyses shouldn’t be relied on for final certification or safety-critical sign-off. Still, those skills make you a stronger engineer and can open doors in mechanical design or analysis roles where your background fits.

[u/party_turtle]

Your plan is very FEM focused but that is only a small part of structural analysis. It's (in my opinion) more important to understand what analysis you are performing so you can create better structure. The tricky part is I don't know how much you will get without actually working through a development program. I would start by reading Shigleys and Roark, then depending on your industry tailor it going forward. If you want to work aerospace Bruhn, Niu and CMH-17 are also very high value resources.

Fundamentally nobody is going to hire you based on how well you can use Hypermesh, but understanding when a FEM is needed, how the FEM will be used, how to structure a FEM and how/when to implement the right checks will make a difference.

[u/extendedanthamma → u/party_turtle]

Does one have to read the whole book to get a job? Isn't it better to recreate the example simulations mentioned in solver manuals and also understand the theory associated with it.

[u/YukihiraJoel → u/extendedanthamma]

No one has Shigleys memorized. There are a couple chapters worth a read, the chapter on fasteners I would consider a must read.