Interview: Student Structural Engineer – David Zhao 

I am currently entering my final year of Civil Engineering at Imperial College London, and this summer I had the privilege of spending three productive months with LSY Engineering Consultants Ltd.  

My initial interest in engineering stemmed from a fascination with the built environment and the way our work can have tangible, positive impacts on people’s daily lives. At first, I considered pursuing architecture, but I found myself more drawn to the technical and problem-solving aspects of civil and structural engineering. This internship gave me the opportunity to see those aspects applied in practice while also gaining invaluable insight into how an engineering business operates day to day. 

During my time at LSY, I was exposed to both the technical and commercial sides of structural engineering. On the business side, I supported project administration, handled email correspondence, and set up files to streamline workflows. I also contributed to the company’s marketing strategy, drafting LinkedIn posts, improving the website, and collaborating with consultants to refine LSY’s target audience. I even had the chance to liaise with a digital consultant on how AI tools could be integrated into business operations. One of the highlights of this side of the role was preparing and presenting monthly financial performance updates and contributing to preparations for the ISO 9001 audit, an experience that gave me a real appreciation for the standards and systems that underpin a successful engineering consultancy. 

On the technical side, my experience was just as rewarding. I was given the opportunity to lead projects with minimal support, visiting sites independently, liaising directly with clients and contractors, and producing survey reports, structural calculations, design method statements, markups etc. Visiting sites, taking measurements, and documenting conditions reminded me of the tangible impact that structural engineering has on our communities, something that first drew me to the field. 

What I most enjoyed about the job was the balance between responsibility and support. I was trusted to take ownership of projects, which was incredibly motivating, but I also benefited from the guidance and mentorship of experienced engineers. This helped me build confidence in decision-making and gave me a taste of the accountability engineers carry in practice. If I had to pick a least enjoyable part, it would probably be the time spent on repetitive administrative tasks, though even those gave me insight into the importance of efficiency and organisation in keeping projects on track. Being granted exposure to how an SME business operates as well as technical structural engineering is truly a privilege that may not be offered at larger companies. 

One of the biggest differences I noticed between university and industry is the level of responsibility. At university, our work is theoretical, and the consequences of mistakes are limited to grades. In practice, however, decisions can affect budgets, schedules, safety, and client satisfaction. This added weight made the work both more challenging and more rewarding. I also found that some of the structural mechanics and design knowledge from my degree was applicable, but industry software such as Revit and Tedds, were less emphasised at university and instead picked up on the job. 

My time at LSY has absolutely flew by thanks to the amazing team and mentorship Seán has cultivated. There is never a dull day and there is always something to learn, if you are looking for an intensive yet enriching role to undertake in between your studies, I would highly recommend working with LSY Engineering Consultants Ltd.