What does an architectural engineer do?
Architectural engineers are engineering professionals who design buildings that enhance the standard of living and improve the quality of life by applying science and technology to the real world. These engineers are required to collaborate with architects to evaluate prototypes used for buildings or systems construction and provide recommendations on how to comply with codes and safety standards. They must analyst sketches, blueprints, and models to identify issues related to the environment, acoustics, and safety. Architectural engineers must also ensure that building constructions are following government regulations and acts.
Architectural engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real architectural engineer resumes:
- Maintain the SAN, perform backups, and manage multiple databases.
- Manage overall SaaS implementation for large scale clients, including scoping requirements, designing solutions, planning project timelines.
- Lead application security teams in defining role base access controls to automate user provisioning.
- Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
- Used VNC, Cygwin, SunSolaris, shell, perl, ClearCase / ClearQuest.
- Perform on-site project consultations with HVAC and plumbing contractors to coordinate conduit path layouts.
- Provide pre and post implementation support of customer driven solutions and ERP system integration.
- Team leader of ISO9001 audit and follow up support, ISO documents maintenance and QMS improvement.
- Develop preliminary design options and ideas for commercial structures using various programs and draft final design using Revit.
- Direct and assist cad staff in creating structural plans, elevations, sections, and details in Microstation-J.
- Engage with the developing efforts of the CRM system by leading and participating in internal processes improvement efforts.
- Work include plumbing and duct systems for water, air, HVAC, as well as fire suppression systems.
- Refurbish furniture and fixtures within guest rooms such as cabinets, tables, chairs, doors windows and counters.
- Provide support in the design and manufacturing of metal enclosures for electrical distribution equipment, security windows, and fireproof doors.
- Automate daily administration tasks and cleanup activities using PowerShell.
Architectural engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Architectural Engineers are proficient in Python, C++, and Revit. They’re also known for soft skills such as Leadership skills, Speaking skills, and Writing skills.
We break down the percentage of Architectural Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Python, 13%
Developed automated data processing platform using Python to correlate in-line performance metrics to final system level acoustic performance.
- C++, 11%
Implemented its client tool and service with Visual C++.
- Revit, 6%
Helped develop Revit model for client presentation and inter-discipline review.
- Java, 5%
Developed Java applications and tools to continuously improve and enhance the automation framework's deployment, execution and reporting mechanisms.
- Project Management, 5%
Project management of jobs released into production.
- SAN, 4%
Port of San Pedro, tracks for container transportation vehicles at Terminal Island.
"python," "c++," and "revit" are among the most common skills that architectural engineers use at work. You can find even more architectural engineer responsibilities below, including:
Organizational skills. For certain architectural engineer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "organizational skills." The day-to-day duties of an architectural engineer rely on this skill, as "civil engineers often oversee several projects at the same time and must be able to allocate resources effectively." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what architectural engineers do: "installed, deployed, tested & signed ios applications to designated user or organizational groups alongside the deployment of android applications. "
Math skills. A commonly-found skill in architectural engineer job descriptions, "math skills" is essential to what architectural engineers do. Architectural engineer responsibilities rely on this skill because "civil engineers use calculus, trigonometry, and other mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting." You can also see how architectural engineer duties rely on math skills in this resume example: "modify production drawings and/or math data according to approved dwo's and engineering changes (ecn/ecr). "
Problem-solving skills. While "problem-solving skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to architectural engineer responsibilities. Much of what an architectural engineer does relies on this skill, seeing as "civil engineers may encounter problems during each stage of their work." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of architectural engineers: "resolved simulation system configuration issues of cpu cores and uncore ips (processor's soc without cores). "
The three companies that hire the most architectural engineers are:
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Architectural engineer vs. Landscape designer
A landscape designer is responsible for ensuring that the plan arrangement meets the client's best interests with the highest quality standards. Landscape designers must have strong attention to detail, outstanding communication skills, and excellent analytical skills to provide the best services as the client instructs. They should also be creative and knowledgeable about the trends in the market, analyze site conditions to suggest design options that would fit the client's preference. A landscape designer should also provide expense estimates for the client and construct the project efficiently within the budget goals.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, architectural engineer responsibilities require skills like "python," "c++," "revit," and "java." Meanwhile a typical landscape designer has skills in areas such as "sketchup," "cost estimates," "auto cad," and "lumion." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Landscape designers earn the highest salaries when working in the manufacturing industry, with an average yearly salary of $59,314. On the other hand, architectural engineers are paid more in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $109,180.landscape designers tend to reach similar levels of education than architectural engineers. In fact, landscape designers are 4.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.1% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Architectural engineer vs. Civil engineering internship
Civil engineer interns work to improve their knowledge about construction and its relevant works. An internship provides them insight into various aspects of construction and how things run at the site. Through an internship, they learn how to differentiate between reality and engineering. Civil engineering interns will typically perform various tasks, including preparing and monitoring documents, working closely with the civil engineer to resolve issues and review complaints, and preparing plans and maps. They are also expected to visit construction sites to do their planning, quality control, documentation, and site execution.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that architectural engineer responsibilities requires skills like "python," "c++," "java," and "san." But a civil engineering internship might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "civil 3d," "gis," "roadway design," and "powerpoint."
On average, civil engineering interns earn a lower salary than architectural engineers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, civil engineering interns earn the most pay in the construction industry with an average salary of $65,780. Whereas architectural engineers have higher pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $109,180.civil engineering interns earn similar levels of education than architectural engineers in general. They're 4.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for architectural engineers in the next 3-5 years?
Dak Kopec Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Coordinator, BA Interior Architecture and Design and Master of Design Program, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas
Architectural engineer vs. Solutions engineer
A solutions engineer is an individual who assists customers in identifying their computer software needs and generates customized business software solutions for them. Solutions engineers collaborate with other department engineers to create practical demonstrations of proposed solutions and showcase them to the other members of the team. They are required to test the installed software and fix programming bugs that create errors with the system. Solutions engineers also maintain customer relations by providing post-installation follow-ups.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an architectural engineer is likely to be skilled in "c++," "revit," "system architecture," and "soc," while a typical solutions engineer is skilled in "cloud," "pre sales," "architecture," and "customer satisfaction."
Solutions engineers earn the highest salary when working in the start-up industry, where they receive an average salary of $118,808. Comparatively, architectural engineers have the highest earning potential in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $109,180.Most solutions engineers achieve a similar degree level compared to architectural engineers. For example, they're 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Architectural engineer vs. Engineer
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between architectural engineers and engineers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an architectural engineer might have more use for skills like "revit," "san," "system architecture," and "soc." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of engineers require skills like "cloud," "c #," "troubleshoot," and "javascript. "
Engineers enjoy the best pay in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $97,672. For comparison, architectural engineers earn the highest salary in the manufacturing industry.The average resume of engineers showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to architectural engineers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 1.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.Types of architectural engineer
Updated January 8, 2025











