Marcus Rodin
assistant structural engineer, AtkinsRéalis
Expertise
Design, StructuralLocation
United KingdomMy highlights
ICE President’s Future Leader 2023/24
ICE QUEST scholar
Working onsite at Stratford East Bank in London
A day in my life
Every day as a structural engineer is different, bringing fresh challenges to solve.
A typical day might look as following:
- Collaborating with other members of the design team to discuss ideas and plan work.
- Modelling and analysing structural elements.
- Responding to queries from the client or site teams.
- Performing embodied carbon calculations of structural elements.
I’m currently on secondment with the research and innovation team, where a focus of mine has been to develop digital tools that automate parts of the design process.
These tools have been used to support the delivery of a range of solutions, from drone storage facilities to station roof canopies.
As a civil engineer you can really make an impact on society, producing tangible solutions that can meet our net zero needs.
Which individual project or person inspired you to become a civil engineer?
My grandfather was a geotechnical engineer and so he was the first person in my life to teach me about engineering.
His experiences, from Aberfan to Hong Kong, inspired me to become an engineer.
We asked Marcus…
What about being a civil engineer gets you out of bed each morning?
I love the opportunity that we have as engineers to make a difference in society through the transformational projects we work on.
Working with a diverse group of people to solve complex challenges excites me.
What’s one great thing that you love about civil engineering that you didn’t know until you started working in the industry?
Civil engineering doesn’t have to be just calculations.
There are multiple career pathways open to civil engineers, be that in research and development or management and project delivery.
I would recommend a career in civil engineering because…
As a civil engineer you can really make an impact on society, producing tangible solutions that can meet our net zero needs.
The feeling of satisfaction when you can see a project you’ve worked on and can point out the parts you completed is remarkable.
Which civil engineering project (past or present) do you wish you’d worked on?
La Sagrada Familia – the scale and detail of the stone towers blew me away when I visited. It’s a beautiful blend of architecture and engineering, delivering a construction project that started in the 19th century!
Name one civil engineering myth you’d like to bust.
Not all civil engineers wear hard hats and hi-vis. A lot of work is done by teams of civil engineers in offices before a project gets constructed.
What’s the biggest/most complex thing you’ve made out of Lego? How long did it take you?
While I played with Lego as a child, my most complex build was a 3D puzzle of the world.
Working out whether a piece of blue was the Indian Ocean or the Atlantic Ocean took me days of struggle!
Complete this phrase: I’m a civil engineer, but I’m also …
A triathlete! I spend a good chunk of my week doing exercise, be that running along the Thames or cycling up the Surrey Hills.
I’m also heavily involved in STEM events and enjoy volunteering to inspire students from different backgrounds to pursue a career in engineering.
Anything else? i.e. personal causes, hobbies
Aside from triathlon, my other hobbies include watching football, going hiking and playing the piano. I’m also currently fundraising for my London marathon run for Action for ME.
Marcus' career path
I studied maths, physics and chemistry for my A-levels. Alongside my sixth-form education, I got to do work experience at AtkinsRéalis through the Arkwright Engineering Scholarship.
I then completed an MEng degree in Civil Engineering at Imperial College London.
While at university, I was on the ICE QUEST Scholarship scheme with AtkinsRéalis, completing summer placements in different parts of the business.
After finishing my degree, I joined the AtkinsRéalis building structures team in London.
I’ve had the opportunity to work on several different projects of varying scale, in sectors such as education, defence and energy.
