See Where Construction Can Take You 

The construction industry is booming with opportunities, and you don’t need a degree in construction management to start a career in the field. The Weitz Company is proud to showcase one of its core values, ‘nurturing personal growth,’ by hiring professionals with diverse backgrounds, including those in the mechanical and electrical engineering fields. 

Omar El Bassiouny, Vice President of The Weitz Company’s affiliate EPI Power, has a master’s degree in electrical engineering. He shared that the industry was initially unfamiliar territory, but that it is intuitive for an engineer to pick up.  “If you really put your mind to it, you can learn it, especially if you get exposed to different areas quickly, which is something that I had the benefit of and working here provides,” said El Bassiouny. 

His experience reflects how the construction industry gives engineers the opportunity to apply their technical backgrounds while quickly expanding their knowledge and responsibilities. For El Bassiouny, that potential for rapid professional advancement is one of the industry’s biggest advantages. 

“The construction industry has really strong career paths that you can go on a fast track and grow very quickly. I think that’s unmatched with any other industry,” said El Bassiouny. 

Career Growth for Mechanical and Electrical Engineers in Construction 

That sentiment is shared by Andrew Gall, Project Executive at The Weitz Company, with a degree in mechanical engineering. Gall expressed that he wouldn’t be as far along in his career if it wasn’t for joining a construction company. 

“Getting into the mission critical world at the time that I did was really beneficial from a career growth standpoint. I had a lot of opportunities that I wouldn’t have had in other industries,” said Gall. 

Part of that growth comes from being surrounded by people who approach work differently. In a meeting room, engineers might bring a technical perspective to a problem, while those with construction management backgrounds consider it from a different angle. Rather than competing with one another, both perspectives bring value to the conversation.  

“It’s good to see our project teams executing, meeting deadlines and goals, and working together to collaborate and solve our clients’ problems,” shared Kevin Grittner.  

Grittner is the Vice President of The Weitz Company’s Industrial business unit and graduated with a degree in architectural engineering. His experience in the industry has shown him that the appeal goes beyond any single role or project. The constant change and complexity of the work keep our engineers engaged. 

Solving Dynamic Problems Through MEP and Engineering Careers 

Laura Eathorne, Vice President of our Colorado business unit, shared that part of the fun is adapting to new challenges and finding solutions as they arise. “If it involves engaging with people at a high level and solving dynamic problems all the time, then our industry is the place for you. Because every day, every minute can be different. Every person you’re dealing with is different. And every problem absolutely has 10 different solutions,” said Eathorne. 

For many in the industry, that constant change is part of what makes construction such a rewarding career. No two projects are exactly alike, and each brings its own set of people, problems, and possibilities. 

If you’re looking for a variety of work and challenges in your career, The Weitz Company’s Director of Operations, Andy Bates, says this is the industry for you.  

“I haven’t built the same thing twice throughout my career. It’s always been something different. And I love that about construction,” said Bates. 

Bates has a degree in agricultural engineering and said some of the classes he took were applicable to the complex facilities he’s been a part of building in his career. 

Through courses in structural, electrical and mechanical engineering, Bates gained knowledge that he has been able to apply to complex, process-driven construction projects.

Start Your Engineering Career in the Construction Industry 

No matter what type of classes you take or what engineering degree you hold, there could be a place in construction for you. 

“Construction is an all-inclusive environment. I hope all folks have some exposure to it. The more the merrier. Bring in the engineers, let everyone get exposed to each other, and it could be amazing what we do together,” shared Eathorne. 

Name	Title	Degree	School
Omar El Bassiouny	Vice President, EPI Power	(Masters) Electrical Engineering	University of Illinois
Laura Eathorne	Vice President, Colorado	Civil Engineering	LaFayette College
Andrew Gall	Project Executive, Iowa Commercial	Mechanical Engineering	Iowa State University
Kevin Grittner	Vice President, Industrial	Architectural Engineering	Milwaukee School of Engineering
Andy Bates	Director of Operations, Iowa	Agricultural Engineering	Iowa State University