I worked in a lab that tested experimental bridge designs. We built full scale sections of bridges and then broke them with huge hydraulic jacks to see how strong they were. Concrete only though, no steel. Concrete bridge girders and concrete decks. I had to know some construction, some engineering, and how to run the computers that ran the hydraulics and sensors.
I worked in the engineering office of a company that built parking garages too. But not anymore.
I worked 15 years in the trade and finally got out and got my Civil Engineering degree, and now I am PE. I didn’t want to end up a broke down old construction worker...Not a lot of need for steamfitters on bridges but did work on a lot of reactors, refineries, and pulp mills across this country...