This week we are in conversation with Daniel Calabro, structural engineer and founder at Ferris.
00:00 – 03:01 | Foundations and Futures
Exponential growth, the foundational role of AEC industries, and a personal origin story rooted in the events of 9/11 set the tone for Daniel Calabro’s passion for structural engineering.
03:01 – 07:16 | School, Steel, and South Florida
A college football career at RPI, a surprise love for Python, and a move to South Florida during COVID all led to hands-on experience designing steel connections for NASA’s Artemis launch tower with Bechtel.
07:16 – 12:03 | Talent Crisis in Engineering
A detailed look at the declining supply of civil engineers and Daniel’s data-backed projection that by 2031, only 10 engineers will be available for every 26 job openings in the U.S.
12:03 – 16:09 | Losing the Narrative
Cultural competition from tech companies and content creation platforms is siphoning away potential engineers, while engineering remains under-marketed and misunderstood.
16:09 – 20:52 | Value, Risk, and Retention
The profession’s high-risk, moderate-pay equation is explored alongside burnout, respect, and why retaining engineers requires more than just raising salaries.
20:52 – 29:28 | Error Reduction and AI Assistants
Reducing mistakes is framed as the industry’s biggest efficiency lever, with Daniel proposing automation tools that double as educational systems—what he calls “recipes.”
29:28 – 37:09 | Crutches and Calculators
A philosophical conversation unfolds on whether AI creates dependency or simply represents the next evolution of engineering tools, much like calculators or CAD.
37:09 – 46:03 | Designing the Future
AI’s rapid creative evolution is examined, from sentiment analysis to generative art, along with why civil engineering must embrace these tools before falling behind.
46:03 – 52:58 | Pride, Projects, and Purpose
Engineering is reframed as a purpose-driven profession with power to shape communities, inspire wonder, and earn respect—if the industry is willing to tell that story more loudly.
52:58 – 53:04 |Final Word
The episode closes with appreciation, optimism, and a challenge to engineers everywhere: take pride, take ownership, and take the mic.
Go build something awesome!
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