Looking for some general career advice, reposting my removed post here:
Background on me - 24, graduated with a BS in Civil in 2013, been working for a medium sized (3,000 +/-) engineering consulting firm (land development) since leaving college. I have my EIT and am about halfway to taking my PE. I've been feeling very unfulfilled lately. PMs are often so thinly stretched that I don't have guidance for 2 or 3 days at a time. Our firm also expects "extra" from everyone and, while I know it's the norm in the industry, 45 to 50 hour work weeks every week behind a desk (nearly 100% of which is billable), on top of responding to emails over the weekend is starting to get old.
My firm does good work but I just can't imagine designing storm sewer or grading a parking lot for the rest of my life and feeling good about it. Something about trying to figure out how to pave over empty fields and boxing in streams as cheaply as possible is kind of soul crushing. Common feeling I know, but I can't help but feel like the world is passing me by while I watch from my cubicle.
My fiancée is an engineer as well (electrical, works in semiconductors) and basically works only 40 hours. Her total compensation is in the $90k range while mine is closer to $70k (after bonus, 401k, etc.). I'd be willing to take a pay cut for something more fulfilling. I know it may not be possible with my skill set, but my the two things my dream job would have are some amount of travel (the more the better) and a better work life balance (fewer hours).
Anyone left this industry with any success? I'm pretty well versed in AutoCAD, GIS, and other modeling programs but I'm not sure how well these skills transfer. Also a great technical writer. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!