[3] Upon graduating, Lee worked as a bridge designer and hydraulic power research engineer for the Chinese government for nearly two years, then went to study in the United States in 1942.
Lee obtained his Master and PhD in civil engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1943 and 1945.
[1] After graduation, Lee worked for two years at Cram and Ferguson Architects, before returning to MIT as a research engineer.
[1][4] In 1985, Lee was elected a member of the United States National Academy of Engineering for his original research on control valve stability, for innovative dynamic measurement instrumentation, and for successful entrepreneurial commercialization of his inventions.
Lee co-founded Dynisco Inc. and Setra Systems Inc.[6] with his brother Y. T. Li, and was chairman of the company.