The Design Engineerreports to the VP Engineering andexecutesengineeringtasks, calculations,drawingsupport,designcoordination, anddefinedtechnicalproblem solvingfor precast and prestressed concrete structures. Workingunder Engineering leadership and senior engineers, this role developsspecialized precast design, construction awareness, and project execution skillswhile collaboratingwith projectmanagement, drafting, production, erection,consultants, and customers.
Responsibilities Include:
- Review plans, specifications, project requirements, and design criteria;identifyquestions, conflicts, assumptions, and non-standard conditions for review with Engineering leadership or senior engineers.
- Prepare structural calculations and support drawing development for precast and prestressed products using established standards, templates, and senior engineering direction.
- Develop practical design recommendations that support safety, code compliance, schedule, manufacturing efficiency, handling, shipping, erection, and constructability.
- Coordinate assigned engineering work with Engineering leadership, project managers, drafting, operations, field teams, external engineers, architects, contractors, and customers.
- Support engineering for building structures, bridge products, and other precast/prestressed systems, including production, handling, delivery, and erection considerations.
- Perform quality checks of assigned drawings, calculations, submittals, and engineering documents;assistsenior-led reviews and coordinate with Quality Control to meet KRPI, Knife River, project, and PCI standards.
- Support improvements to engineering standards, templates, design tools, detailing practices, manufacturing processes, shipping, handling, and installation.
- Develop independent engineering judgment while seeking review and approval for complex projects, unusual load paths, non-standard connections, lifting or bracing conditions, and higher-risk decisions.
- Support KRPI’s safety commitment by following policies and addressing unsafe actions, conditions, processes, or behaviors.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or closely related engineering discipline.
- Engineer-in-Training certification or ability to obtain shortly afterhire.
- Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, sketches, specifications, and project documents.
- Working knowledge of structural engineering and concrete design, withdesireto develop deeper precast/prestressedexpertise.
- Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiencywith Excel, Word, Outlook, Bluebeam, AutoCAD, Mathcad, or similar software.
- Professional, self-motivated, and able to manage priorities, communicate clearly, seek guidance whenappropriate, and complete work on schedule with internal and external project teams.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Professional Engineer or Structural Engineer license, or ability to obtain licensure.
- Experience with Revit, Tekla Structures, Inventor, AutoCAD, or other BIM/modeling platforms.
- Familiarity with PCI standards, precast detailing, and concrete manufacturing processes.
- Experience coordinating with drafting, consultants, project managers, contractors, or field operations.
- Interest in future technical leadership through standards, design tools, process improvement, mentoring, and project team support.
Why Engineers Choose KRPI:
- Design structures that are built, not just drawn.
- Gain exposure fromconceptthrough manufacturing, delivery, and erection.
- Work directly with production, quality, project management, and field installation teams.
- Contribute to major regional datacenter, industrial, parking, commercial, education, and infrastructure projects.
- Develop specialized structural and architectural precast/prestressedexpertise.
- Join asafety,quality, accountability, development, andimprovement-focused Knife River culture.
- Medical, dental, vision, HSA/FSA, life insurance, and Employee Assistance Program
- 401(k) with company match, profit sharing, paid time off, and paid holidays
- Training, professional development, career advancement, and licensure support where applicable
Knife River is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status or any other protected category under applicable state/federal law.
Subject to pre-employment drug testing and background check.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.