Digital Design Specialist: Structural Engineering

lpadesignstudios; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Retirement plan

Wellness programs

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

LPA is a leading sustainable design firm with offices in California and Texas, seeking a Digital Design Specialist to join our Structural Engineering team in California. You will contribute to high-performance, community-focused projects through BIM, drafting, and documentation across design phases.

You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, participate in mentorship from senior leaders, and help shape standards while delivering precise construction documents in a collaborative

Qualifications

• 4–15 years of experience across building design phases, with emphasis on structural drafting and BIM modeling.
• Proficiency in CAD and Revit required.
• Strong commitment to collaborating within a multidisciplinary design environment.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to coordinate across teams.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on producing high-quality construction documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, while contributing innovative ideas to project design and execution.
• Ability to follow and uphold LPA standards and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Project Engineers and Project Managers to support the design, modeling and documentation of a diverse range of building types and structural systems.
• Building Information Modeling of structural components.
• Contribute to the development and production of construction documentation through all phases of design.
• Review, coordinate, and process construction administration documents to ensure accuracy and alignment with project requirements.
• Collaborate with Project Leaders and Managing Directors, gaining mentorship and exposure to project leadership.
• Proactively identify design and documentation challenges and help develop effective, practical solutions.
• Develop and maintain BIM Standards.

Skills

CAD drafting

BIM modeling

Team collaboration

Communication

Education

Associate of Science in Computer Drafting and Design

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

Job description

Join the 2025 AIA Firm Award Winner shaping a more sustainable future.

LPA is a collective of designers, engineers, and researchers committed to tackling the biggest issues of our time. Our \"No Excuses\" integrated design approach was recognized by the AIA as “a trailblazer in sustainable, high-performance architecture\". At LPA you’ll be part of the team that is changing the way the industry thinks about design and carbon emissions, built around the belief that we only achieve our goals when everybody has a seat at the table and all input is valued.

We’re currently seeking a Digital Design Specialist to join our dynamic Structural Engineering team. You’ll be part of a culture that values deep collaboration, technical excellence, and continual growth. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across our studios in California and Texas—and help bring high-performance, community-first design to life.

We walk the talk at LPA, and our commitment to changing lives by design is more than a slogan. LPA is one of the nation’s leading sustainable design firms and the only large firm to meet the AIA’s 2030 Challenge benchmarks over the last two years. Engineers are a vital part of this history of achievement at LPA, and our structural engineers are leading the way in tackling the SE 2050 Embodied Carbon Challenge. LPA’s structural engineers have been repeatedly recognized by our peers in the structural engineering community for our innovative and technically challenging designs, including receiving SEAOC’s Excellence in Structural Engineering and People’s Choice Award in 2021 along with multiple national engineering awards from NCSEA and AISC.

Join a firm where your voice is heard and your work is highly valued. LPA offers a collaborative environment and the opportunity to work with a team of creative, intelligent experts in all aspects of the integrated design process, along with meaningful opportunities for career development and advancement.

Structural Engineering at LPA

What You’ll Do:

• Partner with Project Engineers and Project Managers to support the design, modeling and documentation of a diverse range of building types and structural systems.

• Building Information Modeling of structural components.

• Contribute to the development and production of construction documentation through all phases of design.

• Review, coordinate, and process construction administration documents to ensure accuracy and alignment with project requirements.

• Collaborate with Project Leaders and Managing Directors, gaining mentorship and exposure to project leadership.

• Proactively identify design and documentation challenges and help develop effective, practical solutions.

• Develop and maintain BIM Standards.

What We Offer:

At LPA, your growth and contributions matter. We foster a collaborative culture where creative ideas are valued, and voices are heard.

• Mentorship from Managing Directors, Design Directors, and senior team members across disciplines.

• Career development support, including professional development grants and in-house training.

• Ongoing education through LPA+U courses and Tech Talks focused on innovative, sustainable practices.

• 8 paid hours of volunteer time each year.

• Opportunities to propose and lead projects that impact your local community, including more than $1 million since 2015 in Habitat for Humanity builds, scholarships, and other pro bono community projects.

• Access to our Professional Development Grants program, created to encourage professional development and further LPA's collective knowledge as a firm. Over the life of the grant program, we have invested $1,196,890 and impacted 848 LPA employees.

What We’re Looking For:

Required:

• 4–15 years of experience across all phases of building design projects, with an emphasis on structural drafting and BIM modeling.

• Associate of Science in Computer Drafting and Design (or related field) preferred.

• Proficiency in CAD and Revit required.

• Strong commitment to collaborating within a multidisciplinary design environment.

• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to coordinate across teams.

• Detail-oriented with a focus on producing high-quality construction documentation.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, while contributing innovative ideas to project design and execution.

• Ability to follow and uphold LPA standards and procedures.

LPA is an integrated design firm with offices in California and Texas, focused on creating forward-thinking, sustainable spaces that make a positive impact. We believe great design begins with great people, which is why we foster a supportive, collaborative environment where creativity, curiosity, and professional growth are encouraged. Our culture values diversity, promotes wellness, and supports a healthy work-life balance. At LPA, we offer competitive salaries and a robust benefits package—including health and dental insurance, retirement and financial planning, wellness initiatives, and flexible work/life programs.

This position is eligible for an annual bonus. If you are hired at LPA, your base salary is based on factors such as geographic location, skills, education, experience and/or project complexity. We believe in the importance of pay equity and consider the internal equity of our current team members as part of any final offer.

LPA uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of new hires.