Entry Level Structural/ Bridge Engineer

Jacobs; West Des Moines (IA); Hybrid; USD 56,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Stock purchase program

Unlimited PPTO (with holidays)

Job summary

Jacobs in West Des Moines, IA is seeking an Entry Level Structural Engineer to join our team on projects that span local and global challenges. You will work on design, analysis, and maintenance of bridges and other infrastructure, guided by experienced professionals.

You will perform evaluations and create plans, calculations, and CAD models, contributing to drawings, specs, and documentation. A collaborative, mentorship-rich environment supports your growth into a skilled engineer.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering and/or Structural Engineering required.
• Knowledge of bridge design practices through work experience, internships or college coursework experience.
• Experience with Microsoft Windows Office Suite.
• Previous experience with structural engineering software is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Design and analyze structural systems, including bridges and other infrastructure.
• Prepare plans, calculations, and cost estimates under supervision.
• Develop engineering drawings, specifications, and reports.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver project outcomes.

Skills

Bridge design practices

Windows Office Suite

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering and/or Structural Engineering

Tools

CAD software

Structural engineering software

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission‑critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting‑edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Jacobs is seeking an Entry Level Structural Engineer to join our team in West Des Moines, Iowa, working on projects that bring innovative solutions to our clients’ challenges locally and worldwide.

This is an exciting opportunity for you to join our team and be involved in a variety of engineering tasks for both private and public sector clients, including design, analysis, and maintenance of various structural systems including bridges, and other infrastructure projects.

In this position you will work with a multidisciplinary team taking on a variety of tasks that blend your theoretical knowledge with practical application. Under the guidance of professional engineers, architects and other senior technical staff you’ll have the opportunity to work on projects that focus on structural design and analysis of bridges.

You will perform evaluations of structures with varying degrees of complexity and prepare plans, designs, calculations, and cost estimates under the supervision of experienced engineers. They assist in the design and analysis of structural systems for buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure projects, utilizing their skills to perform calculations and create structural models using computer‑aided design (CAD) software. Additionally, our interns contribute to the preparation of engineering drawings, specifications, and reports, ensuring comprehensive documentation of project details and requirements.

This position demands a results‑driven, client‑focused professional with excellent written and verbal communication skills, a collaborative mindset, and a strong work ethic. You’ll take ownership of the completeness, accuracy and timeliness of the work assigned to you by demonstrating the ability to progress from basic design work assignments to more complicated and involved projects working in conjunction with a technical team. Your ability to manage your time and responsibilities effectively while maintaining a high standard work product will be instrumental in delivering successful project outcomes.

You’ll be surrounded by expert mentorship opportunities to help you thrive in your new career. Working together, we’ll help you grow and pursue what fulfills you so that we can make impacts on the future – big and small, global and local.

If you’re up for the challenge, we’ve been looking for someone just like you.

Here’s what you’ll need

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering and/or Structural Engineering
• Knowledge of bridge design practices through work experience, internships or college coursework experience
• Experience with Microsoft Windows Office Suite
• Previous experience with structural engineering software is preferred but not required.

Ideally you will also have

• EIT or ability to obtain within 6 months of working
• Authorization to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship, now or in the future

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well‑being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full‑time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $56,300.00 to $85,000.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Job posted on October 01, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

We value collaboration and believe that in‑person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.