Experienced Structural Engineer | Associate Principal

01 Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 111,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health plans

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Professional development

Job summary

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) in Philadelphia, PA seeks a seasoned Structural Engineer with 20+ years of experience to lead a diverse team in preservation, adaptive reuse, and rehabilitation projects.

You will apply sound judgment, manage scopes, schedules, and budgets, and collaborate across disciplines. The role emphasizes technical excellence, leadership, and mentoring within a culture of shared responsibility.

Qualifications

• Must have strong technical leadership in structural engineering.
• Excellent communication and mentoring skills.
• Experience delivering client-ready deliverables and leading project teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership as the structural SME across projects.
• Lead project scoping, budgeting, scheduling, and client communications.
• Mentor staff and contribute to internal knowledge sharing and professional development.

Skills

Technical leadership

Team collaboration

Mentorship

Client communication

Education

Master's degree in civil/structural engineering

Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in PA

SE license a plus

Job description

Bring your problem-solving mindset, entrepreneurial spirit, and established expertise to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania office of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE). We are seeking a seasoned Structural Engineer with 20+ years of experience to help lead our dynamic and diverse team of architects and engineers in the historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and structural modification practice areas.

Responsibilities

Technical leadership, including applying sound engineering judgement and a deep understanding of governing codes, design guidelines, and industry practices; collaborating with interdisciplinary project teams across WJE as the structural engineering subject-matter expert (SME); leveraging your expertise for a variety of structural engineering projects, including the investigation, design, analysis, repair, and renovation of new and existing structures, construction materials, loading conditions, and construction types; preparing technically excellent client deliverables; providing high-quality reviews and oversight of work by others; and performing and training others in hands‑on fieldwork Project management, including client development, project scoping, assembling and managing appropriate project teams, maintaining project schedules and budgets, and managing client expectations and deliverables Mentorship, including exemplifying WJE’s culture of shared destiny and knowledge sharing to better the team around you: locally and company‑wide, formally and informally, on‑and‑off projects, for technical topics and overall career development Contributions to structural engineering practice and company‑wide objectives, including participating in the attraction, development, and engagement of up‑and‑coming consultants; collaborating with other WJE practice leaders for in‑house knowledge‑sharing and training initiatives; and engaging in meaningful involvement in industry‑related professional organizations, conferences, and technical committees.

Qualifications/Competencies

Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or ability to obtain by comity; Licensed Structural Engineer (SE) a plus Master's degree in civil/structural engineering or related field preferred Minimum twenty years of relevant structural engineering industry experience, including technical and project management (e.g., failure/damage investigation; non‑destructive evaluation and instrumentation; structural analysis and design for repair, retrofit, and rehabilitation of existing structures; evaluation of parking garage structures; and/or specialty consulting of new systems and materials from design through construction) Industry‑recognized expertise with some or all of the following materials, systems, and their applications: cast‑in‑place concrete, post‑tensioned concrete, prestressed/precast concrete, structural steel, stainless steel, cold‑formed steel, wood, clay masonry, CMU, etc. Excellent technical, graphical, written, and verbal communication skills.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, with or without a reasonable accommodation. This position requires visual acuity and listening ability. Individuals must have the dexterity to be able to operate computers, printers, copiers, telephones, voicemail, and other office and field equipment. Requirements may also include: Ability to travel and attend meetings at various office, field, and construction sites Ability to perform inspections of buildings and other structures, both visually and with instruments Ability to safely work at heights, in confined spaces, and in a variety of occupationally hazardous locations, including outdoors with exposure to temperature extremes Ability to safely use and/or operate ladders, scaffolds, lifts, and other access equipment Ability to lift and carry materials, tools, and other heavy equipment up to 50 lbs. Medically fit to utilize respiratory protection devices and other forms of Personal Protective Equipment Ability to drive and safely operate a motor vehicle.

Culture, Compensation, and Benefits

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) is a global firm of engineers, architects, and materials scientists. Clients worldwide seek our expertise to solve the most significant, interesting, and challenging problems in the built world. Our applied experience from more than 175,000 projects combined with unparalleled laboratory and testing capabilities have made WJE a leader in providing innovative yet practical solutions to the clients we serve. Working at WJE is a team endeavor characterized by a culture of trust and personal responsibility. We encourage open communication, continuous learning, innovative thinking, ongoing mentoring, and free‑flowing collaboration. We seek highly talented and hard‑working individuals who want to be challenged, who want hands‑on work, who want to set a higher standard, and who want to be mentored by the industry’s most accomplished experts. People with outstanding Character, unwavering Commitment to our core and culture, strong Expertise, and genuine Enthusiasm for their work. Learn more about the Extraordinary People we hire at WJE at www.wje.com/careers.

WJE offers a robust, total compensation structure, where base salary is just one component of an employee’s annual earnings. Additionally, employees receive variable compensation based based on personal and company performance, often resulting in above‑market annual earnings. Actual base salary will be based on several factors including consideration for a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role while remaining mindful of our commitment to internal equity. A good faith estimate of the annual starting base salary (gross) is in the following range: $110,700.00 - $184,500.00. WJE’s industry‑leading, total rewards package enables our employees to grow and thrive with comprehensive health and financial benefits including robust and affordable health plans for employees and their families, generous 401(k) matching, time off to care for yourself and others, and investments in employees’ professional development, to name a few. More information on WJE’s total rewards package can be found at www.wje.com/careers/employment-benefits.

WJE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants to apply including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans (VEVRAA federal contractor). WJE will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of Fair Chance Ordinances. The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60‑1.35(c)

Founded in 1956, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE) is an interdisciplinary firm of engineers, architects, and materials scientists committed to helping clients solve, repair, and avoid problems in the built world. Supported by unparalleled laboratory and field‑testing capabilities, our experts draw on more than seventy years of experience to deliver innovative and practical solutions grounded in deep technical expertise.