Lead Structural Engineer - Marine Concrete Design

Sperra; United States; Hybrid; USD 122,000 - 162,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation package

25 days annual leave + UK bank holidays

Home-office equipment provided

Flexible remote work

Job summary

An innovative marine engineering firm is seeking a Lead Structural Engineer to design and deliver concrete marine infrastructure projects in the UK. You will take the lead on structural design, focusing on 3D printed systems and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. The ideal candidate should have extensive experience in reinforced concrete design and strong knowledge of Eurocode and DNV standards. This role offers a competitive compensation package, flexible work options, and the opportunity to influence technical strategy within the company.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of structural engineering experience, including marine/coastal structures.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or working towards chartership preferred.
• Strong command of Eurocode, BS EN, and DNV standards.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or working toward chartership (preferred).
• 7+ years structural engineering experience in reinforced concrete and marine/coastal contexts.
• Strong command of Eurocode, BS EN, DNV and related standards.
• Proficient with FEM tools such as SAP2000 and ABAQUS.

Responsibilities

• Lead structural design for concrete marine and offshore projects.
• Develop detailed drawings and specifications for prototypes.
• Evaluate constructability and coordinate with fabricators.
• Coordinate with fabricators/contractors to resolve constructability constraints.
• Support project management: scope, scheduling, technical documentation, client coordination.
• Prepare design reports and calculations compliant with Eurocode, BS EN and DNV.
• Contribute to early-stage concepts and R&D, including prototyping.
• Support testing and interpretation of structural behavior to refine designs.
• Communicate design intent clearly to internal teams, partners and clients.
• Perform and review finite element analysis using SAP2000 and ABAQUS.

Skills

Reinforced concrete design

Structural analysis

Communication

Project management

Use of FEM tools (SAP2000, ABAQUS)

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering

Master's or PhD in concrete, marine, or offshore structures

Tools

SAP2000

ABAQUS

Job description

About Sperra Seaworks Limited

Sperra Seaworks Limited is advancing the next generation of marine and offshore infrastructure using 3D printed concrete and advanced structural design. Our mission is to develop practical, scalable solutions for offshore construction - including anchors, floating platforms, and subsea systems - supporting emerging forms of marine energy and resilient coastal development.

With headquarters in Los Angeles and growing operations in Europe, Sperra Seaworks Limited is expanding its engineering team in the UK to support projects across Europe and the Middle East

Who You Are

• A structural engineer with extensive reinforced concrete design experience, ideally in marine, port, or coastal environments
• Skilled at developing conceptual through detailed designs, with a strong sense of constructability and practical implementation
• Experienced applying Eurocode, BS EN, DNV, and related standards to non-standard and complex structures
• Comfortable generating design solutions for emerging construction methods, including 3D printed concrete
• Creative and resourceful—able to propose and evaluate structural concepts beyond conventional approaches
• Organised and effective at managing design workflows, documentation, and project deliverables
• A clear communicator who works well with contractors, fabricators, and multidisciplinary teams

What You Will Do

As Lead Structural Engineer, you will shape the design and delivery of Sperra’s UK marine infrastructure projects. You will lead concrete structural design across concept development, detailed design, fabrication planning, and prototype development. While analysis remains part of the work, the emphasis is on design leadership, creativity, and project execution. Working closely with Sperra’s R&D and fabrication teams, you will help translate prototypes, material testing, and computational models into manufacturable offshore and coastal infrastructure solutions.

As Sperra Seaworks Limited’s first UK-based hire, you will help establish our engineering and operational presence in the region. You will shape local engineering practices, coordinate with UK and EU partners, and support the development of a highly capable UK engineering hub within Sperra’s global portfolio.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead structural design for concrete marine and offshore structures, including novel 3D printed systems
• Develop conceptual designs, detailed drawings, and specifications for prototypes and project deliverables
• Balance structural performance, code compliance, durability, and manufacturability in marine environments
• Evaluate constructability constraints and coordinate design details with fabricators and contractors
• Support project management activities, including scope definition, scheduling, technical documentation, and client coordination
• Prepare design reports, calculations, and documentation compliant with Eurocode, BS EN, and DNV standards
• Contribute to early-stage concept development and applied R&D efforts
• Support prototype development and testing, interpreting structural behaviour to refine design assumptions
• Communicate design intent clearly to internal teams, external partners, and clients
• Perform and review finite element analysis using SAP2000 and ABAQUS

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering
• Master’s or PhD with focus on concrete, marine, or offshore structures (preferred)
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or working toward chartership (strongly preferred)
• 7+ years of structural engineering experience, including reinforced concrete and marine/coastal structures
• Strong command of Eurocode, BS EN, DNV, and/or API standards
• Experience delivering projects from concept through detailed design and deployment
• Strong communication skills in a remote, multidisciplinary environment
• Experience with marine energy, offshore structures, or naval architecture is a plus
• Proficiency in structural analysis and FEM tools (e.g., SAP2000, ABAQUS)

What You Will Get

• Competitive compensation package commensurate with experience
• 25 days annual leave + UK bank holidays
• Home-office equipment and engineering software/tools provided
• Flexible remote work with periodic travel to project and fabrication sites
• Opportunity to shape Sperra’s UK engineering presence and influence technical strategy
• Work on cutting-edge projects at the intersection of marine infrastructure and advanced manufacturing