Principle Structural Engineer

Arcadis; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 157,000 - 235,000; Full time

Job summary

Arcadis, a global design and engineering firm, seeks a Principal Structural Engineer in San Francisco, CA, with 15+ years of seismic design experience to lead the delivery of major transportation infrastructure projects.

You will provide technical leadership, oversee analyses, guide multidisciplinary teams, and ensure design quality from planning through construction, while mentoring staff and building strong client relationships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil/Structural Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive structural engineering experience on major infrastructure projects.
• Current California PE license.
• Proven expertise in California seismic design of reinforced concrete structures.
• Strong knowledge of AASHTO, Caltrans, ASCE, and CBC standards.
• Experience with SAP2000, MIDAS, Plaxis and FLAC.
• Strong leadership and client engagement skills.
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Ability to mentor and lead multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preliminary and final design of heavy civil and infrastructure structures, delivering compliant, constructible, and cost-effective solutions.
• Direct, review, and approve structural analyses, drawings, specifications, technical reports, studies, and cost estimates.
• Coordinate engineers, technicians, and design professionals across disciplines and offices to achieve integrated project delivery.
• Lead project meetings, design reviews, client engagements, and technical discussions with clear recommendations.
• Mentor and develop engineers and technical staff, promoting sound engineering judgment and collaboration.
• Drive continuous improvement through lessons learned and innovative design practices.

Skills

Technical leadership

Mentoring engineers

Cross-functional coordination

Communication

Seismic design

Education

ABET-accredited degree in Civil/Structural Eng

Tools

SAP2000

MIDAS

Plaxis

FLAC

Job description

Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets.

We are more than 34,000 people, in over 30 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life.

Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.

Role description

Arcadis is currently seeking a Principle Structural Engineer with 15+ years of seismic design experience to lead the design of heavy civil structures including major transportation infrastructure projects in our San Francisco, CA office.

As a Principal Structural Engineer, you will provide technical leadership and strategic direction for the successful delivery of large-scale infrastructure projects. Applying your experience and sound engineering judgment, you will solve complex structural challenges, guide multidisciplinary teams, oversee design quality, and influence project outcomes from planning and design through construction. This role requires strong technical judgment, effective communication, and the ability to mentor engineering teams while building trusted relationships with clients, owners, contractors, and design partners.

Role accountabilities

• Lead the preliminary and final design of heavy civil and infrastructure structures, delivering compliant, constructible, and cost-effective solutions.
• Direct, review, and approve structural analyses, calculations, drawings, specifications, technical reports, studies, and cost estimates.
• Evaluate constructability, design risks, interfaces, and alternative solutions throughout design.
• Develop and execute project work plans, including scope, schedule, budget, staffing, deliverables, technical priorities, and quality-control activities.
• Monitor project performance and proactively manage technical, coordination, schedule, and delivery risks.
• Coordinate engineers, technicians, and design professionals across disciplines and offices to achieve fully integrated project delivery.
• Lead project meetings, design reviews, client engagements, and technical discussions, clearly communicating recommendations, decisions, risks, and impacts.
• Liaise with owners, contractors, consultants, reviewing agencies, and other stakeholders to resolve issues and support successful project outcomes.
• Provide engineering services during construction.
• Mentor and develop engineers and technical staff, promoting sound engineering judgment, accountability, collaboration, knowledge sharing, and technical excellence.
• Drive continuous improvement through lessons learned, innovative design practices, standardized processes, and advancement of structural engineering capabilities.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a related field from an ABET-accredited institution.
• At least 15 years of progressive structural engineering experience supporting major infrastructure projects.
• Current California Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Demonstrated expertise in California seismic analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures.
• Strong working knowledge of applicable codes and standards, including AASHTO, Caltrans, ASCE, and the California Building Code.
• Familiarity with finite element structural analysis software such as SAP2000 and MIDAS and geotechnical analysis software such as Plaxis and FLAC.
• Strong verbal and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively and professionally with clients.
• Professional fluency in written and spoken English.
• Strong leadership, multidisciplinary coordination, communication, and technical decision-making skills.

Why Arcadis?

We can only achieve our goals when everyone is empowered to be their best. We believe everyone's contribution matters. It’s why we are pioneering a skills-based approach, where you can harness your unique experience and expertise to carve your career path and maximize the impact we can make together.

You’ll do meaningful work, and no matter what role, you’ll be helping to deliver sustainable solutions for a more prosperous planet. Make your mark, on your career, your colleagues, your clients, your life and the world around you.

Together, we can create a lasting legacy.

Join Arcadis. Create a Legacy.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. We are an equal opportunity employer. We are dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Arcadis offers benefits for full time and part time positions. These benefits include medical, dental, and vision, EAP, 401K, STD, LTD, AD&D, life insurance, paid parental leave, reward & recognition program and optional benefits including wellbeing benefits, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement. We offer nine paid holidays and 15 days PTO that accrue per year. The salary range for this position is $156,860 - $235,290. Actual salaries will vary and are based on several factors, such as experience, education, budget, internal equity, project and location.