Senior Structural Engineer

HDR; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 129,899 - 185,570; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Retirement savings plan with employer match

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

HDR is currently seeking a Senior Structural Engineer for our Building Engineering Services (BES) group located in downtown Chicago, IL. This role offers the opportunity to lead design projects, mentor junior staff, and collaborate closely with clients and engineering teams.

The ideal candidate should possess a Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering, with at least 10 years of relevant experience and a commitment to innovative engineering practices. Expected compensation for this position ranges from $129,899.00 to $185,570.00.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years structural engineering experience as it relates to building design.
• Requires professional engineering license recognized in Illinois.
• Ability to design and detail in steel, concrete, masonry, and wood.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the work of the structural design teams through all phases of a project.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to regional structural colleagues.
• Conduct design development and document work sessions at project sites.

Skills

Structural design

Project coordination

Client engagement

Technical expertise

Software proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering

Master's degree in Structural Engineering

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

RAM

ETABS

SAFE

Job description

Overview

HDR is currently seeking a Senior Structural Engineer for our Building Engineering Services (BES) Business Group located in downtown Chicago, IL. Our team is an integrated building, facility, and infrastructure design team consisting of core services of Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Structural and Site Civil Engineering. With a team of experienced Mission Critical engineers, our local team also focuses on Healthcare, Science and Technology, Justice, Power Distribution, and Transportation projects. We are also developing our market presence in the Commercial Real Estate, Finance, Hospitality, Municipal, Manufacturing/Industrial, and Federal sectors. Regardless of the market sector we provide engineering excellence for our clients by setting realistic expectations and delivering high quality designs, on time.

To help support our rapidly growing Structural needs, HDR is seeking a talented PE/SE who has experience working hard to meet aggressive deadlines. This position is responsible for production of design drawings, calculations and specifications, and training development. This dynamic individual will be engaged with clients and the local engineering community. In this role, you will collaborate with the BES Business Group Manager and Structural Leadership to build strong external and internal client relationships with other HDR business group leadership. Other responsibilities include participating in marketing and project planning and serving as a representative of HDR to the local industry.

Responsibilities

• Independently coordinate the work of the structural design teams through the design development and contract document phases of a project
• Provide guidance and mentorship of structural colleagues throughout the region
• Serve as a technical expert with recognized authority in structural engineering as it relates to projects; resolve problems of greater scope and complexity
• Provide QC reviews of design submissions for projects within the region
• Participate in inter-disciplinary coordination meetings for project development & drawing/BIM clash detection
• Work with the leadership team to review and develop resource requirements for program consistency
• Work with leadership team to develop and organize program documents, calculations, drawings that can improve workflows and be leveraged where available from project to project for program efficiency and consistency
• Meet regularly with program leadership to relay status of projects and teams and strategize on program direction
• Review structural documents for areas of conflict with all disciplines
• Write and edit structural specifications, select procedures, materials and their respective sizes, and complete necessary calculations
• Establish meetings and participate in reviews with various governing agencies for code compliance
• Conduct design development and contract document work sessions at project sites in conjunction with the Project Manager and other disciplines
• Take responsibility for coordinating workload through design development and construction document phases to complete the documents on schedule
• Coordinate and assist with affected disciplines, with any addendum, requests for information, change proposal requests and change orders, and incorporate agreed-upon changes into the project documents
• Perform other duties as needed

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Structural Engineering or Architectural Engineering with Structural emphasis
• A minimum of 2 years in Data Center design experience
• Proficiency in Revit is highly valued

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering
• A minimum of 10 years structural engineering experience as it relates to building design
• Requires professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered. Example: Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.
• Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, RAM, ETABS, SAFE or similar analytical software
• Experience in design calculations and layouts
• Ability to design and detail in steel, concrete, masonry and wood
• Requires understanding of gravity analysis and lateral analysis
• Previous experience with an architectural/engineering or engineering consulting firm
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other\'s life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.) $129,899.00 - $185,570.00

Primary Location: United States-Illinois-Chicago
Industry: Building Engineering
Schedule: Full-time
Employee Status: Regular
BusinessClass: Building Structural
Job Posting: May 29, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer (https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.