Senior Structural Engineer

RDH Building Science; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary incentives

Share ownership

Health and dental coverage

Learning fund

PTO & holidays

Job summary

RDH Building Science seeks a Senior Structural Engineer to lead renovation, retrofit, and repair of existing buildings on the U.S. West Coast.

You will partner with the Structural Discipline Leader and support business development, project delivery, and client relationships. The role emphasizes mentoring junior staff, coordinating with architects and building enclosure specialists, and contributing to proposals, design documentation, and construction administration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering.
• PE or SE license (California preferred).
• Minimum 8 years of experience in structural engineering with emphasis on existing buildings.
• Experience in renovation, retrofit and repair projects with focus on secondary components.
• Strong communication skills and ability to lead client-facing efforts.

Responsibilities

• Lead structural engineering efforts for renovation, retrofit, and repair enclosure projects across a variety of building types.
• Collaborate with architects, clients, and internal teams to deliver innovative, practical, and code-compliant solutions.
• Serve as a mentor to junior staff and contribute to a collaborative, technically rigorous team culture.
• Support project delivery from concept through construction, including assessments, design, documentation, and construction administration.
• Drive business development by identifying new opportunities, cultivating client relationships, and contributing to proposals and interviews.
• Partner with the Structural Discipline Leader to grow the firm’s portfolio of existing building projects and expand our structural services offerings.
• Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly with building enclosure specialists, and demonstrate interest in building enclosure design and performance.

Skills

Structural modelling

Analysis & design

Building science

Design review

Communication skills

Organization

Prioritization

Client service

Attention to detail

Leadership

3D structural concepts

MS Office (Word/Excel)

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering

PE or SE license (California preferred)

Job description

We are seeking a Senior Structural Engineer to join our team and play a key leadership role in our growing practice focused on the renovation, retrofit, and repair of existing buildings. This position will work closely with the Structural Discipline Leader and serve as a strategic partner in both project delivery and business development, with a focus on expanding our presence on the U.S. West Coast.

The internal title for this position may vary from the title listed in the description based on licensure; however, responsibilities and expectations remain the same.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead structural engineering efforts for renovation, retrofit, and repair enclosure projects across a variety of building types.
• Collaborate with architects, clients, and internal teams to deliver innovative, practical, and code-compliant solutions.
• Serve as a mentor to junior staff and contribute to a collaborative, technically rigorous team culture.
• Support project delivery from concept through construction, including assessments, design, documentation, and construction administration.
• Drive business development by identifying new opportunities, cultivating client relationships, and contributing to proposals and interviews.
• Partner with the Structural Discipline Leader to grow the firm’s portfolio of existing building projects and expand our structural services offerings.
• Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly with building enclosure specialists, and demonstrate interest in building enclosure design and performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering.
• PE or SE license (California preferred).
• Minimum 8 years of experience in structural engineering, with a strong focus on existing buildings.
• Demonstrated experience in renovation, retrofit, and repair projects with primary focus on secondary components.
• Strong communication skills and ability to lead client-facing efforts.
• Interest in building enclosure systems and their integration with structural design is a plus.

Skills And Competencies

• Well grounded in structural modelling, analysis and design
• Technical knowledge in building science a definite asset
• Ability to develop and review designs, drawings, specification, and technical memoranda
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Highly organized and able to prioritize multiple tasks and demonstrate a flexible approach to work assignments
• Good ability to shift focus between changing priorities and balance day to day project work (with immediate deadlines) with long term research projects (longer term deadlines)
• Demonstrate a commitment to client service
• Attention to detail and accuracy are required
• Highly motivated individual who works independently, is team oriented and can provide leadership
• Able to conceptualize structural and architectural details in three dimensions
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, specifically, Word and Excel

Benefits & Perks

The base salary range for this position is $120,000 - $130,000 annualized for a full-time role. Salary is dependent various factors, including qualifications, skills, competencies, experience, and location. You may also be eligible for discretionary incentives and share ownership.

We offer a robust benefits package to support the well-being of our employees. This includes: GRSP/401K contributions, Health and Dental coverage, Primary Caregiver benefits, Vacation and Sick Time, Statutory Holiday substitutions, and a learning fund of $1,000 per year for education or career goals.

About Us

A role with RDH is a career commitment to learn and grow alongside inspiring and dedicated people who care deeply about making buildings better.

We are an employee-owned consulting firm with 300+ employees in 11 offices across North America. Our core area of business is the integration of building science engineering, architecture, and construction management to optimize the performance of the building enclosure (walls, windows and roofs). Since our beginnings in 1997, we have become industry leaders in North America and continue to grow as we focus on technical excellence and delivering high-quality projects.

We offer a positive workplace with incredible teams, opportunities for professional growth, development and ownership. As well as your background, we seek alignment with RDH's core values: 1) commit to excellence, 2) act with integrity, 3) work as a team 4) do what it takes, and 5) always learn.