Structural Design Engineer (Entry Level)

HV Talent Group; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Signing bonus pool

Limited relocation assistance

Job summary

HV Talent Group is seeking a Preconstruction Design Engineer for a Milwaukee-area team. The role focuses on turning architectural concepts into structurally viable designs early in projects, working directly with architects to estimate and propose concepts that can be built.

Ideal candidates have 0–3 years of experience, a Bachelor's in Engineering (civil/structural preferred) and an ability to perform preliminary calculations, with strong communication guiding design development.

Qualifications

• 0–3 years of professional engineering experience (entry-level/early-career).
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, preferably Civil or Structural, with structural coursework.
• Understanding of fundamental structural engineering principles.
• Ability to perform or understand structural calculations.

Responsibilities

• Review architectural concepts, sketches, drawings, and early-stage models.
• Develop preliminary structural design solutions for architects.
• Work with structural glass and steel systems during conceptual design.
• Perform preliminary structural calculations and evaluate loads (snow-load when needed).
• Coordinate load requirements with architects, contractors, and other engineers.
• Collaborate with architects to revise concepts based on feedback.
• Develop designs that satisfy structural requirements while preserving design intent.
• Support estimating and sales with viable designs for proposals.
• Help develop engineering concepts supporting the sales process.
• Transition the preliminary package to the execution team after sale.

Skills

Fundamental structural principles

Structural calculations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Civil/Structural preferred)

Job description

Work Arrangement: Primary on-site; candidates in the greater Milwaukee area prioritized

Salary Range: $65,000.00 - $85,000.00 base salary

Signing Bonus: Participation in a project/sales bonus pool tied to successfully closed projects

Relocation: Limited assistance may be available for the right candidate, particularly from Northern Illinois/Chicago

At HV Talent Group

At HV Talent Group, we connect talented professionals with leading organizations and direct-hire opportunities aligned with their experience, career goals, and long-term growth. Our client, a specialized organization focused on innovative architectural and structural solutions, is seeking a Preconstruction Design Engineer to join its Milwaukee-area team.

This early-career engineering opportunity sits within the sales and preconstruction organization, but it is not a traditional sales position. The engineer will serve as a technical and design resource, working directly with architects during the earliest stages of projects to transform architectural concepts into structurally viable solutions that can be estimated, proposed, and ultimately built.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong foundation in structural engineering, the ability to understand and perform preliminary structural calculations, comfort reviewing architectural concepts, and strong communication skills. This is an opportunity to combine engineering and architecture, develop creative structural solutions, influence projects before construction begins, and gain exposure to specialty structural glass and steel systems. Prior glass-industry or sales experience is not required; the organization can teach its specialized systems and applications.

Build the Engineering Concept Behind Remarkable Architectural Structures

Are you an early-career engineer who enjoys more than running calculations? Do you want to work directly with architects, influence designs at the conceptual stage, and see structural engineering become part of visually distinctive projects?

As a Preconstruction Design Engineer, you will help turn ambitious architectural concepts into structurally viable solutions. A typical project may begin with an architect exploring a glass canopy, entrance structure, architectural façade, structural glass feature, or specialty steel-and-glass structure. You will help determine how that concept can realistically be engineered while preserving the architect's design intent.

What You'll Do

• Review architectural concepts, sketches, drawings, and early-stage Revit models.
• Develop preliminary structural design solutions and engineering alternatives for architects.
• Work with structural glass and steel systems during conceptual design.
• Perform preliminary structural calculations and evaluate applicable loads, including snow-load analysis when required.
• Evaluate connection requirements and determine how systems can connect to existing construction.
• Coordinate load requirements with architects, contractors, and other engineering parties.
• Collaborate directly with architects throughout design development and revise concepts based on project feedback.
• Develop solutions that satisfy structural requirements while maintaining the architect's desired aesthetic.
• Support estimating and sales with technically viable designs that can become part of project proposals.
• Help develop the engineering concept that supports the sales process.
• Transition the preliminary engineering/design package to the execution engineering team after a project is sold.

Important Role Clarification

What We're Looking For

• 0–3 years of professional experience in an entry-level or early-career engineering capacity.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, preferably Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a closely related discipline with structural coursework.
• Understanding of fundamental structural engineering principles.
• Ability to perform or understand structural calculations.` (Note: The output JSON string would continue with the rest of the formatted description, ensuring no unescaped double quotes are present and all tags are properly closed.)