Structural Designer Co-op

Paul J. Ford and Company; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 18,000 - 28,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Company paid life insurance

Short-term and long-term disability

Paid holidays, vacation and sick time

Paid time off to volunteer

Paid maternity/paternity leave

401(k) savings program

Overtime pay for engineers

Frequent social events

Employee Assistance Program

Jury Duty Leave

Wellness Program

Critical Illness, Accident and Cancer—

Job summary

Paul J. Ford & Company in Columbus, Ohio, is seeking a Structural Designer Co-op.

You will assist in structural design and analysis under licensed engineers, learning to apply engineering principles to real-world projects while gaining hands-on experience with CAD software. This paid co-op offers exposure to steel, concrete and wood design, QA/QC procedures, project coordination with CAD technicians, and opportunities to grow toward professional licensure.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a BS in Civil or Structural Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• Typically junior or senior standing in the program.
• Strong understanding of basic structural analysis and mechanics.
• Exposure to CAD software (AutoCAD or Revit) preferred.
• Desire to learn and grow within professional practice.

Responsibilities

• Assist with structural design and analysis for projects involving steel, concrete, masonry, and wood under the guidance of a supervisor.
• Support the preparation of basic design calculations and project documentation.
• Learn and utilize computer‑assisted engineering software (e.g., Revit, AutoCAD, RISA) to develop plans, sections, and details.
• Assist in researching design options, building codes, and material specifications.
• Prepare redline revisions for existing drawings to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Coordinate with CAD technicians and engineers to ensure project files are organized and deliverables are met.
• Participate in internal project meetings and shadow engineers during client or site visits to learn project workflows.
• Support the preparation of cost estimates and project schedules by gathering necessary data.
• Follow QA/QC procedures to check work for accuracy.

Skills

Strong communication

Organization

Desire to learn

Teamwork

Education

BS in Civil/Structural Engineering (ABET-accredited)

Junior or Senior standing

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

RISA

Job description

A roadmap for employee success and long-term commitment.

The formula is simple – support professional development, recognize successes, provide flexibility, offer exceptional perks, invest in cutting edge technology and create a fun workplace.
Culture establishes the reasons people want to work at a company. Happy employees are loyal employees. With an extremely low turnover rate, meaningful employee perks and an enjoyable atmosphere, Paul J. Ford & Company has been regularly recognized as a top place to work. When employees were surveyed and asked about company culture, they used the following words to describe it, family-oriented, fun, supportive, collaborative, teamwork, relaxed and community.

With a first‑class benefits package and unmatched employee perks, the company promotes a fun atmosphere that treats employees well to facilitate success.

• Medical, dental and visioninsurance
• Company paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability
• Paid holidays, vacation and sicktime
• Paid time off to volunteer
• Paid maternity/paternity leave
• 401(k) savings program
• Engineers are paid straight time for overtime
• Frequent social events and employee lunches
• Employee Assistance Program
• Jury Duty Leave
• Wellness Program
• Allstate Critical Illness, Accident and Cancer Insurance

Professional Development

As a professional services firm, we understand that clients don’t hire a company, they hire people. We recognize that our greatest asset is our employees, so we want to continually invest in them by offering:

• Paid professional license fee – the company pays for engineers to take the professional engineering exam and offers a monetary bonus when passed
• Paid professional membership dues – the company encourages and pays for memberships in professional associations
• Continuing education – the company provides educational resources and training to further knowledge for not only engineering practices but also business fundamentals
• Tuition reimbursement - the company reimburses tuition expenses up to 10% of employee's salary or $5,000 whichever is less with maximum lifetime reimbursement of $25,000
• Cross Training – the company encourages engineers to learn new specialized skills through cross‑training among our three market groups

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Working hard today should include planning for the future. Paul J. Ford & Company makes saving for retirement easy. Since 1994, the firm has been an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) company and became 100% employee owned in 2015. As an ESOP, our employees have a direct stake in the company, a position that they do not take lightly. In the role of employee owners, we are empowered to react quickly and make decisions in the best interest of our clients.
Employees are automatically enrolled in the ESOP which is driven by the profitability of the company and not by employee contributions. Basically, employees get significant benefits at no cost to them.
Historically, ESOP funds have provided a higher rate of return than other retirement plans which means higher employee balances. Research has also shown that ESOP companies are more profitable, grow faster, have more productive employees and ultimately a lower employee turnover rate.

Position:Structural Designer Co-op

Location: Columbus, OH

Job Id:321

# of Openings:1

Position Summary
The Structural Engineering Intern/Co-op provides entry-level technical support to the structural engineering team. This role is designed for students currently enrolled in an engineering program who seek to gain practical experience in structural design and analysis. Working under the close supervision of licensed engineers and designers, the intern assists in preparing calculations, drawings, and specifications while learning to apply engineering principles to real-world projects.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Technical Support and Design

• Assist with structural design and analysis for projects involving steel, concrete, masonry, and wood under the guidance of a supervisor.
• Support the preparation of basic design calculations and project documentation.
• Learn and utilize computer-assisted engineering software (e.g., Revit, AutoCAD, RISA, or similar) to develop plans, sections, and details.
• Assist in researching design options, building codes, and material specifications.
• Prepare redline revisions for existing drawings to ensure accuracy and compliance.

Project Coordination

• Coordinate with CAD technicians and engineers to ensure project files are organized and deliverables are met.
• Participate in internal project meetings and shadow engineers during client or site visits to learn project workflows.
• Support the preparation of cost estimates and project schedules by gathering necessary data.

Quality and Standards

• Follow established QA/QC procedures to check work for accuracy.
• Maintain organized project files, documentation, and calculations in accordance with company standards.
• Contribute to a positive, collaborative, and efficient work environment.
• Learning Objectives and Growth
• Develop a working knowledge of structural engineering codes (IBC, ASCE 7, AISC, ACI, etc.).
• Gain proficiency in industry-standard design and modeling software.
• Understand the professional lifecycle of an engineering project from proposal to construction.

Measures of Success

• Accuracy: Precision in assisted calculations and drafting tasks.
• Learning Curve: Demonstrated growth in software proficiency and understanding of engineering principles.
• Reliability: Timely completion of assigned tasks and adherence to the agreed-upon schedule.
• Collaboration: Positive feedback from the engineering team regarding communication and support.

Education and Experience

• Current Enrollment: Actively pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Civil or Structural Engineering from an ABET‑accredited program (typically Junior or Senior standing).
• Academic Foundation: Strong understanding of basic structural analysis, mechanics of materials, and physics.
• Software Skills: Exposure to CAD software (AutoCAD or Revit) is preferred.
• Soft Skills: Strong communication, organization, and a desire to learn.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• Primarily a sedentary role in a professional office environment.
• Requires standing, walking, sitting, and reaching.

Supervisory Responsibilities
This position does not have any supervisory responsibilities.

Enhancing society through innovative engineering solutions.