Structural Engineer | Associate/Associate Principal

Degenkolb Engineers; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 153,000 - 188,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Commuter benefits

Paid parental leave

401(k) with profit sharing

Employee ownership in stock plan

Professional development support

Company holidays

Paid time off

Job summary

Degenkolb Engineers in Los Angeles and Orange counties seeks Associate/Associate Principal to lead design and delivery of structural systems for new and existing buildings, from concept through construction, blending technical depth with project leadership.

The ideal candidate is a licensed structural engineer with strong seismic experience, able to mentor team, manage multiple projects, and develop client relationships while contributing to firm growth.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Structural Engineering required.
• 10–15+ years of relevant experience with a stable history.
• California P.E. license (Civil or Structural).
• Experience in seismic design, evaluation, and retrofit of existing buildings.
• Ability to perform complex structural calculations (linear and nonlinear).
• Experience with steel, concrete, masonry, and wood structures.

Responsibilities

• Plan and lead design and delivery of structural systems from concept to construction.
• Coordinate seismic evaluations and upgrades per ASCE 41.
• Manage multiple projects and supervise junior engineers and BIM drafters.
• Develop client proposals with scope, budgets, and schedules.
• Maintain strong client relations throughout project lifecycle.
• Contribute to business development efforts.

Skills

Seismic design experience

Leadership

Project management

Mentoring

Client relationship

Education

Master's Degree in Structural Engineering

Tools

ETABS

RISA

RAM

Revit

MathCAD

SAP2000

AutoCAD

Tekla

Job description

Company Background

Founded in 1940 and headquartered in San Francisco, Degenkolb Engineers has more than eight decades of commitment to innovation, client service, and life-long learning. We deliver customized structural solutions in a variety of practice areas such as healthcare, education, science and technology, forensics, construction engineering, and federal buildings. We address every project need—whether meeting stringent codes, staying on budget, adhering to tight schedules, or creating landmark structural systems. We’re hiring at the Associate / Associate Principal level in our LA and Orange locations.

Position Description

Lead the design and delivery of structural systems for new and existing buildings, from concept through construction. This role blends technical depth with project leadership, guiding teams and making key decisions to deliver high-quality, resilient solutions.

Ideal Candidate

A licensed structural engineer with strong seismic design experience and the judgment to lead complex projects with confidence. They’re a collaborative leader and thoughtful mentor who builds client trust and contributes to both project success and team growth.

Compensation and Benefits

The pay rate for this position generally ranges between $153,000 to $188,000 annually. This range is a good faith estimate provided pursuant to pay transparency laws. Actual pay rates will be based on various factors, including location, company geographic differentials, education level, and candidate qualifications.

Benefits include health and life insurance, commuter benefits, paid parental leave, 401(k) with company Profit Sharing contribution, employee ownership in a privately held stock plan, financial support for professional activities, company holidays, and a generous paid time off program.

Culture

We offer a flexible hybrid work schedule and a fun office environment! Our firm is highly collaborative and filled with experts united by a passion for industry involvement, pride in company ownership, and respect for personal lives. You will benefit from focused professional development within a supportive and transparent team environment, as well as opportunities for committee participation and leadership, variety in work assignments, and a pay scale set at the 75th market percentile. To learn more about the company, please visit: https://degenkolb.com/culture/

Job Summary

Facilitate the design and engineering of structural systems for building structures and facilities from pre-schematic phase through construction closeout.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, schedule and organize detailed phases of structural engineering projects to include seismic evaluations and upgrades of existing buildings using standards such as ASCE 41.
• Perform and review complex structural calculations and analysis for new building design to California building codes based on advanced theoretical knowledge of civil and structural engineering principles and concepts.
• Manage multiple projects of moderate size or portions of major projects with minimal supervision from senior technical staff.
• Oversee work of junior engineers, designers and/or BIM drafters in production of structural construction documents including drawings, specifications, bidding, and construction administration for projects.
• Determine project design decisions based on client and project requirements, such as load requirements, governing codes, architectural constraints, operational constraints, fabrication and erection requirements.
• Develop technical skills of junior staff with empathy and a genuine interest in the career progression of colleagues.
• Perform complex structural calculations by applying appropriate system concepts and layouts.
• Review RFI’s, submittals, and other construction related documents.
• Prepare client proposals including scope, budgets, and schedules for assignments.
• Maintain close relationship with client during project development, execution, and completion.
• Lead or participate in client and design team meetings as well as plan review and approval processes.
• Pursue business development efforts.

Minimum Requirements

• Master's Degree in Structural Engineering and 10 - 15+ years relevant experience with a stable history.
• California Professional Civil or Structural Engineering license.
• Experience in the seismic design, seismic evaluation and retrofit of existing buildings in regions of high seismicity.
• Ability to perform complex structural calculations such as linear and nonlinear analysis with minimal direction.
• Demonstrated design skills with steel, concrete, masonry, and wood structures.
• Knowledge of some or all modeling applications: ETABS, RISA, RAM, Revit, MathCAD, SAP2000, AutoCAD, and Tekla
• Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.

Desired Qualifications

• California Structural Engineer License.
• Active participation in professional activities related to structural or earthquake engineering.
• Proficiency with one or more of the following software programs: Python, Rhino, or Grasshopper.
• Participation in project teams for delivering complex HCAI projects.
• Experience supervision, coordinating, or mentoring junior staff.

Degenkolb Engineers complies with Equal Opportunity Employer guidelines, meaning we do not discriminate in employment matters on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other protected class. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where a wide range of perspectives, skills, and experiences are welcomed and respected.