Structural Engineering Lead

Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc.; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 140,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive

Spot bonuses

Merit-based raises

401(k) plan

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Recognition programs

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. in Raleigh, NC is seeking a Structural Engineering Lead for Highway & Rail Bridge Structures to guide technical, operational, and people leadership for our Raleigh Highway and Rail Bridge and Structures team.

You will lead complex bridge design, mentor staff, and strengthen relationships with DOT and municipal clients. The role requires 11+ years in civil/structural engineering, a NC PE license (or eligibility within six months), and proficiency with major bridge

Qualifications

• 11+ years civil/structural experience incl LRFD
• NC PE license required or within 6 months
• Experience with bridge design, construction phasing, complex projects
• Experience with AASHTO/DOT standards and reports
• Seismic analysis experience is a plus

Responsibilities

• Lead design document prep for bridge projects, including complex assignments
• Provide technical leadership, oversight, and quality management for bridge design and delivery
• Manage scope, schedule, budget, staffing and coordination with partners
• Support and refine project management practices across Raleigh/Charlotte bridge ops
• Mentor and guide structural staff, fostering retention and succession planning
• Coordinate with NC teams to promote execution and collaboration across region
• Support business development with client relationships, proposals, and pursuits for DOT and municipal clients
• Help expand bridge delivery capacity and market presence with transportation agencies

Skills

Bridge engineering

Project leadership

Client communication

Mentoring

Team leadership

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

NC Professional Engineer license

Master's degree (substituting experience)

Tools

AASHTOWare

LARSA 4D

MDX

SP Column

MerlinDASH

Mathcad

AutoCAD Civil 3D

OpenBridge Designer

Bentley CONNECT

Job description

Overview

ABOUT THE POSITION

Structural Engineering Lead | Highway & Rail Bridge Structures | Raleigh, North Carolina

At VHB, we are passionate about making meaningful contributions to the communities we serve through innovative, sustainable, and people-centered solutions. As our bridge practice continues to grow across the Piedmont Atlantic region, we are seeking an experienced Structural Engineering Lead to provide technical, operational, and people leadership for our Raleigh Highway and Rail Bridge and Structures team.

In this role, you will help strengthen VHB's bridge delivery capabilities, support complex transportation pursuits, and build strong relationships with DOT, municipal, contractor, and project clients. You will play a key role in advancing consistent project delivery practices across the Raleigh and Charlotte bridge teams, mentoring the next generation of structural engineers, and positioning VHB for continued growth in North Carolina and throughout the region.

Responsibilities

• Lead preliminary and final design document preparation for bridge-focused transportation projects, including complex bridge and design-build assignments.
• Provide technical leadership, oversight, and quality management for structural bridge design and project delivery.
• Manage projects and tasks, including scope, schedule, budget, staffing, and coordination with internal and external project partners.
• Support and refine project management and delivery best practices across Raleigh and Charlotte bridge operations.
• Mentor, develop, and provide technical guidance to structural engineering staff, supporting retention and succession planning.
• Coordinate with structures staff across North Carolina and the broader Piedmont Atlantic region to promote consistent execution and collaboration.
• Support business development efforts, including client relationship-building, proposal development, and pursuit strategy for DOT, municipal, and contractor clients.
• Help expand VHB's bridge delivery capacity and market presence with state transportation agencies and other transportation clients.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong technical expertise in structural and bridge engineering.
• Excellent verbal presentation, client communication, and technical writing skills.
• Detail-oriented, quality-focused, and committed to delivering high-quality work.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams while working independently and collaboratively.
• Motivated to mentor and develop staff while fostering an inclusive, team-oriented culture.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and project management capabilities.

Qualifications

• 11+ years of civil or structural engineering experience, including Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD).
• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering; structural emphasis preferred. A master's degree may substitute for 1-2 years of experience.
• North Carolina Professional Engineer (PE) license required, or ability to obtain licensure within six months of hire.
• Progressively responsible experience in structural bridge design, construction phasing, and complex bridge projects; North Carolina experience preferred.
• Experience preparing transportation studies, design reports, final design documents, and contract plans in accordance with AASHTO, DOT, and accepted engineering standards.
• Demonstrated experience independently developing bridge design and detailing for steel, concrete, and prestressed concrete structures, including seismic analysis.
• Experience with structural engineering software such as AASHTOWare, LARSA 4D, MDX, SP Column, MerlinDASH, and Mathcad.
• Experience with AutoCAD Civil 3D, OpenBridge Designer and Modeler, and Bentley CONNECT is a strong plus.
• Prior supervisory, technical lead, or team leadership experience preferred.

The full-time annual base salary range for this position is $140,000 to $195,000 if located in North Carolina. The base salary offered will be determined based on job-related factors, including geographic location, internal equity, experience, credentials, skills, education, work schedule, and other factors permitted by law. The posted salary range reflects base pay only. Additional compensation and benefits available to eligible employees are outlined in our Total Rewards Program.

Annual base salary is one component of VHB's Total Rewards package. In addition to base pay, eligible employees may receive annual incentive compensation bonuses, spot bonuses, and merit-based salary increases, providing opportunities to increase earnings beyond base pay. VHB also offers a differentiating work experience, including a comprehensive benefits package that includes eligibility to participate in the VHB 401(k) plan, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, wellness programs, tuition reimbursement, and recognition programs.

Details on VHB's benefits package can be found here: Benefits Checklist

Building what's next, together.

Our people make the difference. We foster a technology-empowered, peopledriven, futureready culture where agility, innovation, and collaboration shape how we work every day.

When you join VHB, you'll find:

• Meaningful work on complex projects with real community impact
• A collaborative, inclusive culture that values curiosity and shared success
• Support to grow your skills and lead through change
• Learning and development supported by evolving tools and technologies, including AI
• Best-in-class benefits and a flexible, hybrid work environment

We're growing across the East Coast and are consistently recognized as a great place to work. Ready to shape what's next? Learn more about what sets our employee experience apart and connect with us.

VHB is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Since our founding, we have intentionally fostered a culture of inclusion and belonging, supported by deep-rooted core values, one of which is diversity. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

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