Structural Project Engineer / Senior Structural Engineer

Element Structural Engineers Inc.; Newark (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Element Structural Engineers, Inc. in Oakland/Newark, CA is seeking a hands-on Structural Project Engineer or Senior Structural Engineer. The role focuses on single-family and multifamily projects, with ownership of design, calculations, redlines, and coordination with BIM staff and consultants.

The ideal candidate has 3–8 years of structural experience, a civil/structural/architectural engineering degree, and the ability to lead projects from design through construction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in civil, structural, or architectural engineering.
• Approximately three to eight years of structural engineering experience.
• Experience with building design, preferably including wood-framed single-family or multifamily projects.
• Working knowledge of gravity and lateral structural systems.
• Ability to translate engineering analysis into coordinated drawings and constructible details.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and design structural systems for buildings and related structures.
• Develop gravity and lateral designs, structural calculations, and design sketches.
• Prepare clear, coordinated redlines and practical, constructible details.
• Coordinate structural drawings with BIM team.
• Manage priorities and internal deadlines for assigned projects.
• Coordinate with architects, contractors, consultants, and clients.
• Communicate project progress, coordination concerns, and schedule risks proactively.
• Review project scope and recognize potential additional-service conditions.
• Perform self-QA/QC before submitting work for senior or Principal-in-Charge review.
• Respond to plan-check comments, RFIs, submittals, and field conditions.
• Participate in site visits and construction-phase coordination as required.

Skills

Wood-framed projects

BIM coordination

QA/QC

Education

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in civil, structural, or architectural engineering

Tools

RISA

Enercalc

Adapt

Job description

Location: Oakland or Newark, California

Employment Type: Full-time

Experience Level: Approximately 3–8 years

About Element Structural Engineers

Element Structural Engineers, Inc. (ESE) is a woman- and minority-owned structural engineering firm based in Newark, California. We provide structural engineering services for custom residential, multifamily, affordable housing, healthcare, education, commercial, seismic evaluation, and other project types.

The preferred location for this position is our Oakland office; however, candidates who prefer to work from our Newark office are also encouraged to apply.

Our team values technical excellence, thoughtful collaboration, personal accountability, and responsive client service. Our guiding philosophy is: Engineering with Purpose. Leading with Heart.

The Opportunity

ESE is seeking a hands-on Structural Project Engineer or Senior Structural Engineer who takes pride in producing coordinated, constructible, and technically sound work. The position and level will be based on the candidate’s experience, technical ability, and demonstrated project responsibility.

This position is ideal for an engineer who wants to take ownership of assigned projects while remaining actively involved in engineering and production. The successful candidate will develop structural designs, prepare calculations and redlines, coordinate with BIM staff and project consultants, and help move projects from design through construction.

The role will focus primarily on single-family residential and multifamily projects, but opportunities to work on other building types will be available based on the firm’s project needs and the candidate’s interests and experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze and design structural systems for buildings and related structures.
• Develop gravity and lateral designs, structural calculations, and design sketches.
• Prepare clear, coordinated redlines and practical, constructible details.
• Coordinate structural drawings with ESE’s BIM team.
• Manage priorities and internal deadlines for assigned projects.
• Coordinate with architects, contractors, consultants, and clients.
• Communicate project progress, coordination concerns, and schedule risks proactively.
• Review project scope and recognize potential additional-service conditions.
• Perform self-QA/QC before submitting work for senior or Principal-in-Charge review.
• Respond to plan-check comments, RFIs, submittals, and field conditions.
• Participate in site visits and construction-phase coordination as required.
• Exercise independent judgment while recognizing when senior guidance is needed.

The degree of project independence and responsibility will be based on the candidate’s experience and assigned position level.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in civil, structural, or architectural engineering.
• Approximately three to eight years of structural engineering experience.
• Experience with building design, preferably including wood-framed single-family or multifamily projects.
• Working knowledge of gravity and lateral structural systems.
• Ability to translate engineering analysis into coordinated drawings and constructible details.
• Experience preparing structural calculations, markups, design sketches, and construction documents.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to organize assignments, establish realistic deadlines, and follow through consistently.
• Ability to work independently while recognizing when consultation or escalation is appropriate.
• Local availability and ability to travel to project sites when needed.

Candidates with fewer years of experience may be considered if they can demonstrate broad, hands-on responsibility for quality project work. Candidates from larger firms should be prepared to describe their specific role and level of ownership within their project teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• California Professional Engineer license or active progress toward licensure.
• Experience coordinating directly with BIM or drafting staff.
• Construction administration and field-observation experience.
• Experience with seismic evaluation and equipment seismic anchorage.
• Experience working in a small or growing structural engineering firm.
• Familiarity with RISA, Enercalc, Adapt, and related structural engineering software.
• Experience identifying scope changes and supporting additional service fee requests.

What Success Looks Like

A successful candidate will progressively demonstrate the ability to:

• Take ownership of assigned building projects.
• Develop coordinated structural calculations and redlines with an appropriate level of guidance.
• Coordinate effectively with BIM staff and outside consultants.
• Manage routine projects and client communication.
• Maintain reliable internal deadlines and communicate concerns early.
• Identify technical, coordination, scope, and schedule issues before they become larger problems.
• Submit organized, complete, and self-checked work for review.
• Independently deliver complete projects as their experience and responsibilities grow.

The Qualities We Value

• Ownership: You take responsibility for moving your work and projects forward.
• Quality: You care about the accuracy, completeness, and constructability of your work.
• Sound judgment: You make thoughtful recommendations and know when to seek input.
• Initiative: You actively identify and resolve issues.
• Customer focus: You understand that clear communication and responsiveness are part of excellent engineering.
• Adaptability: You remain flexible when appropriate and firm when structural safety, quality, or scope requires it.
• Collaboration: You work well with engineers, BIM staff, clients, and project partners.
• Growth mindset: You welcome feedback and remain committed to professional development.

Why Join ESE?

At ESE, you will have the opportunity to work on complete projects, contribute directly to design decisions, and see how your engineering affects the built environment. You will join a collaborative team where your technical judgment, ideas, and professional growth matter.

The selected candidate may be hired at the Project Engineer or Senior Engineer level based on experience and qualifications.

ESE is an equal-opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and are committed to maintaining an inclusive and respectful workplace.