Senior Structural Engineer – Cape Town

Shift Pursuit; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Job summary

Shift Pursuit in Cape Town seeks a Senior Structural Engineer with a strong background in multidisciplinary project delivery. You will lead complex building and infrastructure projects, mentor teams, and build robust client relationships while ensuring technical excellence and on-time delivery.

You are professionally registered (Pr. Eng or Professional Technologist with ECSA) and bring 10–15 years of post-qualification experience, including 5+ years in client-facing PM or technical leadership

Qualifications

• BSc/BEng/BTech in Civil or Structural Engineering and ECSA Pr. Eng or Professional Technologist.
• 10–15 years post‑qualification experience in the built environment.
• 5+ years in a client‑facing Project Management or Technical Lead role.
• Proven leadership of multidisciplinary building and infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead structural engineering projects from inception through completion.
• Oversee planning, budgeting, resource allocation, quality, profitability and delivery.
• Develop project execution plans and monitor milestones.
• Mentor junior engineers and build client relationships.
• Support tender submissions and RFPs; coordinate multidisciplinary teams.
• Ensure compliance with QMS, ISO 9001 and engineering best practices.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Mentoring

Team coordination

Strategic thinking

Education

BSc/BEng/BTech in Civil or Structural Engineering

ECSA Pr. Eng or Professional Engineering Technologist

Project Management qualification (advantageous)

Tools

MS Project

Structural design software

Job description

Join a leading consulting engineering firm in Cape Town as a Senior Structural Engineer. We are seeking a highly experienced and professionally registered engineer with a strong background in structural engineering, project management, and multidisciplinary project delivery. This is an exciting opportunity for a technical leader who is passionate about delivering innovative engineering solutions, mentoring teams, and building strong client relationships.

Requirements:

Education:

• BSc/BEng/BTech Degree in Civil or Structural Engineering.
• Professionally registered with ECSA as a Pr. Eng. or Professional Engineering Technologist.
• Project Management qualification will be advantageous.

Experience:

• 10-15 years' post-qualification experience within the built environment.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in a client-facing Project Management or Technical Lead role.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary building and infrastructure projects.
• Experience across commercial, residential, educational, healthcare, industrial, and high-rise developments.
• Experience with water-retaining structures will be advantageous.
• Strong contract administration and project management experience.
• Proficiency in MS Project (or equivalent scheduling software).
• Experience with structural design software is advantageous.
• Excellent leadership, communication, analytical, and stakeholder management skills.

Key Performance Areas:

• Lead and manage structural engineering projects from inception through to completion.
• Oversee project planning, budgeting, resource allocation, quality, profitability, and programme delivery.
• Develop project execution plans and monitor progress to ensure contractual milestones are achieved.
• Conduct project health checks and implement recovery plans where required.
• Manage project risks while ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants, contractors, and key stakeholders.
• Attend and facilitate project meetings while providing technical leadership throughout project lifecycles.
• Support business development initiatives by identifying tender opportunities and contributing to tender submissions and RFPs.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary engineering teams to ensure seamless project execution.
• Review and oversee structural engineering designs, technical documentation, and project deliverables.
• Ensure compliance with company Quality Management Systems (QMS), ISO 9001 standards, and engineering best practices.
• Evaluate technical issues and recommend practical engineering solutions where required.
• Prepare project reports and technical documentation for internal and external stakeholders.
• Mentor, coach, and develop junior engineers and technical staff.
• Maintain exceptional professional standards while ensuring engineering excellence across all projects.

Tagged as: Cape Town, ECSA, Engineering, Structural Engineer