Chief Engineer - Structural

Job Description

Job Description

Our client, a well-established structural engineering firm, is looking for a Chief Engineer / Engineering Manager to lead its structural engineering team in the Northern Virginia market. The team includes a Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) Division as well as a Commercial Division.

This is a leadership seat. You will own technical quality across both divisions, build and develop the engineering team, and serve as the senior technical voice to clients, contractors, and project partners.

The work spans large, moderate, and small projects across multifamily, mixed-use, commercial, institutional, and mission-critical facilities, including CFS framing in high wind and high seismic applications nationwide.

What You’ll Lead

• Direct the structural engineering team across the CFS and Commercial Divisions: staffing, workload, scheduling, and project assignments
• Serve as Engineer of Record and final technical authority on structural design, analysis, and calculations
• Set design standards, QA/QC procedures, and best practices across both divisions
• Mentor, train, and grow project engineers and entry-level staff into future leaders
• Partner with Project Managers and firm leadership on scoping, fees, and project delivery
• Oversee coordination with BIM staff on construction documents
• Review and approve CFS shop drawings and delegated design submittals
• Be the go-to resource for contractors on document interpretation and field issue resolution
• Lead structural observations and site visits on key projects
• Support business development through client relationships and proposal input

What You Bring

• EIT or Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.
• SE license a strong plus
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering
• 10+ years of structural engineering experience across commercial building systems
• Strong CFS design background preferred
• 3+ years leading engineers and managing a design team or group as a Chief Engineer or Project Manager 
• Advanced command of ETABS, SAP, RAM Structural System, RAM Concept, RISA, SAFE, AutoCAD, and Revit
• Deep working knowledge of current building codes, AISI standards, and adopted design standards
• Strong communicator who can lead internal teams and represent the firm with clients, in person and virtually
• U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, or otherwise legally authorized to work in the U.S.

Why This Role

• Lead a multi-division structural team with real authority over people and technical direction
• Visible leadership seat with a direct line to firm leadership
• Steady, high-volume project pipeline in one of the busiest construction markets in the country

Interested?

All inquiries are held in strict confidence.

Contact Thom Alascio, Palermo Rhodes Executive Search

View phone number on ziprecruiter.com