SENIOR DESIGN ENGINEER

At Knife River, we take care of our teams because we know they are the foundation of our success. We are one of the nation’s largest construction materials producers and contractors, and our goal is to build strong teams that, in turn, build strong communities. Join us and make an impact that will last for generations.

Job Summary:

Senior Design Engineers report to the Vice President of Engineering and serve as senior technical resources for KRPI’s precast and prestressed concrete design work. Unlike Design Engineers focused primarily on executing assigned tasks under guidance, Senior Design Engineers independently lead complex design work, make defensible engineering decisions, perform senior technical reviews, guide non-standard solutions, represent KRPI in customer-facing technical discussions, mentor engineers and drafters, and help standardize engineering tools, methods, and practices. 

Responsibilities Include:  

• Lead complex precast/prestressed projects; review plans, specifications, design criteria, and project requirements; establish engineering approach; and prepare or direct calculations and support drawings.  
• Apply advanced judgment in precast/prestressed behavior, reinforced concrete design, connections, load paths, lifting, bracing, shipping, erection sequencing, tolerances, safety, code compliance, and constructability.  
• Serve as a senior technical voice for KRPI with Engineering leadership, project managers, drafting, production, quality, field teams, external engineers, architects, contractors, customers, and industry experts.  
• Evaluate non-standard conditions, alternate details, field issues, technical risks, design assumptions, specifications, codes, and PCI standards to recommend practical, safe, and commercially aware solutions.  
• Perform senior quality reviews of drawings, calculations, submittals, and engineering documents; verify compliance with KRPI, Knife River, project, code, and PCI standards; and provide final engineering guidance where assigned.  
• Mentor junior engineers and drafting team members while building engineering judgment, code understanding, review discipline, design-tool capability, and professional readiness.  
• Improve and standardize engineering tools, templates, calculation methods, detailing practices, review processes, and design standards across KRPI projects and locations.  
• Support KRPI’s safety commitment, continuous improvement, and related duties as assigned.  

Required Qualifications:

• B.S. in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or closely related engineering discipline.  
• Professional Engineer license required.  
• Ability to interpret and apply drawings, specifications, design criteria, codes, and project documents while leading technical discussions with customers, consultants, contractors, and internal teams.  
• Advanced knowledge of structural engineering, reinforced/prestressed concrete design, precast behavior, connection design, load paths, constructability, tolerances, temporary works considerations, and building code requirements.  
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills; able to explain and defend engineering decisions, code requirements, assumptions, risks, and precast concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.  
• Proficient with common business and engineering software; self-motivated, professional, courteous, schedule-driven, and effective with customers, managers, engineers, drafters, production, and field teams.  

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Multiple state PE licenses preferred, or achievable within 24 months.  
• Significant precast/prestressed design experience with structural and architectural components, connections, production constraints, transportation, handling, erection, field coordination, and PCI standards.  
• Experience with Revit, Tekla Structures, Inventor, AutoCAD, or other BIM/modeling platforms.  
• Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and drafters while improving standards, review discipline, design tools, templates, and process consistency.  

Why Engineers Choose KRPI:   

• Design structures that are built, not just drawn, with exposure from concept through manufacturing, delivery, erection, and completed construction.  
• Work directly with production, quality, project management, field installation, contractors, engineers, and customers on major regional data center, industrial, parking, commercial, education, and infrastructure projects.  
• Develop specialized precast/prestressed expertise in a culture focused on safety, quality, accountability, employee development, continuous improvement, and long-term advancement across KRPI and Knife River.  

Benefits:   

• Medical, dental, vision, HSA/FSA options, 401(k) with company match and profit sharing.  
• Paid time off, paid holidays, life insurance, EAP, training, professional development, career advancement, and licensure support where applicable.  

How to Apply:

To be considered for this position, candidates must complete and submit an employment application at jobs.kniferiver.net by the posting deadline noted above. If unable to complete an application online you may print and send completed application to any Knife River NW address or stop in one of our locations to complete an application. Knife River is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status or any other protected category under applicable state/federal law.

If you are an individual with a qualified disability as defined by federal, state, or local law and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application for any reason, please contact your state employment agency or you may call View phone number on click.appcast.io to speak with a human resources representative.

Subject to pre-employment drug testing and background check.

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