Civil/structural Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Civil / Structural Engineer (PE)

Job Description

The Senior Civil / Structural Engineer (PE) develops innovative, technically robust designs to solve complex engineering challenges, with a primary focus on civil and structural applications. This role serves as both a task lead and an individual contributor, providing PE stamp oversight for designs as needed. The engineer translates customer requirements into detailed design criteria and delivers reliable solutions for test fixtures, custom mechanical assemblies, concrete foundations, steel support structures, pressure vessels, piping systems, weldments, and related systems. Civil engineering tasks include geometric design, paving, drainage, and grading. The Senior Civil Engineer collaborates closely with multidisciplinary engineers, designers, and operators to ensure that all hardware is manufacturable, maintainable, and fully integrated. This position also plays a key role in mentoring and developing junior engineers while contributing to a highly technical, fast-paced, and cutting-edge environment in the hypersonics domain.

Responsibilities

• Serve as task lead for assigned design efforts, ensuring thorough due diligence, technical accuracy, and compliance with applicable codes and standards.
• Develop detailed design criteria from customer requirements and convert them into practical, robust civil and structural engineering solutions.
• Create innovative designs for custom civil and structural hardware, including foundations, steel structures, test fixtures, pressure-boundary components, and associated systems.
• Perform civil engineering tasks such as geometric design, paving, drainage, and grading to support facility and infrastructure needs.
• Provide PE stamp approval for designs within the engineer’s area of responsibility, ensuring professional accountability and quality.
• Coordinate regularly with engineers from other disciplines to ensure proper integration of civil, structural, mechanical, and related systems.
• Work closely with designers and operators to ensure that designed hardware is manufacturable, maintainable, and aligned with operational requirements.
• Review local codes and collaborate with city, county, and state officials as required to support permitting and regulatory compliance.
• Develop clear and comprehensive design documentation, including presentations, white papers, calculation packages, and technical reports.
• Review design documentation prepared by internal and third-party engineers to verify technical adequacy, constructability, and compliance with project requirements.
• Present designs and design progress to customers, incorporating feedback and clearly communicating technical decisions and trade-offs.
• Perform structural analyses, and potentially aerothermal, thermo-structural, and flow analyses, using hand calculations and appropriate software tools to validate designs.
• Read and interpret engineering drawings and provide detailed feedback to designers on how to correct and improve them.
• Oversee the steel and concrete erection activities associated with standing up structures for a hypersonic wind tunnel project.
• Lead and mentor junior engineers, helping them develop strong problem-solving abilities, critical thinking skills, and sound engineering processes.
• Contribute to technical papers and customer-facing documentation, and participate in technical discussions and reviews with government and industry stakeholders.

Essential Skills

• Current Professional Engineer (PE) license in civil or structural engineering, with the ability to stamp designs within scope of responsibility.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant civil and/or structural engineering experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Strong background in civil and structural engineering, including design of concrete foundations, steel support structures, and related infrastructure.
• Experience performing structural analysis using hand calculations and engineering software to validate mechanical and structural designs.
• Proven ability to develop detailed design criteria from customer requirements and translate them into practical engineering solutions.
• Experience applying engineering codes and standards such as ASME B31.3, AISC 360-10, AWS D1.1, and related civil and structural codes.
• Ability to read, interpret, and critique engineering drawings, and provide clear guidance to designers on corrections and improvements.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to present designs, write technical papers or reports, and speak effectively in front of customers.
• Familiarity with local city, county, and state codes and the ability to work with regulatory authorities as needed.
• Ability to obtain a Secret DoD security clearance.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Active Secret DoD clearance is highly desirable.
• Experience with hypersonic test facilities or related high-performance test environments is a plus.
• Desired experience with analysis and design tools such as ANSYS or ABAQUS, RISA, Revit, CAESAR, AFT Fathom, AFT Arrow/Fathom, MATHCAD, and AutoCAD Civil 3D.
• Familiarity with CAD modeling, drawing development, and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and train junior engineers through both on-the-job guidance and structured mentorship activities.
• Comfort working directly with government customers and participating in technical reviews and discussions.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with a focus on high technical standards and continuous improvement.
• Ability to work effectively in a competitive, technically demanding environment while maintaining a collaborative and supportive team culture.

Work Environment

This is an onsite position based in Huntsville, Alabama, supporting a hypersonic wind tunnel project within a team of approximately eight engineers, with a broader wind tunnel group of about twenty engineers. The work environment is highly technical and cutting edge, focused on advanced civil and structural solutions for hypersonic test infrastructure. The culture balances a fun, engaging atmosphere with rigorous technical standards and a competitive drive for excellence. Team members work directly with government customers, providing strong exposure to complex, high-visibility projects and significant opportunities for learning and professional growth. The work schedule is flexible, with core hours typically Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., allowing for work-life balance while supporting project needs. The role involves close collaboration with multidisciplinary engineers, designers, and operators, as well as interaction with local authorities for code and compliance matters.

This is a Contract position based out of Huntsville, AL.

The pay range for this position is $65.00 - $86.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Huntsville,AL.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 29, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.