Lead Structural Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Lead Structural Engineer Job Description

This Lead Structural Engineer role offers the opportunity to establish and lead in-house structural engineering capabilities within a growing, integrated design firm. You will serve as a hands-on technical expert, partnering closely with architects, mechanical and electrical engineers, owners, contractors, and authorities having jurisdiction to deliver coordinated, constructible design solutions across commercial, office, industrial, retail, restaurant, residential, and renovation/adaptive reuse projects. The position is designed to reduce reliance on external structural consultants and enhance project control, schedule responsiveness, coordination quality, and client service, while contributing to a holistic, integrated design model.

• Lead structural engineering design for assigned building projects from concept through construction documents and construction administration.
• Develop structural calculations, drawings, details, and specifications for new construction, renovations, tenant improvements, additions, adaptive reuse, and existing building modifications.
• Design and evaluate common building systems including steel, wood, masonry, concrete, foundations, lateral systems, framing modifications, openings, canopies, mezzanines, equipment supports, and structural repairs.
• Partner directly with architectural and MEP staff to coordinate layouts, penetrations, loads, equipment supports, ceiling and roof conditions, constructability issues, and document completeness.
• Perform structural assessments and field investigations for existing buildings, documenting observed conditions and recommending practical, buildable design solutions.
• Review shop drawings, RFIs, submittals, and field questions and provide timely, clear responses during construction.
• Interface with clients, contractors, municipalities, and code officials to support permitting, approvals, and construction progress.
• Help build internal structural standards, including typical details, calculation templates, QA/QC practices, design checklists, consultant transition processes, and repeatable workflows.
• Support proposal and scoping discussions by defining structural scope, level of effort, risks, schedule impacts, and consultant needs when specialty structural support is required.
• Serve as an internal structural subject matter expert while remaining actively involved in calculations, drawings, and day-to-day project work.
• Contribute to a culture of communication, responsiveness, practical engineering judgment, and ownership within a small-company environment.

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Architectural Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Approximately 5+ years of structural engineering experience for building-related projects.
• Active Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Strong working knowledge of building codes and structural design standards, including IBC, ASCE 7, AISC, ACI, NDS, TMS, and applicable Michigan code requirements.
• Experience producing signed and sealed structural documents, calculations, details, and construction-phase responses.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with architects, owners, contractors, and non-structural stakeholders.
• Proficiency with structural analysis and design tools and production workflows.
• Familiarity with Revit and AutoCAD for coordination of structural designs with other disciplines.
• Practical understanding of existing building conditions, field verification, construction sequencing, and constructability.
• Comfort operating in a small-company environment where communication, responsiveness, and personal ownership of work are critical.

• Experience working directly for or closely with architecture firms, particularly on small to mid-sized commercial, retail, restaurant, office, industrial, residential, or renovation projects.
• Ability to serve as the internal structural subject matter expert while remaining hands-on with calculations and drawings.
• Experience developing structural standards, typical details, QA/QC checklists, and engineering workflows for a growing internal practice.
• Familiarity with adaptive reuse, historic buildings, tenant improvements, façade and opening modifications, structural repairs, and existing condition documentation.
• Experience collaborating with mechanical and electrical engineering disciplines and supporting integrated design solutions.
• Background in electrical engineering, electrical design, lighting, power distribution, or control systems is beneficial for coordination in an integrated practice.
• Interest in contributing to a culture that values creative design, attention to detail, integrated solutions, and quality service.
• Ability to participate in proposal development and scoping discussions, including assessment of structural risks and schedule impacts.

The office is located in Farmington and currently has approximately 19 employees with plans for continued growth. The firm offers in-house architectural, mechanical, and electrical engineering services and is expanding its structural capabilities to deliver integrated, thorough construction documents and enhanced client value. You will work in a collaborative environment where communication is considered a primary design tool and where projects span commercial, office, interiors, industrial, residential, and renovation/adaptive reuse work. The role is 100% in-office for the first 4–6 months to support team building and close collaboration; after that period, a hybrid schedule of 1–2 days per week remote work (typically Monday and/or Friday) is available. Standard work hours are Monday through Friday, with flexible scheduling and typical weekly hours of 40–45. The position includes occasional travel, mainly local with some out-of-state trips, for job site meetings and reviews. The culture emphasizes personal attention to each project, responsible design that considers the broader community, and long-term client relationships built on trust. Benefits include annual bonuses, profit sharing, and 401(k) matching, reflecting a commitment to rewarding contribution and supporting long-term career growth.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Farmington, MI.

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $65.00/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 hybrid position in Farmington,MI.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 31, 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.