Structural Designer

Job Title: Structural DesignerJob Description

The Structural Designer develops detailed structural designs and drawing packages for specialized enclosures and buildings, ensuring compliance with applicable codes, standards, and contractual requirements. This role translates design requirements into accurate 2D and 3D models, performs structural calculations, and collaborates closely with engineers, production teams, and other stakeholders to deliver safe, reliable, and cost-effective solutions. The position offers long-term project stability, exposure to diverse industries, and strong opportunities for professional growth within a collaborative, flat organizational structure.

Responsibilities

• Prepare comprehensive structural drawing packages that comply with building codes, regulatory standards, and contractual specifications.

• Translate design requirements and concepts into precise structural configurations using 2D and 3D CAD tools.

• Perform detailed structural calculations from sketches and design inputs to support proposals, product design, and structural integrity.

• Develop layouts and designs for buildings, enclosures, stairs, cable trays, and sheet metal structures.

• Ensure strict adherence to safety protocols and relevant standards to minimize electrical and structural hazards.

• Review and interpret all relevant documentation, including company procedural manuals, customer specifications, and project requirements, to identify critical design attributes.

• Analyze vendor quotes, drawings, and diagrams to create accurate structural layouts and integrate vendor components into overall designs.

• Coordinate the implementation of design criteria with engineering, manufacturing, and other internal teams using industrial design tools.

• Participate in planning meetings to understand project scope, schedule, and priorities, and adapt designs to evolving project needs.

• Collaborate closely with engineers, production staff, project managers, and sales teams to ensure designs align with project goals and customer expectations.

• Revise designs and drawings to incorporate change orders, customer requests, and corrections identified during construction or review.

• Ensure all designs comply with NEC, OSHA, NEMA, ASTM, IEEE, and other applicable standards and guidelines.

• Maintain efficient use of company resources by designing for manufacturability, constructability, and cost-effectiveness.

• Communicate project status, design progress, and technical issues clearly to leadership and stakeholders through reports and presentations.

• Manage multiple concurrent projects (typically 5-7 at a time) and prioritize work effectively to meet deadlines and deliverables.

Essential Skills

• 2+ years of experience designing enclosures or buildings.

• 3+ years of experience with steel design and detailing using AutoCAD 2D and Inventor 3D.

• Proficiency in structural design for buildings, enclosures, stairs, cable trays, and sheet metal components.

• Strong ability to prepare detailed structural drawing packages that meet building codes and regulatory standards.

• Hands-on experience performing structural calculations to verify product design and structural integrity.

• Proficiency with AutoCAD for 2D drafting and Autodesk Inventor for 3D modeling.

• Working knowledge of NEC (National Electrical Code) requirements relevant to structural and enclosure design.

• Working knowledge of OSHA safety requirements applicable to structural and manufacturing environments.

• Familiarity with NEMA standards for enclosures and related equipment.

• Knowledge of ASTM standards and structural steel shapes such as I-beams.

• Understanding of IEEE standards relevant to the design of structures for electrical and industrial applications.

• Experience designing for industries such as oil and gas or similar industrial sectors.

• Ability to interpret and apply customer specifications, company standards, and industry codes to design work.

• Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify and correct errors in drawings and designs.

• Effective communication skills for collaborating with engineers, production teams, project managers, and sales.

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Associate degree in Civil Engineering, Drafting Technology, or a closely related field.

• Experience working in a manufacturing environment and designing structures with manufacturability in mind.

• Exposure to data centers, guard shacks, battery buildings, power inverters, or similar applications.

• Experience creating and revising designs based on change orders and customer feedback.

• Ability to read and interpret vendor drawings, quotes, and technical documents.

• Strong organizational skills to track progress across multiple concurrent projects.

• Comfort working within a flat organizational structure and collaborating closely with a small design team.

• Motivation to grow into expanded responsibilities as the organization diversifies into new business lines.

Work Environment

This role is 100% onsite, working as part of a close-knit team of approximately five other designers in a collaborative, flat organizational structure. The standard schedule is Monday through Friday, generally between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., with flexibility on start and end times as long as a full eight-hour workday is completed. The position is based in a manufacturing-focused environment where designers work closely with engineering, manufacturing, project management, and sales teams. You will typically manage 5-7 projects at a time, requiring regular coordination with internal stakeholders to keep work moving efficiently. The organization offers long-term stability with a strong workload forecasted through at least 2029 and is actively expanding into new business lines and industries such as data centers, guard shacks, battery buildings, and power inverters, providing ongoing opportunities for professional development and growth.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Houston, TX.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $33.65 - $33.65/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

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)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Houston,TX.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 7, 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 click.appcast.io 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.