Senior Product / Application / Structural Engineer - Building Products

James Hardie is the industry leader in exterior home and outdoor living solutions, with a portfolio that includes fiber cement, fiber gypsum, composite and PVC decking and railing products. Our family of trusted brands includes Hardie®, TimberTech®, AZEK® Exteriors, Versatex®, fermacell®, and StruXure®.

With over 8,000 employees and our U.S. operating entities headquartered in Chicago, we boast 31 operating sites, 6 recycling facilities, and 6 research and development centers globally. Powered by a dynamic workforce, we’re united by our purpose of Building a Better Future for All™ through sustainable innovation, a Zero Harm culture, and a commitment to empowering our people and communities.

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Summary

The Senior Product / Application / Structural Engineer – Building Products provides technical leadership and engineering support for the application of various siding, decking and home interiors products. Expertise is applied across application engineering, product performance testing, field performance initiatives, building code compliance, and product approvals . This role serves as a technical resource for both the Application Engineering and Codes & Compliance functions, helping ensure products perform as intended in real-world applications, support customer-focused innovation, and meet regulatory requirements.

 

The position requires strong collaboration with R&D, Product Management, Manufacturing, Quality, Marketing, Regulatory Affairs, external laboratories, consultants, standards organizations, and other industry stakeholders. This role will support new product development, maintain and defend product approvals, develop technical substantiation, and strengthen the company’s technical leadership within the building products industry.

What You’ll Do:

• Provide engineering analysis, testing, and technical evaluations to support product applications, installation methods, and field performance needs.

• Perform structural engineering evaluations and calculations, including work involving ASCE 7 requirements, loading, cladding, attachment, and related performance considerations. 

• Support installation innovation by evaluating new methods, accessories, details, and system-level approaches that improve customer experience, constructability, and product performance. 
• Design, coordinate, and execute laboratory and field-testing programs to validate product performance, including testing informed by customer insights and field observations.
• Analyze test data and prepare clear technical reports, presentations, recommendations, and decision-support materials for internal and external audiences. 

 

Compliance & Standards  

• Assist in maintaining product code approvals, listings, certifications, evaluation reports, and related compliance documentation. 

• Develop and support technical substantiation packages for product approvals, code evaluations, listings, and regulatory inquiries. 

• Contribute to technical responses regarding code compliance, product use, installation requirements, and performance criteria 

 

 

Technical Leadership & Industry Engagement  

• Conduct research on emerging technologies, building science trends, regulatory developments, product performance issues, and engineering methodologies. 

• Prepare technical papers, presentations, educational materials, one-pagers, FAQs, and other communication tools for internal stakeholders, customers, and industry audiences. 

• Represent the organization in appropriate industry forums, trade shows, standards activities, and technical discussions to help strengthen the company’s reputation as a technical leader. 

• Maintain technical documentation, specifications, engineering records, test summaries, and substantiation files in a clear and organized manner. 

 

Project Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration  

• Manage multiple technical projects simultaneously while meeting timelines, business objectives, and stakeholder expectations. 

• Coordinate activities with internal teams, external laboratories, consultants, regulatory organizations, certification bodies, and industry partners. 

• Track project progress, identify risks or barriers, and communicate technical findings, recommendations, and next steps to leadership and project teams. 

• Translate complex engineering, testing, and code-related information into practical guidance for product development, technical services, marketing, sales, and customer-facing teams. 

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Construction Engineering, Structural Engineering, or related technical discipline required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) or Structural Engineer (S.E.) license is highly preferred.
• 7–10 years of relevant engineering experience in building products, construction materials, structural engineering, product development, application engineering, or related field.
• Experience managing technical projects and collaborating across multiple functions, including R&D, Product Management, Manufacturing, Quality, Marketing, Regulatory Affairs, and external technical partners. 

• Experience with product testing, performance validation, technical documentation, and interpretation of codes, standards, or evaluation criteria preferred.
• Knowledge of building materials, construction practices, product performance testing, and field application requirements.
• Working knowledge of ASCE 7 and related structural design concepts, including wind loading and attachment considerations.
• Ability to interpret codes, standards, test methods, evaluation criteria, engineering data, and product approval requirements.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and engineering judgment skills.
• Proficiency in technical report writing, presentation development, and communication of complex technical information to varied audiences.
• Ability to translate test results, field observations, and technical findings into actionable recommendations.
• Experience leading innovation and product development initiatives within complex manufacturing Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills across technical and non-technical teams.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication abilities.
• Demonstrated initiative, curiosity, and continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to influence decisions without direct authority by using sound technical reasoning and clear communication.
• Strong organizational, planning, and project management capabilities.
• Customer-focused mindset with the ability to connect engineering solutions to field needs, business priorities, and market requirements.
• Ability to travel up to 25%

What You’ll Receive:

As of the date of this posting, a good faith estimate of the current pay scale for this position is $120k to $135k. Placement in the range depends on several factors such as experience, skills, geography and internal equity and may change over time. This position qualifies for benefits and you will be eligible to participate in a bonus plan.

 

At James Hardie, we recognize that our success depends on our people. We've worked hard to build a generous and competitive benefits program that demonstrates our commitment to our employees.

• Compensation: competitive salary and bonus eligibility
• Insurance: day-one health coverage medical, dental, vision, life insurance
• Paid Time Off: vacation and company holidays
• Retirement: 401(k) with 6% match
• Investments: Employee Stock Purchase plan (ESP)
• Work-Life Balance: parental leave, wellness programs
• Purpose. Impact. Community: Sustainability Initiatives | James Hardie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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James Hardie Building Products Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, veteran's status, marital status, pregnancy, disability, or any other basis protected by law.

James Hardie will comply with any applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies.

The position responsibilities outlined above are in no way to be construed as all encompassing. Other duties, responsibilities, and qualifications may be required and/or assigned as necessary.