Structural Engineer

Lead Structural Engineer

This role offers an opportunity for a hands-on Lead Structural Engineer to establish and lead in-house structural engineering capabilities within a growing, design-focused firm. You will deliver coordinated, constructible structural design solutions across commercial, office, industrial, retail, restaurant, residential, and renovation/adaptive reuse projects while working closely with architects, MEP professionals, owners, contractors, and authorities having jurisdiction. The position aims to reduce reliance on external structural consultants, improve project control and responsiveness, and enhance coordination quality and client service within an integrated architectural and engineering environment.

Responsibilities:

• Lead structural engineering design for assigned building projects from conceptual design through construction documents and construction administration.
• Develop structural calculations, drawings, details, and specifications for new construction, renovations, tenant improvements, additions, adaptive reuse projects, and existing building modifications.
• Design and evaluate structural systems including steel, wood, masonry, concrete, foundations, lateral systems, framing modifications, openings, canopies, mezzanines, equipment supports, and structural repairs.
• Collaborate closely with architectural and MEP staff to coordinate layouts, penetrations, loads, equipment supports, ceiling and roof conditions, constructability issues, and overall 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, providing timely, clear responses during construction.
• Interface with clients, contractors, municipalities, and code officials to support permitting, approvals, and construction progress.
• Develop and refine 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 delivery.
• Contribute to a culture of communication, responsiveness, and practical engineering judgment in a small-company environment.

Essential Skills:

• Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Architectural Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Approximately 5+ years of structural engineering experience on 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.
• Demonstrated experience producing signed and sealed structural documents, calculations, details, and construction-phase responses.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively 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 with architectural and MEP disciplines.
• Practical understanding of existing building conditions, field verification, construction sequencing, and constructability.

Additional Skills & Qualifications:

• 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 firm’s internal structural subject matter expert while remaining hands-on with calculations and drawings.
• Experience developing structural standards, typical details, QA/QC checklists, or 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.
• Comfort working in a small-company environment where communication, responsiveness, ownership, and practical engineering judgment are critical.
• Interest in contributing to an integrated design model that combines architectural, mechanical, electrical, and structural capabilities.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a collaborative setting.

Work Environment:

The office is located in Farmington and currently has approximately 19 employees with plans for continued growth. The role is full-time, salaried, and typically involves 40-45 hours per week, Monday through Friday, with flexible working hours. For the first 46 months, the position is 100% in-office to support team building, collaboration, and integration with architectural and MEP staff; after this period, a hybrid schedule of 1-2 days per week remote work (typically Monday and/or Friday) is available. The environment emphasizes creative design, attention to detail, integrated solutions, and high-quality service, with a strong focus on communication and client relationships. The firm maintains in-house architectural, mechanical, and electrical engineering capabilities, providing an integrated, technically focused setting. Occasional travel is required, mainly local with some out-of-state trips, for job site meetings and reviews. The culture values personal attention to each project, long-term client relationships, and responsible design that positively impacts the surrounding community. The compensation package includes annual bonuses, profit sharing, and 401(k) matching, reflecting a commitment to shared success and long-term professional growth.

Job Type & Location:

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

Pay and Benefits:

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

Application Deadline:

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 9, 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.