Senior Structural Engineer

SME is seeking a Senior Structural Engineer to join our Building Materials Group in our Plymouth, Michigan office.  This position is performed in person and includes regular collaboration in the office and on project sites. 

 The Opportunity:

We are seeking a senior structural engineer who thrives as a seller/doer and has a strong background in existing buildings and forensic engineering. This role blends hands-on technical leadership with practice growth, offering the opportunity to leverage professional expertise and relationships to expand our structural services. 

In this position, you will lead and oversee structural evaluations, field investigations, and forensic assessments of existing structures, with a focus on understanding system behavior, distress, and performance over time. You will be responsible for shaping investigation approaches, reviewing analyses and reports, and mentoring early career team members while collaborating closely with architects, contractors, and clients. 

As a seller/doer, you will play an active role in growing the practice by building upon your professional network, fostering long-term client relationships, and identifying project opportunities aligned with your technical expertise. Business development efforts are closely integrated with project delivery and rooted in technical credibility, trusted advisory relationships, and meaningful client engagement. This role is well suited for an engineer who enjoys both technical problem-solving and contributing to the strategic growth of a collaborative, expanding team. 

Qualifications: 

• Ten (10) plus years of technical design experience with structural design of concrete, masonry, steel, wood elements and structures. 

• As minimum, a BS in Civil Engineering with structural emphasis degree from an accredited engineering program. 

• Professional Engineer (PE) License. 

• Working knowledge of the latest AISC-360, ASCE-7, ACI-318, and other industry standards. 

• Experience using industry standard design software, such as STAAD, RISA, IES, or equivalent. 

• Effective technical, graphical, written, and verbal communication skills. 

• Team player mindset with a willingness to proactively take on various roles and responsibilities.  

 Responsibilities:  

• Lead, oversee, review, and execute structural engineering tasks for a variety of projects related to assessment and restoration design of concrete, masonry, steel, wood elements and structures. Engineering tasks include detailed design, calculations, and development of repair details and specifications.  

• Assume responsibility for the day-to-day success of multiple projects, including acting as the primary point of contact for clients, contractors, and project teams; training and mentoring teammates; and managing small-to-medium projects. 

• Develop and maintain client relationships, identify and respond to project opportunities and RFPs in the local market, and develop and deliver building materials services to clients with new and existing facilities. 

• Manage projects including client development, project scoping, assembling and managing appropriate project teams, maintaining project schedules and budgets, and managing client expectations and deliverables. 

• Assign project tasks and provide technical guidance to junior-level team members, as follows: 

• • Work directly with project managers to help implement project goals. 

• • Delegate duties to junior-level staff to implement project goals, as needed. 

• • Oversee and conduct quality checks on variable aspects of projects, such as project schedule, deliverables, fees, and invoicing, and provide direct assistance to ensure timely project execution.  

• • Mentor and early career team members.   

• Contribute to company-wide objectives through involvement in office and company development initiatives. 

• Participate in relevant industry committees and professional organizations. 

• Pursue and participate in continuing education opportunities to further your knowledge of the industry. 

• Conduct additional duties as assigned. 

  Preferred Skills and Experience: 

• Master’s degree in Structural Engineering. 

• Structural Engineer (SE) license. 

• Experience with assessment and design of prestressed concrete elements/structures. 

• Previous consulting firm experience. 

• Shoring design. 

  Physical Requirements: 

• Ability to safely use and operate ladders and stairs, scaffolds, lifts and other equipment to access existing or under-construction buildings recording the necessary field data to conduct structural analysis and produce technical documents for building systems and components.   

• Ability to learn new concepts and adapt to challenges.   

• Ability to work overtime, including weekends on an as-needed basis. 

• Ability to work in an efficient and organized manner independently and with a team. 

• Medically fit to use a respiratory protective device and other personal protective equipment. 

• Ability to work in varied environments as dictated by the project, for example: 

• Sitting and use of a computer for prolonged periods of time. 

• Work in confined spaces and at heights greater than six feet (potentially on ladders, boom lifts, and swing stages). 

• Travel locally and out-of- area; A valid driver’s license (good driving record) and passport are required. 

  SME's Core Values:

• Honesty and Integrity
• Respect
• Selfless Service
• Teamwork
• Practical Solutions

Benefits:

At SME, we believe that taking care of our employees is the cornerstone of our success. Our commitment to your well-being goes beyond a job- it is about helping you thrive both personally and professionally. We offer a benefits package that is not simply meeting an expectation, but a key component of your overall job satisfaction. The following list highlights many of the benefits SME offers its employees.

• SME provides Medical, Dental, and Vision after 30 days of employment.
• SME covers the premium cost of medical insurance so that you and your families never have to worry about the costs of healthcare.
• 401k match
• Yearly profit sharing that goes directly into your 401k
• Yearly performance bonuses
• Yearly wage evaluations
• Flexible Spending Account
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Competitive Paid Time Off
• Volunteer Time Off