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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Associate Structural Engineer

💰 $ - $

EngineeringStructuralCivil

🎯 Role Definition

The Associate Structural Engineer supports senior engineers and project teams by performing structural analysis, producing design calculations, creating construction drawings and BIM models, reviewing shop drawings, and participating in construction administration. This role emphasizes technical accuracy, code compliance, collaboration with architects and contractors, and continuous learning toward professional registration (PE). Strong proficiency with analysis tools (STAAD.Pro, ETABS, SAP2000), BIM (Revit, Tekla) and drafting (AutoCAD) is expected.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Junior Structural Designer / CAD Technician
  • Entry-Level Civil Engineer / EIT (Engineer-in-Training)
  • Structural Draftsperson or BIM Modeler

Advancement To:

  • Structural Engineer
  • Senior Structural Engineer / Project Engineer
  • Lead Structural Designer / Project Manager
  • Principal / Associate Structural Engineer / Engineering Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Seismic / Wind Specialist
  • Bridge or Infrastructure Engineer
  • BIM Coordinator / Structural BIM Lead
  • Construction Engineer / Field Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Assist in the development of structural design and analysis for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional projects, preparing complete hand calculations and computer-based models that clearly justify member sizing, connection design, and load paths per IBC, ACI, AISC, and ASCE 7 requirements.
  • Produce and revise structural construction drawings and details using Revit Structure and AutoCAD, ensuring drawings are accurate, fully coordinated with architectural and MEP disciplines, and formatted for permit submission and construction use.
  • Create and validate finite element and frame models in SAP2000, ETABS, STAAD.Pro or similar, run load cases (dead, live, snow, wind, seismic), interpret results, and convert analysis outputs into practical design decisions and construction documents.
  • Prepare design calculation reports and technical narratives that document methodology, assumptions, loading conditions, code references, and design outcomes for client review and permitting authorities.
  • Develop detailed steel connection design and specification work in accordance with AISC standards, including bolted and welded connection checks, gusset plates, and moment connections, and coordinate with fabricators during shop drawing review.
  • Design reinforced concrete members (beams, columns, slabs, foundations, retaining walls) including reinforcement layouts, development lengths, and detailing consistent with ACI 318 and project constructability constraints.
  • Perform foundation design including shallow and deep foundations, spread footings, mat foundations and pile recommendations by integrating geotechnical input and performing settlement and bearing capacity checks.
  • Conduct seismic and wind load assessments, perform response spectrum or time-history analysis as required, and apply seismic detailing and drift checks to ensure code-compliant lateral force-resisting systems.
  • Produce material takeoffs, preliminary cost estimates, and bill of materials to support cost-control discussions with project managers and clients.
  • Prepare and review shop drawings and submittals from fabricators and contractors, providing timely technical responses, markups and approval or recommended revisions to ensure components meet design intent and specifications.
  • Participate in or lead BIM coordination sessions, perform clash detection, implement model revisions, and maintain federated models that reflect the latest design decisions across disciplines.
  • Support construction administration: attend site visits, field observations, and pre-construction meetings; perform as-built verification; document site conditions and prepare timely RFI responses and field directives to resolve design-to-construction issues.
  • Maintain quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures: perform peer reviews of calculations and drawings, check junior staff deliverables, and ensure release packages meet office standards and client expectations.
  • Collaborate closely with architects, MEP engineers, owners and contractors to resolve design conflicts, advise on constructability improvements, and implement value engineering proposals without compromising structural performance or code compliance.
  • Assist in preparing permit submittals and code compliance documentation for local jurisdictions, addressing reviewer comments and revising documents until permits are issued.
  • Support production of technical specifications and scope-of-work narratives to be included in project contract documents, ensuring clarity for bidding and construction.
  • Participate in project planning: prepare work scopes, schedules, and milestone deliverables; track design progress and communicate risks or resource needs to project managers.
  • Mentor and supervise drafters and junior engineers on modeling best practices, structural detailing, and office standards, contributing to team skill development and knowledge transfer.
  • Conduct forensic and condition assessment tasks under supervision: assess existing building structural systems, prepare repair recommendations, and produce retrofit design options with cost and schedule implications.
  • Respond to client inquiries and support proposals by preparing technical content, staffing estimates, and resumes, and by performing preliminary engineering scope to win work.
  • Keep project documentation organized in the document management system: upload calculations, drawings, correspondence, RFIs, submittal logs, and meeting minutes to maintain a clear audit trail.
  • Ensure compliance with company safety, sustainability, and quality policies, and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives for standards, templates, and workflows.

Secondary Functions

  • Perform periodic site visits and field verification to support construction oversight, documenting deviations and recommending corrective actions.
  • Support proposal development and business development activities by providing technical input, effort estimates, and contributing to client meetings and presentations.
  • Assist in internal knowledge-sharing programs: lead lunch-and-learns, prepare training materials, and update the office standards and detail libraries.
  • Coordinate with subconsultants (geotechnical, façade, specialty fabricators) to integrate their recommendations into the structural design and resolve interdisciplinary issues.
  • Maintain and update BIM models and CAD libraries, tagging revisions, and ensuring model version control for downstream use by fabricators and contractors.
  • Participate in post-construction closeout activities such as compiling record drawings, final calculations, and as-built documentation.
  • Track material testing results and coordinate with testing laboratories to incorporate field test data into final design verifications and reporting.
  • Assist senior engineers in peer review and QA/QC checks, reworking components identified as noncompliant or lacking sufficient documentation.
  • Support scheduling and resource allocation for projects, flagging potential risks to project managers and proposing mitigation approaches.
  • Monitor emerging codes, standards and best practices, and propose updates to office procedures to maintain competitive, code-compliant delivery.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Structural analysis and design of steel, concrete, wood and masonry systems with demonstrated ability to produce hand calculations and computer-based analysis.
  • Proficiency with structural analysis tools: STAAD.Pro, ETABS, SAP2000, RISA or equivalent for frame and dynamic analysis.
  • BIM and modeling: Revit Structure, Tekla Structures, Navisworks for model development, coordination and clash detection.
  • Detailing and drafting: AutoCAD and Revit documentation workflows for construction drawings, schedules and markups.
  • Knowledge and application of building codes and standards: IBC, ACI 318, AISC 360, ASCE 7, AASHTO (as applicable).
  • Steel connection and bolted/welded detail design, including shop drawing review and fabrication coordination.
  • Foundation and geotechnical coordination: shallow and pile foundations, settlement checks and allowable bearing capacity computations.
  • Seismic and wind load analysis, lateral systems design, drift calculations and seismic detailing per relevant codes.
  • Technical report writing: clear design narratives, calculation write-ups, specifications and permit submittal packages.
  • Construction administration and field observation skills: documenting site conditions, RFIs, submittal review and punch-list management.
  • Quantity takeoffs, basic cost estimating and familiarity with project budget drivers.
  • Familiarity with structural instrumentation, testing protocols and condition assessment methodologies.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (custom spreadsheets), Word and project collaboration tools (Bluebeam, Procore, Newforma).

Soft Skills

  • Clear, professional verbal and written communication tailored to clients, contractors and multidisciplinary teams.
  • Strong attention to detail and commitment to delivering high-quality, review-ready documents.
  • Problem solving and analytical thinking to translate complex analysis into practical construction solutions.
  • Time management and prioritization: ability to manage multiple concurrent deadlines and deliverables under supervision.
  • Teamwork and collaboration with a positive, client-service oriented attitude.
  • Adaptability and eagerness to learn new tools, codes and construction methods.
  • Professionalism and ethical judgment, including confidentiality and responsibility for public safety.
  • Ability to mentor junior staff and receive constructive feedback from senior engineers.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering (ABET-accredited preferred).

Preferred Education:

  • Master of Science in Structural Engineering, Civil Engineering, or Architectural Engineering; coursework or minor in structural dynamics, earthquake engineering, or advanced concrete/steel design.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Civil Engineering
  • Structural Engineering
  • Architectural Engineering
  • Construction Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 1 to 4 years of professional structural engineering experience in a consulting firm, contractor, or design-build environment.

Preferred:

  • 2–5 years of experience performing structural analysis, producing construction documents, and participating in construction administration for building projects.
  • EIT/FE certification required or in-progress; progress toward Professional Engineer (PE) licensure strongly preferred.
  • Demonstrated experience with at least two major analysis/design tools (e.g., ETABS + Revit or STAAD.Pro + Tekla) and familiarity with local permitting processes.
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