Senior Structural Engineer

Norwest Engineering's success is rooted in providing exceptional client service while promoting a work environment that fosters teamwork and long-term client relationships. For over 48 years, we have provided a wide range of multi-discipline professional engineering and technical services in the heavy industrial marketplace including Oil & Gas, renewable fuels, Chemical, Manufacturing, Utilities, Ports, and Pulp & Paper. Norwest is actively seeking a Senior Structural Engineer who will quickly grow into the technical lead position. This person will embody the widest depth and breadth of experience, be adept at collaborative multi-discipline engineering projects, and still have a passion for doing structural engineering design and analysis. They will have experience with mentoring junior engineers and managing multiple structural engineers on larger projects. They will be an integral part of developing engineering scopes of work and estimating budgets for new business opportunities. They will be capable and comfortable in all forms of communication. While the vast majority of our work is in the heavy industrial field, past experience in commercial building and/or bridge design is desired.

Our Projects and the Structural Engineer’s Role

The heavy industrial field differs in many ways from the typical commercial development and government fields. The client-side managers and stakeholders are typically engineers themselves. The direct users (operators, maintenance teams) are involved in the design and review process. Projects range in complexity from repair and maintenance, to active site (brownfield) additions, to large greenfield projects. Projects are often driven by a new or changed process (e.g., piping, tanks, equipment, etc.) and the structural elements support the new infrastructure. Typical plant and terminal structures include shallow, mat, and deep foundations for equipment such as pumps and vessels; steel structures such as pipe supports, multi-story towers and bridges; marine structures such as docks, dolphins and seawalls; and occupied and non-occupied buildings that are prefabricated, structural steel, CMU, and precast concrete. Building structural evaluations, retrofits, and new construction are becoming more common parts of our work and experience in this area is strongly desired.

Beyond typical engineering and design, our structural engineers also take part in inspections, structural evaluations, construction support, permitting support, and preliminary engineering for concept validation and cost estimating purposes. Our engineers are client-facing often; virtual and in-person meetings may occur every week. Formal written communication such as technical memorandums, reports, design basis memorandums, and proposals are developed regularly. For project managers, other written communication such as meeting agenda and minutes, engineering and project schedules, and bid packages are also a regular occurrence. Therefore, polished communication skills are an absolute must.

Our engineers travel occasionally for meetings and field reconnaissance; a 2-3 day effort is typical when accounting for travel time. A longer stay of a week or more is rare, even more rare for a senior position. In any event, our travel budgets typically allow for comfortable flights, accommodations, and travel budgets.

Responsibilities will initially be assigned based on experience. Larger projects typically are split up within the department to multiple engineers, while the small and medium projects may be assigned to a single engineer. Typical structural engineering project budgets range from 50 – 250 engineering manhours, while the larger “anchor” projects may be as much as 2,000-6,000 manhours for the department. Engineers do not typically provide their own drafting, though drafting experience is a plus as it makes collaborating with structural designers a more effective process.

Senior Structural Engineer Expectations

As a Senior Structural Engineer, any relevant experience you may have will influence project assignments. But you will be exposed to a range of tasks in the field of structural engineering in support of process and manufacturing projects. Experience in industrial plant structures is desired, though not essential. It is important to us that you are committed to engineering, eager to learn new things, and want to participate on a team as a valuable and respected contributor. Experience with detailed structural steel and reinforced concrete design and detailing is the primary requirement of the structural engineer. Given that many of our projects are located on the West Coast and other high-seismic areas, an advanced understanding of seismic analysis and design, relevant codes, and industry best practice is required (at minimum) for single-story structures and equipment.[KW1] You must be adept at developing drawings and structural calculations appropriate for permitting and third-party review, in addition to construction. A senior-level engineer will be expected to manage their own structural-only projects. You may learn to manage multi-discipline projects and take on a larger role in the company if you show an aptitude and interest in this area.

Standard expectations include:

• A self-motivated individual showing the ability to enthusiastically work in a multi-discipline team setting.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Collaborate and direct drafting and design of structures.
• Expand, maintain, and utilize a working knowledge of shallow and deep foundation types, general framing and building systems, plan preparation, construction considerations, and building codes.
• Must be able to develop creative and practical solutions for the unique problems in industry. Collaborate on best solutions for layout and support, access, future expansion.
• Understand and implement practical application of structural engineering standards.
• Comfortable with on-site work including damage assessment and construction field observation.
• Effective at assigning and managing tasks to other structural engineers and designers on projects, and mentoring engineers. Collaborate with the Director on project assignments and workflow management.
• Ability to travel throughout the Pacific Northwest and nationally as necessary.

salary: $120k - $135k

The minimum position requirements are as follows:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Structural Engineering or in Civil Engineering from an ABET-accredited institution.
• At least 10 years of experience designing steel and reinforced concrete structures, and both shallow and deep foundations.
• Registered professional engineer for at least 6 years with the intent to obtain licenses in other states through reciprocity. Have experience stamping your own work as well as reviewing and stamping the work of others.
• Experience managing structural engineering projects. Experience allocating and managing project tasks to multiple individuals on the structural team as necessary.
• Experience mentoring entry-level through mid-level structural engineers. This includes teaching new skills, establishing review milestones with them in the analysis and design process, providing beneficial feedback and redlines, all while helping them manage their schedule and budget expectations on the projects.
• Experience supporting business development and project bids by developing written scopes of work and estimated fees for a range of projects.
• Support client business case evaluation opportunities by estimating total installed costs at the preliminary and concept engineering level (e.g., FEED studies).
• Proficient will all common foundation types (shallow, mat, deep) and reinforced concrete foundation design. Proficient with steel design. Proficient with seismic detailing, specifically AISC 341.
• Adept at developing and reviewing structural calculations and drawings for permitting/third party review is required. Ability to manage and/or respond to permit application comments, construction RFI’s, and construction submittals is required.
• Experience with building design and light architectural experience is strongly desired.
• Experience with pre-engineered structures/light gauge steel is a plus. Experience with seawalls, over-water structures, sheet pile walls, tie-back walls, and in-ground reinforced concrete vaults and sumps are a plus.
• Proficiency with typical software used in structural engineering, preferably RISA products (3D, Foundation, Connection, Calc), Mathcad Prime, Bluebeam, AutoCAD, and Microsoft 365 products.