Seismic Structural Engineer – Nonlinear & Performance Design
An employee-owned consultancy renowned for pushing the frontier of earthquake-resilient design. Our interdisciplinary team fuses research, practice, and digital automation to deliver structures that safeguard communities and speed post-event recovery. Decision-making stays close to the engineers; bureaucracy stays out. Choose between vibrant studios in multiple time zones or a remote setup that keeps your seismic curiosity shaking—never your work-life balance.
Responsibilities
- Lead performance-based seismic design for new mid-rise and high-rise steel, concrete, and hybrid structures in high-seismic regions.
- Execute nonlinear time-history and pushover analyses using ETABS, SAP2000, Perform-3D, and SeismoStruct.
- Size and detail ductile seismic force-resisting systems—special moment frames, buckling-restrained braced frames, shear walls, diaphragms.
- Develop retrofit schemes for existing hospitals, schools, and essential facilities in accordance with ASCE 41 and applicable state amendments.
- Prepare peer-review packages, white papers, and presentation decks that translate complex analytical findings into clear recommendations for architects, owners, and authorities having jurisdiction.
- Guide junior engineers through modeling nuances, convergence troubleshooting, and code interpretation; deliver internal lunch-and-learns on emerging research.
- Collaborate with geotechnical consultants on site-specific spectra, soil-structure interaction, and ground-motion selection.
- Monitor global earthquake events and integrate new data into ongoing projects—because yesterday’s shake informs tomorrow’s solution.
Qualifications
- Professional Engineer (PE) license in at least one U.S. state—SE license or ability to obtain within 18 months.
- 5 + years of U.S. structural engineering experience with demonstrable seismic portfolio.
- Master’s degree in Structural or Earthquake Engineering preferred; bachelor’s degree minimum.
- Proficiency in ETABS, SAP2000, Perform-3D, and SeismoStruct; familiarity with OpenSees or Abaqus is an edge.
- Deep knowledge of ASCE 7, ASCE 41, ACI 318, AISC 341, and FEMA P-58.
- Strong grasp of structural dynamics, inelastic demand-capacity assessment, and component fragility.
- Clear, concise technical writing; ability to author calculation packages and design narratives that withstand agency scrutiny.
Preferred Skills
- Post-earthquake reconnaissance or vulnerability assessment experience.
- BIM workflow awareness (Revit, Navisworks) for model coordination.
- Python or MATLAB scripting to automate model generation and result parsing.
- Public speaking or guest-lecturing on seismic topics.