How to hire a senior structural designer

How to hire a senior structural designer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior structural designer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a senior structural designer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior structural designer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a senior structural designer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The senior structural designer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A senior structural designer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior structural designers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents senior structural designer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Senior Structural Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Structural Designer	Aerospace engineers design primarily aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. In addition, they test prototypes to make sure that they function according to design.	$32-65
   Engineering Scientist	An engineering scientist is responsible for designing new technological systems through the evaluation of scientific methods and innovative solutions. Engineering scientists analyze technical parts and components, researching the current engineering trends to meet public demands and interests... Show more	$31-59
   Aerospace Engineer	An aerospace engineer specializes in designing, maintaining, and repairing aircraft and spacecraft. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting tests and procedures to identify faults and inconsistencies, lead production processes, performing repairs and improvements, designing systems, and ensuring that all equipment complies with the safety regulations and standards... Show more	$34-67

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Autocad
   • Revit
   • Structural Design
   • Navisworks
   • BIM
   • Design Drawings
   • Steel Structures
   • Construction Drawings
   • Concrete Structures
   • Oil Gas
   • Reinforced Concrete
   • Equipment Supports
   • Sketch
   • Tekla

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage BIM process on specific projects and team members throughout preconstruction and construction.
   • Review and coordinate 3D projects with NavisWorks.
   • Utilize CADWorx to create 3D models and 2D constructions drawings.
   • Perform detailed field surveys inside plant, refinery and offshore facilities.
   • Create structural steel and concrete designs of cryogenic facility using CADWorx.
   • Work with many local Alaskan companies and familiar with BP and Alyeska document control systems TDDI EDDI.

   More senior structural designer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the senior structural designer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A senior structural designer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a senior structural designer in Hawaii may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level senior structural designer. Additionally, a senior structural designer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average senior structural designer salary

   $96,422yearly

   $46.36 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior structural designer salary

   $67,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 30, 2025

   Average senior structural designer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Texas	$115,699	$56
   2	Arizona	$113,271	$54
   3	Georgia	$104,315	$50
   4	Rhode Island	$101,748	$49
   5	Louisiana	$100,531	$48
   6	California	$99,800	$48
   7	New York	$98,310	$47
   8	Tennessee	$97,445	$47
   9	Oregon	$96,909	$47
   10	Alabama	$95,749	$46
   11	Colorado	$91,866	$44
   12	Florida	$91,419	$44
   13	Virginia	$90,995	$44
   14	North Carolina	$88,665	$43
   15	Missouri	$86,336	$42
   16	South Carolina	$86,301	$41
   17	Illinois	$85,410	$41
   18	Pennsylvania	$85,391	$41
   19	Kansas	$80,491	$39

   Average senior structural designer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Shell Trading	$154,889	$74.47
   2	Bunge	$130,868	$62.92
   3	URBN	$126,674	$60.90	36
   4	Technip USA Corporation	$116,652	$56.08
   5	Allegiant International	$109,687	$52.73
   6	HSBC Bank	$108,989	$52.40
   7	Edwards Lifesciences	$106,434	$51.17
   8	Air Products	$104,013	$50.01	1
   9	The Coca-Cola Company	$101,413	$48.76	2
   10	Burns & McDonnell	$100,104	$48.13	79
   11	Brown and Caldwell	$97,967	$47.10	2
   12	Fluor Corporation	$97,291	$46.77	15
   13	International Paper	$96,115	$46.21	4
   14	Hargrove Engineers + Constructors	$94,099	$45.24	38
   15	Sargent & Lundy	$94,016	$45.20	433
   16	Jacobs Enterprises	$93,600	$45.00	378
   17	Nabih Youssef & Associates	$93,421	$44.91
   18	CB&I Federal Services, LLC	$93,275	$44.84
   19	McDermott International	$93,254	$44.83	2
   20	Primoris Services	$93,154	$44.79	16

4. Writing a senior structural designer job description

   A senior structural designer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a senior structural designer job description:

   Senior structural designer job description example

   • Associate degree or related schooling required
   • eight (8) years utility HV substation or power generation design experience is required
   • Ability to coordinate with designers and engineers of other disciplines to complete deliverables
   • Proficiency with MicroStation & AUTOCAD software's
   • Experience with site visits, in order to capture all technical data needed for estimates and execution of related substation project work
   • Ability to work effectively in a team environment and develop strong internal and external relationships
   • Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks independently
   • Working closely with engineers to meet with project timelines for engineering deliverables
   • Experience in renewable (Wind & Solar) as asset
   • Performing Drafting QA/QC of civil/structural engineering design packages
   • 3D modeling experience

   At Gannett Fleming, we believe in improving the lives of the people we serve. We believe in innovation and social responsibility. We believe in the diversity of our team and the creative solutions they provide. We believe in embracing change and emerging technologies while maintaining an unmatched standard of quality. We believe in creating an environment where employees can thrive at home and at work. We believe in engaging our employees, building lasting relationships with our clients, and, in turn, making a difference in the world.

   We offer a comprehensive benefits program, which includes medical, dental, vision and life insurance, our tax-deferred 401 (K) savings plan, and the opportunity to incentive compensation for eligible positions. We are committed to your personal growth and professional development, so we offer tuition reimbursement, access to internal and external training programs and support active participation in professional organizations.

   Gannett Fleming is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans' status or other characteristics protected by law.

   NO AGENCIES PLEASE : Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will not be accepted.

   Location: Marlton, NJ; St. Louis, MO; Chicago, IL

   Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find senior structural designers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior structural designer job on Zippia to find and recruit senior structural designer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit senior structural designers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new senior structural designer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the senior structural designer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new senior structural designer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a senior structural designer?