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What does a senior structural designer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

A senior structural designer designs structures such as bridges, dams, parks, or telecommunication structures. They create designs, document them, and analyze structural functionality. Frequently, they must attend meetings and seminars to distribute designs to junior structural designers. They also perform peer reviews and write reports.

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Senior structural designer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior structural designer resumes:

  • 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.
  • Used NFM3 and NavisWorks software for additional file management and distribution of the 3D models for inter-discipline coordination and reporting.
  • Work scope includes grassroots refining units, utilities, and infrastructure for the new refinery and modernization of the new refinery.
  • Generate GIS studies, conduct field verification, provide quality assurance and client and municipal interaction.
  • Create geo-database using ARCINFO and ARCGIS software.
  • Utilize ArcGIS to digitize sidewalkassessments and to reroute public works refuse collection.
  • Analyze soil reports prepare by geotechnical engineers and implement their findings in civil and structural design drawings.

Senior structural designer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 17% of Senior Structural Designers are proficient in Autocad, Revit, and Structural Design. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Business skills, and Writing skills.

We break down the percentage of Senior Structural Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Autocad, 17%

    Drafted structural and architectural design projects using AutoCAD; mentoring and coaching junior designers.

  • Revit, 8%

    Operate computer-aided drafting (CAD) and Revit to produce designs and working drawings.

  • Structural Design, 8%

    Provided structural designs of operations and maintenance facilities in support of pipeline oil production facilities and installations.

  • Navisworks, 5%

    Participated in Model Reviews and created a system in NavisWorks to improve documentation and tracking of action items to improve efficiency.

  • BIM, 5%

    Received Bentley BIM Structure, and Bentley BIM MEP training.

  • Design Drawings, 4%

    Checked generated design drawings prior to inter-discipline check.

Most senior structural designers use their skills in "autocad," "revit," and "structural design" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential senior structural designer responsibilities here:

Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a senior structural designer to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what senior structural designers do because "aerospace engineers must be able to evaluate project design elements and propose improvements, if necessary." Additionally, a senior structural designer resume shows how senior structural designers use analytical skills: "design various civil/structural engineeringprojects for numerous industrial clients utilizing structural analysis software and autocad and autocad3d. "

Business skills. Another essential skill to perform senior structural designer duties is business skills. Senior structural designers responsibilities require that "meeting federal standards in aerospace engineering requires business knowledge, including commercial law." Senior structural designers also use business skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "created structural designs to win rfq/rfp for nestle confections business. "

Math skills. senior structural designer responsibilities often require "math skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "aerospace engineers use calculus, trigonometry, and other math in their analysis, design, and troubleshooting work." This resume example shows what senior structural designers do with math skills on a typical day: "used staad pro, math cad, aisc 9th edition, asce07, ms exel, ms word. "

Problem-solving skills. A commonly-found skill in senior structural designer job descriptions, "problem-solving skills" is essential to what senior structural designers do. Senior structural designer responsibilities rely on this skill because "aerospace engineers upgrade designs and troubleshoot problems to improve aircraft, such as for increased fuel efficiency or safety." You can also see how senior structural designer duties rely on problem-solving skills in this resume example: "coordinated with multi-discipline engineers and designers to develop effective solution to civil and structural design and construction issues. "

Most common senior structural designer skills

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Compare different senior structural designers

Senior structural designer vs. 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. They record their observations and discoveries, run multiple diagnostic tests on the outputs to ensure its efficiency and optimal performance to support industrial operations. An engineering scientist also works closely within a group of engineering and designs team to implement procedures that would support findings from its conceptualization to final deliverables.

The annual salary of engineering scientists is $6,284 lower than the average salary of senior structural designers.Even though senior structural designers and engineering scientists are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require autocad, aided design, and geotechnical in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a senior structural designer are more likely to require skills like "revit," "structural design," "navisworks," and "bim." On the other hand, a job as an engineering scientist requires skills like "c++," "python," "data analysis," and "dod." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Engineering scientists earn the highest salaries when working in the automotive industry, with an average yearly salary of $95,339. On the other hand, senior structural designers are paid more in the utilities industry with an average salary of $101,786.On average, engineering scientists reach higher levels of education than senior structural designers. Engineering scientists are 13.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 4.6% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Senior structural designer vs. Aviation consultant

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. They are also responsible for producing technical materials such as reports, proposals, and manuals. Furthermore, there are instances where they must set the policies and standards on the equipment they are developing while utilizing their expertise in mathematics, engineering, and sciences.

A career as a aviation consultant brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a senior structural designer. In fact, aviation consultants salary is $21,357 lower than the salary of senior structural designers per year.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that senior structural designer responsibilities requires skills like "autocad," "revit," "structural design," and "navisworks." But an aviation consultant might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "client relationships," "federal aviation administration," "icao," and "airspace."

Aviation consultants may earn a lower salary than senior structural designers, but aviation consultants earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $75,453. On the other hand, senior structural designers receive higher pay in the utilities industry, where they earn an average salary of $101,786.In general, aviation consultants achieve higher levels of education than senior structural designers. They're 8.2% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 4.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Senior structural designer vs. Aerospace engineer

A stress analyst is a type of aerospace engineer; they design, construct, and test aircraft. They may also work on missiles or spacecraft. They primarily study design requirements for the overall strength of a craft. They analyze the stress data of structural components and prepare mathematical models of issues.

On average scale, aerospace engineers bring in higher salaries than senior structural designers. In fact, they earn a $3,979 higher salary per year.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a senior structural designer is likely to be skilled in "autocad," "revit," "structural design," and "navisworks," while a typical aerospace engineer is skilled in "c++," "dod," "faa," and "systems engineering."

Aerospace engineers earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $109,005. Comparatively, senior structural designers have the highest earning potential in the utilities industry, with an average salary of $101,786.aerospace engineers typically earn higher educational levels compared to senior structural designers. Specifically, they're 14.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Senior structural designer vs. Stress analyst

Stress analysts average a lower salary than the annual salary of senior structural designers. The difference is about $11,228 per year.While their salaries may vary, senior structural designers and stress analysts both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "aided design," "structural components," and "retrofit. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between senior structural designers and stress analysts, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a senior structural designer might have more use for skills like "autocad," "revit," "structural design," and "navisworks." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of stress analysts require skills like "abaqus," "airframe," "structural integrity," and "ansys. "

The manufacturing industry tends to pay the highest salaries for stress analysts, with average annual pay of $87,231. Comparatively, the highest senior structural designer annual salary comes from the utilities industry.In general, stress analysts hold higher degree levels compared to senior structural designers. Stress analysts are 19.5% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 1.9% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of senior structural designer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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