How to hire a senior structural engineer

How to hire a senior structural engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior structural engineer 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 engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior structural engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a senior structural engineer do?

Post a senior structural engineer job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The senior structural engineer 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a senior structural engineer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a senior structural engineer that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of senior structural engineers.

   Type of Senior Structural Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Structural Engineer	Civil engineers design, build, supervise, operate, and maintain construction projects and systems in the public and private sector, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment.	$33-60
   Civil Designer	A Civil Designer plans, scales, and drafts drawings and maps for roads, bridges, and other construction projects. They work with engineers and project managers in determining material, labor, and other costs of the assigned projects.	$19-38
   Civil Engineering Internship	Civil engineer interns work to improve their knowledge about construction and its relevant works. An internship provides them insight into various aspects of construction and how things run at the site... Show more	$16-38

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Structural Analysis
   • Rehabilitation
   • RISA
   • ACI
   • Project Management
   • CAD
   • ASCE
   • AISC
   • Finite Element Analysis
   • IBC
   • Design Calculations
   • Cost Estimates
   • Ansys
   • AASHTO

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Authore substantiation documents in compliance with FAA regulations and customer requirements to achieve type certifications and supplemental type certifications.
   • Perform project programming, project scheduling and detail cost estimates used to establish priorities in rehabilitation and construction projects.
   • Train to use SAP2000 to analyze highway RC bridges.
   • Analyze existing wing of a light aircraft for increase loading using FEMAP and NASTRAN.
   • Prepare new templates in MathCAD for engineers to use such as anchor bolts and weld design.
   • Prepare parking garage condition assessment reports and repair design, using carbon fiber material for some repairs per ACI 440.2R-02.

   More senior structural engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the senior structural engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A senior structural engineer 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 engineer in Indiana may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level senior structural engineer. Additionally, a senior structural engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average senior structural engineer salary

   $94,406yearly

   $45.39 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior structural engineer salary

   $70,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

   Average senior structural engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$131,872	$63
   2	District of Columbia	$101,451	$49
   3	Colorado	$100,387	$48
   4	Washington	$97,680	$47
   5	Oregon	$97,064	$47
   6	Arizona	$94,941	$46
   7	Texas	$90,204	$43
   8	New York	$88,689	$43
   9	Maine	$88,484	$43
   10	Louisiana	$88,456	$43
   11	Massachusetts	$87,507	$42
   12	New Jersey	$87,305	$42
   13	Pennsylvania	$87,294	$42
   14	Illinois	$87,092	$42
   15	Missouri	$86,995	$42
   16	Connecticut	$86,964	$42
   17	Florida	$85,672	$41
   18	Montana	$85,168	$41
   19	Alabama	$84,899	$41
   20	Minnesota	$82,980	$40

   Average senior structural engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Rivian	$123,419	$59.34	5
   2	Karma Automotive	$121,034	$58.19
   3	Citicorp North America, Inc	$118,973	$57.20
   4	Erickson	$118,074	$56.77
   5	Pacific Gas and Electric	$116,060	$55.80
   6	Southern California Edison	$113,438	$54.54	8
   7	Aerion Supersonic	$110,863	$53.30
   8	Tesla	$106,803	$51.35
   9	Parsons	$105,906	$50.92	252
   10	Edwards Lifesciences	$104,910	$50.44
   11	Alaska Airlines	$104,305	$50.15
   12	North American Bus Industries Inc	$103,124	$49.58
   13	Lucid Motors	$102,931	$49.49	19
   14	Boeing	$102,333	$49.20	65
   15	Stratolaunch	$102,223	$49.15	1
   16	Pratt & Whitney	$102,019	$49.05
   17	SpaceX	$100,461	$48.30	35
   18	B/E Aerospace	$100,057	$48.10
   19	The Walt Disney Company	$99,756	$47.96	22
   20	General Electric	$99,015	$47.60	31

4. Writing a senior structural engineer job description

   A job description for a senior structural engineer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a senior structural engineer job description:

   Senior structural engineer job description example

   The purpose of this Performance Work Statement (PWS) is to provide engineering support to the NASA Engineering Technical Performance Division (NE-T). The services that are required include the following roles:
   
   Sr. Structural Engineer - Must be proficient in design of steel structures, and proficient in structural analysis such as ANSYS, GT Strudl or other analytical software; and must be proficient in welded and bolted design including weld sizing and selection.
   
   The Engineers will interface with the Government's Design and Construction Management teams for communication of technical information about the project(s). The personnel will support multiple projects in various stages of the Project Lifecycle as defined in the BPA.
   Requirements
   
   Candidate must have successfully completed a bachelor's degree in structural engineering or a related engineering field from a college or university that has ABET accredited engineering programs. Degrees in engineering technology are NOT considered qualifying for this position.
   
   Engineering degrees earned outside the United States must be recognized by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) often known as accords. These are non-governmental agreements among organizations that accredit academic degree programs. MRAs recognize the substantial equivalence of mature accreditation systems and programs accredited by signatory organizations within their jurisdictions.
   
   Candidate must be able to demonstrate at least seven (7) years' relevant experience. Professional Engineering license preferred.
   
   In addition to the scope of work defined in the BPA, the Senior Structural Engineer shall:
   
   a. Be proficient with the use of the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook), Adobe Pro and AutoCAD and cost estimating software. The government will issue a computer for use.
   
   b. Be fluent in American English, both written and spoken, grammar, spelling and technical report writing.
   
   c. Be capable of walking on uneven surfaces such as may be encountered on a construction site inspection up to 1 mile. Be capable of standing for extended periods in the heat and a variety of weather conditions. Be able to climb stairs and a ladder without assistance. Be able to bend and reach to visually inspect equipment installations and site conditions.
   
   Benefits
   
   Medical, dental, vision insurance
   
   Life insurance
   
   Short-term and long-term disability insurance
   
   11 paid federal holidays
   
   Paid vacation
   
   401K with company match

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right senior structural engineer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior structural engineer job on Zippia to find and attract quality senior structural engineer candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit senior structural engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect senior structural engineer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new senior structural engineer. 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

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