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Senior structural engineer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted experts
Sherif Ishak Ph.D.,
Mike Sessions
Senior structural engineer example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical senior structural engineer skills. We ranked the top skills for senior structural engineers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.5% of senior structural engineer resumes contained structural analysis as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a senior structural engineer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 senior structural engineer skills for your resume and career

1. Structural Analysis

A structural analysis is a type of method or process determining the condition and situation of a particular structure. Engineers, architect and other related professional often use it to study and review the behavior, dynamics, issues, and failures encountered during a project. It is the key to engineering design structure that identifies the system's performance and integrity and its effect. The purpose of the analysis is to assess the stresses, deformations, acceleration, internal forces, and stability.

Here's how senior structural engineers use structural analysis:
  • Executed Fastener analysis and thermal/deflection/stress in structural analysis * Performed vibration and shock analyses on a composite component
  • Conducted finite element evaluations using super elements, determination of elastic stability and composite structural analysis.

2. Rehabilitation

Here's how senior structural engineers use rehabilitation:
  • Conducted thorough analysis on the structures and identified rehabilitation procedures to be done.
  • Performed load rating analysis, fatigue evaluation, and alternative rehabilitation designs.

3. RISA

Here's how senior structural engineers use risa:
  • Produced finite element model in RISA in order to evaluate the adequacy of the mat foundation for strength design and stability.
  • Produced Frameworks structural model and interfaced with RISA 3D for analysis and design using an ACCESS database.

4. ACI

American Concrete Institute (ACI) is an institution known for its consensus-based standards, educational, technical, and training programs, certification programs, and adept individuals involved in construction in choosing quality materials to pursue the best use of concrete. ACI publishes more than 400 standards that can be used in the manufacturing, maintenance of concrete in different usage. These standards also determine systems or methods for inspection, test, and building code requirements. With ACI, the standards ensure the product reliability, adoption of new uses, and improved up keeping.

Here's how senior structural engineers use aci:
  • Verify or design Steel Structure using STADD pro and per AISC code, Foundation using ACI and ASTM codes etc.
  • Developed design packages for Building and other structures including foundation and retaining walls using ACI and UBC/IBC codes.

5. Project Management

Here's how senior structural engineers use project management:
  • Project management: Team organization and supervision, tasks management, manufacturing technical assistance, and logistics of products.
  • Provided project management and structural design engineering services including inspection of pipe culverts under Illinois Tollways at various locations.

6. CAD

Here's how senior structural engineers use cad:
  • Involved in preparation of tender documents which include CAD detailed drawings, specifications and cost estimates.
  • Assigned, checked and monitored work progress of junior engineers and CAD designers.

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7. ASCE

Here's how senior structural engineers use asce:
  • Maintained standards of compliance with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the guidelines of company engineering standards.
  • Performed seismic and wind load calculations in compliance with the ASCE 7-05, IBC and Ohio building codes.

8. AISC

Here's how senior structural engineers use aisc:
  • Code checked to comply with the provisions of API RP-2A Working Stress Design and AISC Allowable Stress Design.
  • Design was in accordance to AISC, ACI-318, BOCA and Sanitary codes.

9. Finite Element Analysis

Finite Element Analysis is a simulated or computerized method of predicting a product's reaction to real-world forces, such as heat, vibration, fluid flow and other physical effects. FEA runs a computer simulation to determine whether a product will effectively work, break, or wear out based on the way it's designed. Developers can test the efficiency or durability of a product through FEA before going into mass-production.

Here's how senior structural engineers use finite element analysis:
  • Conducted advanced 3D structural modeling and finite element analysis using various structural software.
  • Detailed finite element analysis of the shell intersection at tunnel openings.

10. IBC

Here's how senior structural engineers use ibc:
  • Design was provided considering conservative seismic design criteria per IBC 2006 and available USGS data for Afghanistan.
  • Performed research and applicability of Life Safety Code, International Building Code (IBC).

11. Design Calculations

Here's how senior structural engineers use design calculations:
  • Checked design calculations and specifications performed by other structural engineers and designers.
  • Prepare detailed structural design calculations and documents.

12. Cost Estimates

Here's how senior structural engineers use cost estimates:
  • Provided technical support to contractors and prepared preliminary cost estimates and budgets.
  • Performed cost estimates, code reviews, specifications, schedules, checking steel design and steel shop drawings.

13. Ansys

Ansys is a company that offers software that facilitates engineering simulation for product design, service and quality tests, and system development.

Here's how senior structural engineers use ansys:
  • Determined acceptability for several minimum baffle-barrel bolting conditions by performing LOCA and seismic analysis in ANSYS.
  • Executed FEA such as thermal, static structural, modal, harmonic response, and random vibration using ANSYS and NASTRAN.

14. AASHTO

Here's how senior structural engineers use aashto:
  • Load rating analysis and calculation methods based on AASHTO LRFR specifications.
  • Designed Pile Bent Substructures for Barney Circle Freeway bridges in Washington, D.C., using STAAD-III for AASHTO group loadings.

15. Calculation

Here's how senior structural engineers use calculation:
  • Prepared calculation documents and technical specifications to be used for material procurement, fabrication and installation of the structures and components.
  • Provided senior structural guidance and oversight to junior engineers for development of engineering calculations and drawings.
top-skills

What skills help Senior Structural Engineers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on senior structural engineer resumes?

Sherif Ishak Ph.D.Sherif Ishak Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Professor and Department Chair, Old Dominion University

Technical competencies are important to show on resumes. However, in today's market, employers are looking for other skill sets such as communication, leadership, entrepreneurship, and evidence of professional development at time of graduation. It is very important to emphasize such skill set on the resume to convince employers that you are a well rounded person and have the capacity to continue learning and gaining experience on the job.

What senior structural engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Mike SessionsMike Sessions LinkedIn profile

Department Chair & Professor, Brigham Young University - Idaho

Our graduates find work all over the US, but more particularly in the western US, because western-based contractors tend to recruit at BYU-Idaho more than do eastern-based contractors. Utah, California, and Arizona seem to capture more of our students than do other western states.

What soft skills should all senior structural engineers possess?

Ben Giudice Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, George Fox University

Soft skills are vital in civil engineering, and the ones that are most important at the early stages of people's careers include both written and oral communication. Writing memos and reports, emails, talking to people in the field or on the phone - all of these are incredibly important to civil engineering.

What type of skills will young senior structural engineers need?

Nick Hudyma PhD PENick Hudyma PhD PE LinkedIn profile

Professor and Chair, Boise State University

Civil engineering is a technical discipline that is founded in mathematics, physics, and the natural sciences. Technical skills have always been, and will continue to be, important. The coronavirus pandemic has shown us the importance of professional skills. Civil engineers must be able to communicate effectively, using a range of techniques to a wide variety of audiences.

In my opinion, visualization skills will begin to become very important. I can envision a coupled work environment, having technical analyses and designs working behind the scenes with visualizations being presented to clients. Civil engineers will need to present their work, not using traditional 2D blueprints and plan sets, but using 3D and 4D visualizations, which will include either virtual reality or augmented reality. This is especially important as our designs become more complex, and we continue in-fill development in dense urban areas.

What technical skills for a senior structural engineer stand out to employers?

Norb Delatte Ph.D.Norb Delatte Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

M.R. Lohmann Endowed Professor of Engineering and Head, Oklahoma State University

Employers are looking for strong design technical skills, and the ability to master design software rapidly. Professional and people skills are also important, because many of these positions deal with the public and with stakeholders.

What hard/technical skills are most important for senior structural engineers?

Pooja Preetha Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Alabama A&M University

Hard skills serve as the most important, in my opinion. If you are technically sound, have reasonable computer skills and good Microsoft office suite adaptability, and have strong presentation skills, you should be able to make it.

List of senior structural engineer skills to add to your resume

Senior structural engineer skills

The most important skills for a senior structural engineer resume and required skills for a senior structural engineer to have include:

  • Structural Analysis
  • Rehabilitation
  • RISA
  • ACI
  • Project Management
  • CAD
  • ASCE
  • AISC
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • IBC
  • Design Calculations
  • Cost Estimates
  • Ansys
  • AASHTO
  • Calculation
  • SR
  • Retaining Walls
  • Design Criteria
  • Shop Drawings
  • Ladders
  • Stress Analysis
  • Retrofit
  • Reinforced Concrete
  • Nastran
  • SAP2000
  • Structural Integrity
  • Design Drawings
  • Enercalc
  • Construction Drawings
  • Geotechnical
  • Staad Pro
  • Steel Structures
  • Steel Design
  • Concrete Structures
  • Construction Administration
  • Oil Gas
  • Abaqus
  • FEM
  • Technical Support
  • Structural Calculations
  • Project Specifications
  • Construction Support
  • Post Processing
  • Foundation Design
  • Hand Calculations
  • Engineering Support
  • Etabs
  • Renewable Energy

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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