Structural Department Manager

Structural Department Manager

Location: Akron, Ohio

Job Description

Are you an accomplished Structural Engineer ready to step into a high-impact leadership role where you can shape a department, mentor others, and guide complex industrial projects? If you’re seeking a long-term home where culture, collaboration, and innovation matter—this opportunity is for you.

This position is with a well-established engineering & design-build firm with approximately 80–100 employees. The organization offers the agility of a smaller firm while maintaining the expertise and capabilities of a larger one. The culture emphasizes trust, teamwork, continuous learning, and long-term relationships. Many team members have built their careers here, and the company is now seeking its next Structural Department Manager to lead the discipline into the future.

This is not a civil engineering role—only candidates with industrial structural engineering experience will be considered.

The Role: Structural Engineering Department Manager

As the Structural Department Manager, you’ll serve as the Senior Structural Engineer on client projects while also leading and developing a talented team of structural engineers and designers. You will guide technical quality, oversee project execution, manage departmental resources, and drive best practices across the discipline.

This role plays a strategic and highly visible part within the organization—supporting operational excellence, mentoring emerging talent, and ensuring delivery of high-quality outcomes for industrial clients.

The company does not perform residential, commercial, or retail structural engineering. The work revolves around industrial, chemical, petrochemical, polymer, manufacturing, and process facilities.

This role is hybrid, but consistent in-office presence is required (minimum 3 days per week). Fully remote work is not available.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct, schedule, and allocate structural department resources to meet project demands
• Lead, mentor, train, and evaluate structural staff; support hiring and department development
• Maintain and elevate department standards, procedures, workflows, and tools
• Serve as lead Structural Engineer for multidiscipline industrial projects
• Oversee and review designs, calculations, models, and drawings
• Provide expert structural design for steel, concrete, masonry, and foundations
• Solve complex design and constructability challenges
• Review contractor bids and prepare bid tabulations
• Conduct field visits, obtain measurements, and support construction activities
• Ensure all deliverables meet internal standards, client expectations, and applicable codes
• Collaborate effectively with internal teams, clients, contractors, and external partners
• Maintain a strong safety mindset and promote safe field practices

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an accredited institution
• Active PE license with ability to seal engineering documents
• 10+ years of consulting experience or 15+ years of structural department experience
• Extensive industrial structural design experience
• Experience leading or managing structural teams
• Strong knowledge of applicable structural design codes
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, STAAD, STAAD Foundation, and Bluebeam
• Ability to perform field observations, including working at heights
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Legally authorized to work in the U.S.
• Willingness to commute to the office on a hybrid schedule

Preferred

• Experience with Revit, Navisworks, Tekla Tedds, RAM Elements, Hilti PROFIS, or similar
• Basic surveying skills
• Familiarity with laser scanning and point-cloud workflows
• Limited stormwater/sewer design experience for small in-plant systems

Work Environment & Expectations

• Hybrid schedule available after onboarding
• Ability to manage varied workloads and deadlines
• Occasional domestic travel
• Dependable, organized, and able to self-manage
• Strong cultural fit—collaborative, positive, committed to long-term growth

Why is This a Great Opportunity

Compensation & Benefits

Financial & Time Off

• Competitive salary ($150K–$185K)
• Overtime pay for hours over 40/week
• 401(k) with discretionary match
• Profit-sharing opportunities
• Paid time off + company holidays
• Tuition assistance
• Paid jury duty & bereavement leave
• Parking subsidy

Health & Wellness

• Medical, dental, and prescription coverage
• Life insurance & voluntary AD&D
• Short- and long-term disability
• HSA and FSA options
• Dependent care FSA

Professional Development

• Mentoring & career path support
• Reimbursement for technical certifications
• Professional society membership coverage
• PE registration reimbursement
• Continuing education support
• Access to modern engineering technology
• Bonus for passing professional certifications

Culture

• Casual dress code
• Company-sponsored events
• Employee recognition programs
• Annual longevity awards
• Tickets to sporting events
• Flexible work hours
• Hybrid office/remote schedule
• Scholarship opportunities for dependents