Senior Structural Engineer
Location: Richland, WA
Company: Columbia Energy & Environmental Services
Salary: $90,000 - $140,000, depending on experience
About Columbia Energy
Columbia Energy & Environmental Services, headquartered in Richland, WA, is a well-established small business with a strong track record of delivering comprehensive solutions in engineering, design, fabrication, instrumentation and controls, and other specialized services. With expertise in fixed-price design/build/test projects, we serve both federal and commercial clients, consistently delivering high-quality results through innovation and technical precision.
Our collaborative and experienced team is committed to providing practical, client-focused solutions tailored to address a wide range of challenges. Recently, we expanded our operations to Idaho Falls, ID, reflecting our ongoing growth and dedication to broadening our capabilities. We take pride in maintaining a strong reputation for quality and integrity while ensuring compliance with rigorous industry standards.
Why Join Columbia Energy?
At Columbia Energy, we foster a supportive and innovative environment where team members can thrive. As a growing small business with ambitious goals, we value initiative, teamwork, and a dedication to quality. This role offers opportunities to advance your career as a design engineer, technical lead, project engineer, or project manager, while contributing to meaningful projects across diverse industries.
Position Overview
We are seeking an accomplished Senior Structural Engineer to join our Richland, WA team. This role combines hands-on technical execution with opportunities for leadership and project oversight. The successful candidate will bring at least 10 years of experience in structural design and analysis, a strong foundation in industry codes and standards, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
This position requires both technical depth and practical application, with responsibilities ranging from structural analysis and lifting fixture design to collaboration with designers and oversight of project deliverables.
Essential Responsibilities & Duties
Design & Analysis
- Identify, evaluate, and test structural solutions for nuclear and hazardous waste remediation, equipment installation and support, chemical processing, and commercial projects.
- Perform design and analysis in compliance with applicable codes and standards (e.g., AISC, ASCE, ACI, IBC).
- Conduct structural calculations to verify equipment design and installations meet specified load combinations and contract requirements.
- Design lifting fixtures and tooling to support fabrication.
Project Support & Collaboration
- Support multiple simultaneous projects and cross-functional teams.
- Collaborate with designers to produce accurate, detailed design drawings.
- Develop test plans and procedures, supporting system testing and validation.
- Maintain configuration control of baseline drawings and documents.
- Communicate task status, progress, and technical challenges to stakeholders, ensuring project deadlines are met.
- Review project deliverables for compliance with design requirements and standards.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Structural Engineering (ABET-accredited) or higher.
- Minimum of 10 years of demonstrated structural engineering experience.
- Registered Professional Engineer (PE) or actively working toward licensure.
- Proficiency in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software such as Ansys or RISA-3D.
- Demonstrated ability to prepare design deliverables, resolve review comments, and finalize design packages.
- Strong attention to detail and proven ability to work in a collaborative team environment.
- Self-starter with the ability to prioritize project needs and meet delivery schedules.
- U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain government security clearance (required for federal contract work).
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience applying IBC, AISC, and ACI standards to engineering projects.
- Department of Energy (DOE) project experience.
- Strong planning skills with ability to accurately estimate task durations.
- Proven ability to produce high-quality design deliverables under tight deadlines.
- Experience supporting nuclear or complex industrial projects.
- Willingness to expand technical skills and contribute to cross-functional project teams.
Key Success Attributes
- Structural Expert: Demonstrates mastery of structural design, analysis, and compliance with industry codes.
- Innovative Thinker: Develops practical, buildable solutions for complex project challenges.
- Collaborative: Works effectively across engineering disciplines, design teams, and project managers.
- Detail-Oriented: Produces accurate, compliant, and high-quality engineering outputs.
- Adaptable Leader: Thrives in a fast-paced environment, balancing technical execution with project leadership.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Columbia Energy is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal and state law.
