PurposeAs a
Principal Structural Designer, you will serve as a senior technical authority and design leader for structural design activities across complex, large-scale, and high-value projects. You will be accountable for the overall technical quality, constructability, and consistency of structural design deliverables, while providing expert-level guidance to designers, engineers, and project teams.
The
Principal Structural Designer role requires a high level of structural design subject matter expertise. The Principal Structural Designer is a trusted technical advisor to project leadership and clients, and a key contributor to the development of best practices, standards, and continuous improvement within the structural design discipline. The position plays a critical role in delivering safe, constructible, and cost-effective structural solutions across multidisciplinary engineering projects in the energy, chemicals, mining, and infrastructure sectors.
Key ResponsibilitiesTechnical Authority & Design Leadership- Act as the principal technical authority for structural design on large and complex projects, providing expert guidance on layout, constructability, and integration with civil, mechanical, piping, and electrical disciplines.
- Lead the development and oversight of complex structural design deliverables, including:
- Structural general arrangements and layouts
- Steel and concrete detailed design drawings
- 3D model development and model governance
- Foundations, equipment supports, and pipe rack structures
- Access platforms, stairs, handrails, and secondary steel
- Establish and uphold structural design philosophies, standards, and best practices across projects and portfolios.
- Provide advanced technical input into design challenges related to constructability, access, maintainability, modularization, transportation, lifting, and erection methodologies.
- Serve as the escalation point for complex structural design issues and high-risk technical decisions.
Quality Assurance & Governance- Ensure structural design deliverables meet required quality standards, project specifications, and applicable codes and standards (e.g., CSA, AISC, ACI, building codes, and client standards).
- Perform senior-level technical reviews and assurance checks on critical structural design deliverables and 3D models.
- Support the development and continuous improvement of structural design procedures, workflows, templates, and technical guidelines.
- Champion digital design excellence, model governance, and consistency in the application of design tools, data standards, and drawing practices.
Project & Stakeholder Leadership- Provide technical leadership and strategic input to project management teams during project planning, execution, and delivery.
- Act as a senior structural design interface with clients, supporting technical alignment, design reviews, and resolution of high-level design issues.
- Collaborate closely with Structural Engineers, Civil Engineers, and other discipline leads to ensure integrated, coordinated, and constructible design solutions.
- Support constructability reviews and interface with construction, fabrication, procurement, and commissioning teams as required.
Mentorship, Capability Building & Continuous Improvement- Mentor and coach Lead and Senior Structural Designers, providing technical guidance and supporting professional development.
- Contribute to discipline capability development, succession planning, and technical competency frameworks within the structural design team.
- Support the implementation of lessons learned and continuous improvement initiatives across projects and portfolios.
- Promote a strong safety culture in design, including consideration of safe access, working at height, constructability, lifting operations, and construction sequencing.
Qualifications & Experience Education & Training Diploma or degree in Engineering Design Technology, Civil/Structural Technology, or a related discipline.
Experience - Extensive, progressive experience in structural design within engineering, EPC/EPCM, or industrial project environments.
- Demonstrated experience providing technical leadership on large-scale, multidisciplinary industrial projects.
- Recognized subject matter expertise in steel and concrete structural design and detailing for industrial facilities in sectors such as oil & gas, chemicals, mining, power, or infrastructure.
Technical Skills - Advanced proficiency in industry-standard structural design and detailing platforms (e.g., AutoCAD, Tekla Structures, AVEVA E3D, Revit, SmartPlant, or equivalent).
- Expert-level understanding of structural detailing, constructability, modularization, and 3D model coordination.
- Strong knowledge of applicable structural codes and standards (e.g., CSA, AISC, ACI, building codes, client standards).
- High-level ability to interpret and apply engineering drawings, structural design criteria, equipment loads, vendor data, and construction methodologies.
Leadership & Professional Attributes - Recognized technical leader with the ability to influence, mentor, and guide design teams and project stakeholders.
- Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to provide clear technical direction to multidisciplinary teams and clients.
- Highly organized, proactive, and capable of managing multiple priorities across complex project environments.
- Trusted advisor mindset, with a commitment to technical excellence, safety, and continuous improvement.
