Senior Structural Engineer

Job Summary:

APTIM is seeking a Senior Structural Engineer to join our established Knoxville engineering team. This role offers the opportunity to solve challenging structural problems for nationally significant industrial, research, nuclear, and infrastructure facilities, while working directly with experienced engineers, project managers, clients, and construction teams.

The position will primarily support ongoing work at the Y-12 National Security Complex and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, with additional opportunities across the broader DOE complex and for other federal and commercial clients.

APTIM’s Knoxville team provides multidisciplinary engineering services for complex nuclear, industrial, research, and infrastructure facilities. Current and representative assignments include facility modernization and revitalization, high-bay and process-area modifications, equipment installation and anchorage, structural assessments, natural phenomena hazard evaluations, demolition and facility disposition planning, design-build criteria development, and construction-phase engineering support.

Structural work may include reinforced concrete and structural steel design, foundations, existing-structure evaluation and modification, equipment and utility supports, temporary structures, finite element analysis, independent technical reviews, and development of calculations, specifications, drawings, and construction submittal responses.

• Work directly with APTIM’s Knoxville-based engineers, project managers, and local teaming partners in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.
• Hybrid work environment that balances focused design work with in-office coordination, client meetings, site walkdowns, field investigations, and construction support at Y-12, ORNL, and other regional project locations.
• Coordinate across disciplines, including structural, civil, geotechnical, architectural, mechanical, electrical, fire protection, instrumentation and controls, nuclear safety, and project controls.
• Gain exposure to projects ranging from focused facility modifications and structural evaluations to major DOE/NNSA modernization, infrastructure, planning, design, and construction-support programs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform structural engineering for new construction, facility modifications, equipment installations, and rehabilitation of existing DOE/NNSA facilities.
• Evaluate existing reinforced concrete, structural steel, masonry, foundations, and structural support systems using available records, field observations, material information, and engineering analysis.
• Develop practical solutions to complex structural challenges involving existing-facility constraints, equipment anchorage, temporary conditions, constructability, and phased implementation.
• Select and apply appropriate analysis and design methods, including hand calculations and structural modeling, consistent with project requirements and the level of available information.
• Prepare design criteria, calculations, technical evaluations, specifications, drawings, reports, and other engineering deliverables from conceptual design through final design and construction.
• Review design drawings, calculations, specifications, vendor information, shop drawings, requests for information, and other construction submittals for technical accuracy and consistency with the design intent.
• Apply applicable building codes, client requirements, industry standards, project procedures, and APTIM quality requirements; participate in independent technical reviews.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary design teams, clients, vendors, and construction personnel; participate in site walkdowns, field investigations, constructability reviews, and construction-phase support.
• Work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams; delegate and coordinate assignments; mentor less-experienced engineers through technical guidance, knowledge transfer, and constructive feedback; and support their professional growth and career development.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with a structural emphasis, or a closely related engineering discipline, from an accredited program.
• 8+ years of progressive structural engineering experience involving the analysis, design, evaluation, or modification of buildings, industrial facilities, equipment supports, foundations, or related structural systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and structural calculation and analysis tools such as STAAD.Pro, ANSYS, or comparable software.
• Current Professional Engineer (PE) or Structural Engineer (SE) licensure.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, sound engineering judgment, and the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams. Willingness to perform occasional travel and field assignments, including site walkdowns, investigations, and construction support.
• Prior DOE or nuclear experience is advantageous but is not required. Engineers with transferable experience in industrial facilities, power, manufacturing, research facilities, or complex existing-building modifications are encouraged to apply.
• Ability to work in a Knoxville-based hybrid position combining office and remote work, with regular in-person coordination and periodic visits to Y-12, ORNL, and other regional sites.
• Ability to obtain a project site security clearance

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Structural Engineering.
• Structural Engineer (SE) licensure.
• Current or previous security clearance.
• An active NCEES Record.
• Experience supporting DOE, NNSA, nuclear, research, industrial, or other highly regulated facilities, particularly existing-facility modifications and field investigations.
• Experience with finite element analysis, structural dynamics, seismic or other natural phenomena hazard evaluations, equipment anchorage, or advanced structural modeling.
• Familiarity with Revit, AutoCAD, MicroStation, or other design-CAD platforms.