Entry Level Civil Structural Engineer Jobs in California

Position Description

We review candidates for the Entry-Level Structural Engineer | Designer position on a rolling basis throughout the year for offices in the United States including, Los Angeles, Oakland, Orange County, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, California; Seattle, Washington; and Detroit and Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Launch your structural engineering career with meaningful work, trusted mentorship, and a team invested in your growth.

You may indicate interest in multiple locations on a single application; additional submissions are not necessary. Candidates are considered for one location at a time based on ranked preferences and office availability.

Who Thrives Here

You are a curious, collaborative graduating master's student who wants to understand not only how a solution works, but why it is right for the project. You may be especially interested in seismic analysis for our West Coast offices or steel design for our Michigan offices. You want more than a first job: you want meaningful technical challenges, access to experienced mentors, and a team that trusts you to learn, contribute, and grow.

At Degenkolb, early-career engineers are encouraged to ask thoughtful questions, understand the purpose behind the work, and connect technical decisions to clients, builders, users, and communities. You will be supported as you develop your voice, judgment, and confidence as an engineer.

Who We Are

Founded in 1940 and headquartered in San Francisco, Degenkolb Engineers helps make complex, high-stakes projects real. We bring deep technical expertise, disciplined creativity, and a practical understanding of construction to every challenge; building strong relationships early, making complexity easier to navigate, and keeping the success of projects central to our work.

Our teams deliver customized structural solutions across healthcare, education, science and technology, forensics, construction engineering, federal buildings, and other complex markets. Whether a project calls for navigating stringent codes, balancing budget and schedule, solving an unusual technical problem, or creating a landmark structural system, we connect the right people and ideas to develop solutions that serve our clients and communities.

Position Summary

As a Designer, you will contribute to the planning, analysis, and design of structural engineering projects alongside experienced engineers and project managers. Your work will include engineering analyses, contract documents, and project deliverables, with exposure to client collaborations, site visits, and multidisciplinary team delivery of construction projects.

This role provides a strong technical foundation through meaningful project work, mentorship, candid feedback, and purposeful professional development.

• Structural Analysis & Design: Perform structural analysis and design tasks under the guidance of licensed engineers. Apply engineering principles and sound engineering judgment to develop safe, effective structural solutions and contract deliverables that meet the governing building codes.
• Project Delivery & Quality: Produce accurate, organized, and high-quality work that reflects Degenkolb's standards. Build an understanding of project objectives, scope, budget, and schedule; manage assigned work; and communicate progress, questions, and potential issues early.
• Client & Team Collaboration: Build trusted relationships with project teams and clients by participating in meetings, supporting client communications, preparing technical documentation, and communicating clearly and professionally in writing and conversation.
• Project Site Experience: Participate in site visits with experienced engineers to observe existing conditions and construction activities, document field observations, and connect design decisions with how structures are built and perform in the real world.
• Professional Growth & Development: Expand your technical knowledge and professional skills through project experience, mentorship, feedback, purposeful learning, challenging assignments, and participation in professional organizations while progressing toward PE licensure.
• Ownership & Contribution: Take responsibility for your commitments, seek context when needed, share ideas, and contribute to the collective success of your project teams, office, and firm.

Minimum Requirements

• Education: A master's degree in structural engineering is strongly preferred.
• Alternative Path: Exceptional candidates with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and one to two years of highly technical structural design experience will be considered if they demonstrate proficiency equivalent to advanced graduate-level work.
• Core technical proficiency must be demonstrated through advanced graduate coursework or verified professional project experience in:

1. Advanced steel design

2. Advanced reinforced concrete design

3. Advanced structural analysis

4. Structural dynamics

5. Earthquake engineering (West Coast offices)

• Undergraduate GPA of 3.40 or higher; strong academic performance in graduate coursework is expected, where applicable
• Unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts, as applicable
• Professional written and verbal communication skills
• Current authorization to work in the United States for any employer

Desired Qualifications

• Passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
• Additional coursework or experience in wood design, prestressed concrete, or finite element analysis, or
• Additional coursework or experience in nonlinear analysis for West Coast office locations
• Familiarity with engineering software and tools such as AutoCAD, Tekla, RISA, RAM, Revit, Excel, Mathcad, SAP2000, ETABS, Python, or similar platforms
• Demonstrated leadership potential, initiative, and commitment to collaborative learning
• Experience in seismic analysis and the design of buildings (West Coast offices)

Compensation & Benefits

The annual salary range for this position across our offices generally falls between $84,000 and $112,000. This range is a good-faith estimate provided pursuant to applicable pay transparency laws. Actual compensation will be based on factors including work location, company geographic differentials, education, experience, and candidate qualifications.

Our benefits are designed to support your well-being, growth, and long-term connection to the firm. They include:

• Health and life insurance
• Commuter benefits and paid parental leave
• 401(k) with company profit-sharing contribution
• Employee ownership through a privately held stock plan
• Financial support for professional activities and development
• Company holidays and a generous paid time off program

Our Culture

Degenkolb is a place where technical rigor and human connection strengthen one another. Our flexible hybrid work environment brings together experts who are generous with their knowledge, proud of employee ownership, engaged in the profession, and respectful of life outside of work.

You will find focused professional development within a supportive and transparent team, variety in project assignments, and opportunities to participate in committees and grow into leadership. Our pay scale is positioned at the 75th market percentile, reflecting the value we place on attracting and retaining exceptional people. Learn more about life at Degenkolb.

How to Apply

Review the available job postings and apply to the single position for which you feel best qualified. Select Apply Now and complete the application. In your application, please include:

• Resume
• Unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts, as applicable
• A targeted cover letter describing why you want to work at Degenkolb and how your background, interests, and goals align with this opportunity.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Degenkolb Engineers complies with Equal Opportunity Employer guidelines. We do not discriminate in employment matters on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where a wide range of perspectives, skills, and experiences are welcomed and respected.