Principal Structural Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA

Seattle is one of the best cities in the country to practice structural engineering. We'd like you to help us prove it!

Our Seattle office is growing, and we're looking for a Structural Engineer ready to lead projects across a broad commercial and civic practice - think mixed-use developments, multi-family housing, higher education, seismic retrofits, and community facilities. If you also have an interest in high-end residential work, our Residential Studio is active in Seattle and the door is open. And if sports facilities have ever been on your bucket list, you'll find that conversation here too - our national sports sector is led out of this office.

Who We Are

Holmes US is an international structural engineering firm with offices along the West Coast, part of the Holmes Group - 500+ people worldwide, born in New Zealand over 65 years ago. We're local partners and global specialists: the relationships and character of a tight-knit West Coast practice, backed by the technical depth of a firm that operates across the Pacific Rim.

Our Seattle office works across commercial structures, higher education, seismic retrofit, residential, and sports. It's a team that takes on genuinely interesting work, and our portfolio shows it.

What You'll Actually Do

• Lead structural engineering projects from concept through construction administration
• Develop structural solutions across concrete, steel, mass timber, and wood
• Lead, mentor, and develop junior engineers and designers on your projects
• Drive quality control and technical rigour across your portfolio
• Contribute to business development through strong relationships and repeat work - in a referral-driven market, that's the engine
• Tap into the Holmes network when a project calls for it: fire engineering, seismic expertise, international peer support

What We're Looking For

• 4-8+ years of structural engineering experience in a consultancy setting
• PE license required; SE license preferred or in active pursuit
• B.S. or M.S. in Civil / Structural Engineering
• Seismic design experience - this is core to everything we do in the Pacific Northwest
• A demonstrated ability to manage projects and work directly with clients
• Strong communication skills - equally comfortable in a meeting room and on a job site
• Proficiency in ETABS, SAP2000, or RISA

Depending on your experience, this role will be placed at our Project Engineer or Senior Engineer level. What we're looking for in either case is someone ready to lead projects, not just contribute to them.

Why Seattle, Why Holmes?

The Pacific Northwest is a structurally rich market. Seismic retrofit is as active as it's ever been, mass timber is reshaping how buildings get designed and built, and the region's universities and civic institutions are genuine long-term clients. 

Sports facilities are a growing part of our Seattle story - our national sports sector leader is based here, which means that work flows through this office. It's a dimension of the practice, not a requirement, but if it's something you want to grow into, the access is real.

Our Seattle practice is led by Greg Briggs - a principal with over 25 years in this market and a project portfolio that reflects exactly the kind of career you can build here. Senior engineers and principals are accessible. Mentorship is part of how this office runs, not a line in a brochure.

Work-Life Balance, and the PNW to Back It Up

We're in office 3 days per week. The rest is yours - and in Seattle, that means mountains, the Sound, trails, and a city that takes its weekends seriously. We offer biannual profit share because you should participate in what you help build. We've worked deliberately to build a practice where demanding, interesting projects don't require an unsustainable pace. That balance is real here, and the people who've worked here long-term are the proof.

Benefits Offered:

Depending on your employment status, benefits may include:

• Hybrid work model
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, Short-term and Long-term Disability and other voluntary plans
• Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical & Childcare
• Health Savings Account
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time off - Vacation, Sick, Personal Leave, Family Leave for new parents, and Community Service time
• Paid Holidays
• Pre-Tax Commuter Transit
• 401(k) retirement savings with Company contribution
• Company sponsored events
• Diversity / Inclusion programs and initiatives

Our Commitment: At Holmes, we believe in building teams as diverse as the communities we serve. We provide equal support and opportunities for all our people to thrive, grow, and develop. Dream big - we'll help you get there!

Ready to lead meaningful work in one of the best structural markets in the country? Apply at www.holmes.us/careers.
#LI-hybrid

Powered by JazzHR

MbMSDzPzLi