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Timber Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Research Engineer, Mechanical

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$140K - $165K/yr

Experience with wood mechanics, timber engineering, or natural/biological materials. * Experience with geotechnical or foundation mechanics (soil-structure interaction). * Familiarity with GIS tools ...

Structural Engineer Associate

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$149K - $154K/yr

... timber structures and other related materials. * Assists in the review of project status, initiates changes and provides advice and assistance to structural designers and other engineering and design ...

Structural Engineer Associate

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$149K - $154K/yr

... timber structures and other related materials. * Assists in the review of project status, initiates changes and provides advice and assistance to structural designers and other engineering and design ...

Structural Engineer Associate

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$149K - $154K/yr

... timber structures and other related materials. * Assists in the review of project status, initiates changes and provides advice and assistance to structural designers and other engineering and design ...

Senior Structural Engineer

Pasadena, CA ยท On-site

$109K - $148K/yr

3+ years for more experienced levels as a Structural Engineer BS or MS in Structural Engineering ... Mass Timber Experience Seismic Retrofit Experience Parking Structures Experience School/Community ...

Senior Structural Engineer

Pasadena, CA ยท On-site

$109K - $148K/yr

3+ years for more experienced levels as a Structural Engineer BS or MS in Structural Engineering ... Mass Timber Experience Seismic Retrofit Experience Parking Structures Experience School/Community ...

Conducting structural-engineering analysis and design projects involving mainly timber, as well as concrete and masonry structures * Planning and conducting site investigations to document existing ...

CAD Engineer

Arvin, CA ยท On-site

Job Summary: CAD Engineer: We are seeking an experienced CAD Engineer to model structures and ... and mass timber is a plus). * Creative problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze ...

Showing results 21-40

Timber Engineer information

What does a timber engineer do?

A Timber Engineer specializes in the design, analysis, and construction of structures using timber and wood-based materials. Their work involves ensuring the structural integrity, safety, and sustainability of timber buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure. They collaborate with architects, builders, and other engineers to select appropriate timber types, design load-bearing elements, and comply with building codes and environmental standards. Timber Engineers also focus on innovative uses of wood, such as engineered timber products, to meet modern construction needs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a timber engineer?

Timber Engineers need a solid background in structural engineering, material science, and timber design principles, usually supported by a degree in civil or structural engineering and relevant certifications. Familiarity with CAD software, structural analysis programs, and industry codes like Eurocode 5 is essential for accurate design and compliance. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication are crucial soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure safe, efficient, and sustainable timber structures that meet regulatory and client requirements.

How do timber engineers typically collaborate with architects and construction teams during a project?

Timber Engineers frequently work closely with architects to ensure that timber structures are both aesthetically pleasing and structurally sound. They participate in project meetings to review design plans, suggest suitable timber materials, and address any structural concerns. Throughout the construction phase, Timber Engineers coordinate with builders and contractors to provide technical guidance, resolve on-site issues, and verify that the construction adheres to engineering specifications. Effective communication and teamwork are essential to balance design intent, safety, and cost-efficiency.

What is the difference between Timber Engineer vs Structural Engineer?

AspectTimber EngineerStructural Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Civil or Structural Engineering, specialized in timber designBachelor's or higher in Civil or Structural Engineering, licensed in many regions
Work EnvironmentDesigning and analyzing timber structures, working with wood materialsDesigning various structures, including steel, concrete, and timber
Industry UsageConstruction, architecture, and timber manufacturing sectorsConstruction, infrastructure, and building sectors

Timber Engineers focus specifically on timber as a building material, specializing in designing and analyzing wood structures. Structural Engineers have a broader scope, working with multiple materials including steel, concrete, and timber. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds, but Timber Engineers have specialized expertise in wood, making them essential for timber-specific projects.

What job categories do people searching Timber Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Timber Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Timber Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Timber Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Timber Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, and 16% Part Time. Highlights an 84% In-person, and 16% Hybrid job distribution.

Research Engineer, Mechanical

Gridware

San Francisco, CA โ€ข On-site

$140K - $165K/yr

Full-time

Posted 22 days ago


Job description

About Gridware
Gridware is a San Francisco-based technology company dedicated to protecting and enhancing the electrical grid. We pioneered a groundbreaking new class of grid management called active grid response (AGR), focused on monitoring the electrical, physical, and environmental aspects of the grid that affect reliability and safety. Gridware’s advanced Active Grid Response platform uses high-precision sensors to detect potential issues early, enabling proactive maintenance and fault mitigation. This comprehensive approach helps improve safety, reduce outages, and ensure the grid operates efficiently. The company is backed by climate-tech and Silicon Valley investors. For more information, please visit www.Gridware.io.

Role Description 

We are seeking a Research Engineer to join our Physical R&D team. You will help build the measurement and validation infrastructure for a new product that expands Gridware's edge grid monitoring and observability platform.

This role blends hands-on experimentation with fleet-scale data analysis. You will analyze novel measurements across our deployed fleet, design and run physical tests to validate what those measurements mean, and build the tools and workflows that connect the two. You will need deep physical intuition for the behavior of mechanical systems to interpret what the measurements mean in the real world, guide how we validate them experimentally, and identify where performance limitations exist.

Responsibilities

In this role you will

  • Analyze sensor-derived measurements across our fleet. Identify anomalies and characterize measurement behavior across device populations.
  • Develop analysis pipelines and tooling — using Python, SQL, and related tools — that connect sensor outputs to physical metadata and develop narratives about where our measurements are and are not effective.
  • When more data is needed to solve a problem, execute physical experiments to collect that data. Instrument test articles (e.g., strain gauges, load cells, IMUs), implement data acquisition systems, and prepare comparison datasets to characterize measurement error.
  • Work closely with algorithm developers, product managers, and other engineers to move new capabilities from measurement to customer delivery.
  • Communicate findings clearly through documentation, presentations, and technical write-ups.
Required Skills
  • MS or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Civil/Structural Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, or a closely related field. 
  • Strong fundamentals in solid mechanics: beam theory, stress analysis, structural loading. Able to reason from first principles about what physical conditions produce the stresses and deflections we measure. 
  • Scientific computing: comfortable building analysis pipelines in Python, MATLAB, or equivalent to investigate and report system performance across large datasets. 
  • Experience with exploratory data analysis—identifying patterns, anomalies, and cohort-level behavior in noisy real-world data. 
  • Clear technical communication and documentation skills. 
  • Comfortable working on ambiguous technical problems and learning new domains quickly. 

Relevant Depth Areas 

You do not need to match every area below. Strong candidates will usually bring depth in two or more of these areas. 

  • Sensor data interpretation for physical systems: experience using sensor signals to draw conclusions about the physical state of a system—developing metrics, identifying signal features, or building monitoring workflows that translate raw measurements into actionable information. 
  • Statistical analysis of physical systems: experience with extreme value statistics, reliability analysis, survival analysis, or probabilistic methods applied to structural or mechanical systems. 
  • Fleet-scale data analysis and data engineering: experience working with sensor data from large deployed populations—including SQL-based analysis on structured telemetry, population-level trend identification, and data quality assessment across thousands of units. 
  • Validation and test design: experience designing validation studies, defining acceptance criteria, and systematically characterizing measurement system performance.
Bonus Skills
  • Experience with wood mechanics, timber engineering, or natural/biological materials. 
  • Experience with geotechnical or foundation mechanics (soil-structure interaction). 
  • Familiarity with GIS tools or spatial analysis for infrastructure data. 
  • Experience operationalizing analytical workflows into production systems (dashboards, automated reporting, alerting). 
This describes the ideal candidate; many of us have picked up this expertise along the way. Even if you meet only part of this list, we encourage you to apply!
 
Gridware Technologies Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
 
Benefits
Health, Dental & Vision (Gold and Platinum with some providers plans fully covered) 
Paid parental leave 
Alternating day off (every other Monday)
“Off the Grid”, a two week per year paid break for all employees. 
Commuter allowance 
Company-paid training