Trainee Civil Structural Engineer Jobs in Virginia

As a civil/structural engineer at MPR, you will serve as both an engineer and project leader, applying civil/structural engineering expertise to solve complex challenges while managing project scope, schedule, budget, and client relationships. Consulting means no two projects are the same: different clients, different challenges, different problems to solve. It's the kind of breadth that keeps the work engaging and your skills continuously growing.

MPR solves complex problems across the power, federal, and life sciences sectors by applying engineering first principles and leveraging a multi-disciplinary team, focusing on problem-solving rather than routine and repetitive tasks. In this context, civil/structural engineers at MPR engage in diverse and challenging projects involving structural design, analysis, evaluation, modification, and failure analyses across wide variety of applications. Candidates for this job must have interest in applying their knowledge and skills primarily to challenges in the power generation sector, with a special focus on nuclear power. Candidates must also have an interest in contributing to mechanical/structural projects, such as vessels and piping.

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute their technical abilities to project teams immediately and leverage their leadership experience.

Typical duties for the role will vary based on project and workload at MPR, but will likely include an array of the following:

• Apply structural engineering first principles to analyze and solve complex problems across all types of power generation facilities, with a special focus on nuclear power
• Perform structural analysis, design, and evaluation of buildings, foundations, industrial support structures, vessels, and piping
• Conduct root cause analysis of structural failures and develop remediation solutions
• Review and approve structural calculations, drawings, and technical reports
• Develop innovative approaches to non-routine structural engineering challenges
• Participate in project planning, execution, and delivery from initiation through closeout
• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, and resource allocation
• Occasionally coordinate multi-disciplinary teams across civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and other engineering disciplines
• Serve as primary client interface for technical and project-related communications
• Identify and mitigate project risks; escalate issues requiring senior management attention
• Ensure deliverables meet quality standards and regulatory requirements
• Participate in proposal development and technical scope definition

Competitive candidates will have most of the following:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, structural engineering, or related field is required
• Four (4) years of relevant civil/structural engineering experience is required
• Fundamental of Engineering (FE) and/or Professional Engineer's license is preferred

Required Experience

• Structural design/analysis of buildings, foundations, or non-building industrial structures (e.g., pipe racks)
• Application of codes and structural design standards (AISC, ACI, ASCE 7, IBC, etc.)
• Use of structural analysis software (e.g., ANSYS, SAP2000, ETABS, RISA, STAAD.Pro, or similar)
• Preparation and/or review of structural calculations, drawings, and specifications
• Management or significant contribution to technical projects (e.g., responsible engineer)
• Developing technical solutions to challenging structural engineering problems

Preferred Experience

• Non-building and/or mechanical projects
• Soil mechanics and/or structural dynamics
• Nuclear power plant system/design engineering

Leadership & Communication Skills

• Aptitude and desire to work outside of your engineering discipline(s) and quickly learn new concepts
• Ability to effectively manage time and prioritize work to meet commitments
• Strong analytical skills with fundamental understanding of the underlying first principles of engineering
• Ability to multi-task across teams of engineers and managers on various projects
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with clients and senior management
• Solution oriented with a goal of enabling our client’s success
• Ability to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment
• Persistent, questioning attitude and the ability to accept that in others

Required

• This position must meet Export Control compliance requirements, therefore a “US Person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 is required. “US Person” includes US Citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee.

Locations: Alexandria VA (HQ), East Lyme CT, Burlington MA, or Salt Lake City UT

Position Type: Full-time, exempt

Travel: 10-20% as required by project assignments, including client sites, test facilities, regulatory meetings, and visits between MPR offices

Work Environment: Collaborative and technically rigorous—you'll lead multiple concurrent projects across different reactor technologies, mentor engineers across technical domains, and continuously expand your expertise while maintaining independence from vendor-specific approaches

About MPR

Founded in 1964, MPR Associates provides independent engineering and consulting services to clients in the power and energy, federal, and life sciences sectors. The firm operates throughout the United States and internationally, making challenging projects successful by delivering safe and reliable technical solutions across the entire project lifecycle. Our independence from any single technology vendor or corporate parent allows us to provide objective technical advice and maintain broad expertise across the nuclear industry.

What truly sets MPR apart from our peers is:

The Work: Work across multiple reactor technologies—advanced fission, fusion, operating plants, and research facilities—rather than narrowing into one vendor's design. You'll serve as an independent technical authority using first-principles problem-solving, not repetitive vendor-specific calculations. A broad client base means direct interaction with reactor developers, plant owners, regulators, and research institutions—and insulation from the fate of any single technology. You'll also have autonomy to identify and pursue new projects that align with your expertise and interests.

The Culture Technical rigor and first-principles thinking define MPR's approach—not vendor procedures or corporate mandates. You will work alongside bright, motivated engineers and project managers across mechanical, civil, electrical, chemical, and materials disciplines. Questioning attitudes and constructive feedback are valued here; technical accuracy matters more than hierarchy. It's a high-performance culture built on trust and respect since 1964.

Career Development Establish yourself as a recognized technical authority across nuclear engineering, not just within one reactor concept. You'll maintain technical breadth that keeps you relevant regardless of which technologies succeed commercially while growing as a leader through mentorship, project management, client engagement, and business development.

MPR Associates, Inc. is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, who participates in E-Verify. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any other classification as required by applicable laws. MPR is a certified Virginia Values Veterans (V3) employer.