Computational Designer

Thornton Tomasetti • Chicago, IL

9d • $70,000 - $85,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Thornton Tomasetti applies engineering and scientific principles to solve the world’s challenges. An independent organization of creative thinkers and innovative doers collaborating from offices worldwide, our mission is to bring our clients' ideas to life and, in the process, lay the groundwork for a better, more resilient future. We provide support and opportunities to our employees to achieve their full potential and cultivate a rewarding career. As a Computational Designer & Visualization Specialist in our Chicago office, you will work at the intersection of structural engineering, computational design, and digital storytelling. You’ll help translate complex structural systems into clear, compelling visual narratives that support design, communication, and project delivery. Working closely with engineers, designers, and VDC teams, you’ll contribute to parametric workflows, visualization strategies, and next-generation digital delivery methods. Your work will span diagrams, parametric models, animations, and real-time content—bridging technical engineering concepts with engaging visual communication. This role is ideal for someone with a background in architecture, digital design, or computational workflows who is excited to apply creative and technical skills in a highly collaborative, engineering-focused environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Computational Design, Digital Design, or a related field
• 0–3 years of experience in the AEC or digital design industry
• Strong interest in computational design, visualization, and emerging digital workflows
• Advanced proficiency in Rhino and Grasshopper with experience building parametric workflows
• Experience contributing to VDC, computational design, or digital modeling initiatives
• Strong visual communication and graphic design skills, with an emphasis on clarity and storytelling
• Experience producing animations, renderings, or digital visualizations
• Strong collaboration, organization, and communication skills

Nice To Haves

• Experience with tools and workflows such as Revit; Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects); real-time visualization platforms (e.g., Enscape, Twinmotion, D5, Unreal Engine); and scripting or automation (Python, C#, or similar)

Responsibilities

• Support computational design, VDC, and digital modeling workflows across structural engineering projects
• Develop and manage parametric models and workflows using Rhino and Grasshopper
• Create diagrams, graphics, animations, and video content for internal and client-facing deliverables
• Translate complex structural systems and construction sequences into clear visual narratives
• Contribute to workflow development, scripting, and automation to improve modeling and visualization processes
• Build interoperable models that connect across analysis, BIM, and visualization platforms
• Support 4D visualization and construction sequencing workflows using timeline-driven approaches
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to advance digital project delivery and communication strategies

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, Disability and other voluntary benefits
• Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical and Childcare
• Paid Time Off, Family Leave for New Parents, Volunteer Time
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Commuter Transit (where available)
• 401k retirement savings with Company matching on employee contributions and/or qualified student loan repayments
• Fitness Reimbursement
• And other various wellness, diversity/inclusion and employee resource programs and initiatives

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level