Lead Structural Engineer 1 - Nuclear

Sargent & Lundy•Chicago, IL

1d•$116,620 - $179,890•Hybrid

About The Position

This role offers a hybrid work arrangement, allowing three days in the office and two days remote. It is a lead design engineering position providing challenging opportunities in structural engineering and career advancement. The successful candidate will guide and mentor a team of structural engineers, interface with other disciplines and clients, and lead engineering projects for new nuclear facilities and upgrades/modifications to nuclear power plants. The position involves applying knowledge of materials, structural analysis, structural steel design, and reinforced concrete design across a wide range of projects. Responsibilities include preparing, reviewing, and guiding design calculations, developing specifications, and collaborating with designers for drawing development. There is potential for travel to client/vendor offices for design reviews and to plant sites for construction coordination and field verification. The role also involves leading others in utilizing modern tools like automation and AI to enhance workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost-effective designs, including directing process-improvement work and guiding the use of AI tools while ensuring result verification.

Requirements

BSCE with emphasis in Structural Engineering from an ABET-accredited program
Ten or more years of experience working as a member of a project team in the design and analysis of industrial / heavy commercial or nuclear facility structures
Proficiency with structural analysis software such as STAAD, SAP2000, SAFE, STRUDL, or ANSYS
Proficiency with design codes and standards such as ASCE 7, AISC, and ACI
Good written and verbal communication skills
PE or SE license

Nice To Haves

MSCE degree
On site construction support experience
Overseeing engineers who program or script (e.g., Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate engineering tasks, with review of automated outputs
Additional learning, such as a minor, certificate, or other experience in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or related fields that enables effective oversight of automation and agentic AI-enabled engineering workflows

Responsibilities

Guide a team of structural engineers
Interface with engineers from other disciplines
Interface directly with clients
Lead and mentor a structural engineering team on engineering projects for new nuclear facilities and upgrades and modifications to nuclear power plants
Directly apply knowledge of materials, structural analysis, structural steel design, and reinforced concrete design
Work on a wide range of projects for various clients
Prepare, review, and provide guidance for design calculations
Develop specifications
Work with designers for drawing development
Prepare, review, or guide the structural analysis and design of steel frames, connections, concrete members, and foundations
Travel to client and vendor offices for design reviews and to plant site locations for construction coordination and field verification of designs (potential)
Lead others in taking engineering problems from issue to solution by setting expectations for using data and modern tools such as automation and AI to improve workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost-effective designs
Direct automation and process-improvement work (e.g., how teams automate calculations, summarize technical documents, or generate design documentation)
Guide when and how AI or agentic AI tools are used while ensuring results are checked