Residential Design Engineer

Bennett & Pless•Potomac Falls, VA

About The Position

Bennett & Pless is seeking a Design Engineer to support structural design of custom high-end residential projects as part of its Loudoun team. The role involves contributing to projects from concept design through construction, preparing calculations and drawings, and coordinating with in-staff engineers, BIM designers, architects, and contractors. It is suited to an engineer interested in hands-on technical work, collaboration, and developing expertise in residential structural design. The engineer will design and analyze structural systems for new homes, renovations, and additions, applying residential building codes and wood-design standards. The work includes producing calculations, drawings, details, and technical documentation; coordinating construction documents in Revit with a drafting team; and supporting construction administration through shop-drawing reviews, RFI responses, and site visits. The role also includes team meetings, design reviews, knowledge sharing, and progressively independent work. Bennett & Pless is a structural engineering firm with more than 60 years of experience across several markets and offices across the Southeast and Midwest. The company describes its culture as collaborative, technically excellent, and committed to developing its people. It offers mentoring, technical development, leadership opportunities, and opportunities for experienced engineers to expand their influence and help shape the organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in civil or structural engineering, or a related field.
At least 2 years of structural engineering experience.
Experience with residential building codes and wood design, including IRC and NDS.
Working knowledge of structural calculations and connection design for wood framing.
Basic Revit proficiency, including the ability to modify projects after initial setup by a BIM designer.
Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to contribute independently and collaboratively.

Nice To Haves

Experience designing high-end or custom residential structures.
Experience with Forte, RISA-3D, Enercalc, or similar structural analysis and wood-design software.
Familiarity with steel, CMU, and concrete wall, footing, and beam design in residential applications.
Basic understanding of AI tools and their application to structural engineering workflows, with an interest in advancing the company’s use of AI in structural engineering.
Plan for progress toward professional licensure.

Responsibilities

Design and analyze structural systems for high-end custom residential projects, including new homes, renovations, and additions.
Apply residential building codes and wood-design standards.
Use design software such as Forte, Enercalc, and RISA-3D to design wood, steel, and concrete systems.
Prepare calculation packages, drawings, details, and technical documentation.
Use Revit with a drafting team to create coordinated construction documents.
Coordinate with senior engineers, BIM designers, and residential design team members to resolve unique design conditions and deliver practical, buildable solutions.
Review shop drawings, respond to RFIs, and support construction administration and site visits.
Participate in team meetings, design reviews, and knowledge-sharing sessions.
Work with increasing independence while seeking input, sharing ideas, and contributing to the team’s quality standards.