Structural Department Manager
About The Position
As a senior leader at HCL, you will guide the technical direction, financial performance, and long-term growth of your engineering department. You are a licensed Professional Engineer with 14+ years of experience (SE licensure preferred) who has successfully delivered complex projects and built strong client relationships — and you're ready to lead at the department level. You understand that great engineering firms are built on more than strong designs. They require disciplined financial management, clear standards, intentional staffing, and leaders who invest in their people. You won't just manage projects — you will stay hands-on as a practicing Structural Engineer of Record, shape strategy, mentor future leaders, and ensure your department operates with technical excellence and sound business performance. If you're ready to lead a high-performing team while protecting both quality and profitability, let's chat.
Requirements
- PE licensure and 14+ years of relevant engineering experience, including 5+ years as a Project Manager
- Hands-on design experience across building types such as aviation, schools, municipal facilities, and public infrastructure
- Proficiency with structural design software such as RAM, RISA3D, ENERCALC, TEDDS, and Revit
- Strong proficiency in steel, concrete, and masonry design
- Experience with both existing building renovation and new construction, including active airport environments
- Demonstrated success driving project profitability and department-level financial performance - including supervising and developing engineers at multiple levels
- Strong understanding of budgeting, staffing, utilization metrics, and resource allocation
- The confidence and presence to serve as the technical and professional leader of your discipline
- Strategic thinking paired with hands-on execution
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to align teams around shared goals
- Proactive, detail-oriented approach and commitment to technical excellence
- Genuine desire to train, mentor, and equip others for long-term success
Nice To Haves
- SE licensure is a plus
- wood, cold-formed steel, and post-tensioned concrete design is a plus
Responsibilities
- Leading and supervising Project Managers, Engineers, and Designers — building a culture of accountability and collaboration
- Serving as active Structural Engineer of Record (SEOR), including QC and constructability reviews for peers' projects
- Reviewing project specifications and coordinating Construction Administration with the Project Manager
- Owning the financial performance and profitability of all projects within your department
- Developing and managing department budgets, staffing plans, and utilization targets
- Making go/no-go decisions on new opportunities and assigning projects strategically
- Ensuring all projects meet established technical, quality, budget, and schedule standards
- Overseeing billing, AR, and margin protection across the department
- Strengthening client relationships and pursuing repeat and new work opportunities
- Implementing department objectives aligned with firm-wide strategy
- Supporting contract development, proposal preparation, and fee negotiation
Benefits
- Salary $130,000 - $150,000 commensurate with your experience and project impact
- Incredible suite of benefits
- Opportunity to shape the future of a respected, multi-disciplinary engineering firm
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
