Structural Engineer – Protective Design

KPFF Consulting Engineers•San Francisco, CA

9d•$80,000 - $95,000•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Protective Design Engineer at KPFF, you’ll be part of a specialized team working across San Francisco and Portland to help make buildings and critical infrastructure safer and more resilient. Our work considers how structures respond to extreme events, including both intentional threats and accidental hazards, and develops practical engineering solutions to reduce risk and protect people. You’ll apply structural engineering fundamentals while building expertise in areas such as blast effects and design, structural dynamics, progressive collapse, and hostile vehicle mitigation. Depending on the project, your work may include structural analysis, computational modeling, design development, technical calculations, coordination with multidisciplinary teams, and support during design and construction. This is an opportunity for an early-career structural engineer who enjoys analytical problem-solving and wants to explore specialized applications of structural engineering while developing a strong technical foundation.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Structural Engineering, or a closely related graduate program with a strong structural engineering emphasis.
Strong foundation in structural engineering principles, analysis, and mechanics.
Coursework, research, internship, or professional experience related to areas such as structural dynamics, blast engineering, progressive collapse, extreme loading, or nonlinear analysis.
Curiosity and an analytical mindset, with an interest in understanding how structures behave beyond conventional design conditions.
Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly and work effectively with engineers, architects, contractors, consultants, and other project partners.
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Structural analysis programs such as ETABS, SAP2000, RISA-3D, or LS-DYNA.
BIM and drafting tools such as Revit or AutoCAD.
Computational modeling or programming using MATLAB, Python, or similar tools.
Advanced structural analysis, finite element analysis, nonlinear analysis, or structural dynamics through academic research, coursework, internships, or professional experience.

Responsibilities

Structural analysis
Computational modeling
Design development
Technical calculations
Coordination with multidisciplinary teams
Support during design and construction

Benefits

Medical Plan Options: Choice of Traditional PPO or HDHP with HSA, including preventive care and prescription coverage.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Tax-advantaged healthcare and dependent care accounts.
Dental & Vision: Preventive care and coverage for major dental services and vision expenses.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Free, confidential resources for personal, family, and work-related needs.
Life & AD&D Insurance: Company-provided life insurance equal to one year’s salary, plus AD&D coverage.
401(k) Retirement Plan: KPFF contributes 3% of salary, with no employee match required.
Disability Insurance: Company-paid short-term and long-term disability coverage at 60% of income.
Paid Time Off: Generous PTO, two floating holidays, and paid company holidays.
Paid Family Leave: Six weeks at 60% pay, with the option to use available PTO to supplement income.
Performance-based bonuses