Structural Engineer Recruitment

What the role involves

• Designing structural elements including beams, columns, foundations, and connections in steel, concrete, and timber to Eurocode standards
• Performing structural analysis using Tekla Structural Designer, ETABS, Robot Structural Analysis, or STAAD.Pro
• Producing structural drawings and specifications for construction, working with drawing offices and BIM-enabled design environments
• Carrying out site inspections and structural surveys, assessing existing structures for compliance, defects, and remediation requirements
• Collaborating with architects, civil engineers, and project managers, particularly at design stage where structural coordination drives programme
• Preparing and reviewing structural calculations to BS EN Eurocodes (BS EN 1990 to 1999), documenting design assumptions and load paths

Who employers are looking for

A BEng or MEng in Civil or Structural Engineering is the standard entry route. Eurocode design experience across BS EN 1990 to 1999 is essential at mid-career level, replacing the older BS codes that the profession moved away from over the past decade. IStructE membership is the professional body route for structural engineers in the UK, with MIStructE and CEng registration as the standard career target. Employers consistently pay a 10-15% premium for chartered engineers over unchartered equivalents at comparable seniority.

Structural analysis software proficiency is expected from graduate level, with Tekla Structural Designer (formerly Orion) and ETABS the most commonly requested tools in UK consultancy practice. STAAD.Pro remains widely used in civil infrastructure. Revit and BIM coordination skills are increasingly valued as consultancies shift design processes onto BIM platforms. Site inspection and structural survey experience is expected from mid-career level onwards, particularly in practices with a significant existing buildings workload.

Offshore and nuclear structural roles represent premium sub-specialisms. Engineers with SESAM or SACS experience for offshore jacket or vessel analysis, or with nuclear structural assurance background, operate in a much smaller candidate pool and command significant premiums above standard building structures experience.

Salary benchmarks

Chartered structural engineers (MIStructE/CEng) earn a premium of 10-15% over unchartered equivalents. London and South East roles average 15-20% above the UK average. Offshore and nuclear structural roles command significant premiums.

Industries that hire Structural Engineers

• Building and construction: commercial, residential, and industrial structures across consultancy, contractor, and developer client types
• Civil infrastructure: bridges, retaining walls, and foundations for highways, rail, and utility clients, often on long-term framework contracts
• Offshore and marine: platform and subsea structure design for oil and gas operators and renewable energy developers
• Aerospace and defence: airframe and structural analysis using FEA, often to DEF STAN or civil airworthiness standards
• Nuclear: safety-critical structure design and assessment for new build, decommissioning, and waste management projects

Related roles

• Project Engineer: coordinates structural and other engineering disciplines on capital projects, often the next step for structural engineers moving into management
• Civil Engineer: closely related discipline working on earthworks, drainage, and ground engineering alongside structural work on most infrastructure projects
• Systems Engineer: relevant in aerospace and defence contexts where structural analysis is one element of a wider systems programme
• Commissioning Engineer: takes responsibility for the installation verification of structural systems, particularly in process and industrial sectors

Where we place Structural Engineer professionals

We place structural engineer professionals across the UK. Browse by location or register your CV for roles that match your experience.