Computational Structural Engineer

Location: Abbotsford, Canada

Department: Engineering

Your Responsibilities:

• Develop, guide and oversee 3D structural models from the conceptual phase through to fabrication, assemblies, and installation.
• Design for fabrication and structural efficiency – we build everything we design, so prototyping and close interaction with shop floor and CNC machines is critical.
• Create and maintain computational design tools, scripts, algorithms and parametric workflows to automate and enable the production of complex 3D geometry and model.
• Creation of fabrication drawings and CNC files for complex elements.
• Integrate structural analysis within computational workflows to enable real time feedback on structural elements and systems during the design process.
• Collaborate with the computational design team, fabrication crews and our CNC operators to verify models have translated accurately into human- and machine-readable information.
• Oversee and review the production of detailed drawings for engineering review, project approvals, production and construction.
• Standardization of connections, fasteners & fabrication techniques to improve production efficiency.
• Continual improvement of engineering process to improve efficiency and reduce design cycle times.
• Manage and prioritize tasks to meet scheduled deadlines.
• Maintain and grow technical knowledge in computational design, structural optimization, and digital fabrication, staying current with emerging tools, materials, and research in the field.

Position Requirements:

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in structural engineering.
• Approaching or recently registered as a licensed PEng., or PE.
• Minimum 3-5 years experience 3D modeling geometrically complex structures in structural or architectural practices, and preferably in the Rhino 3D and Grasshopper environments.
• Proficient in using Rhino and Grasshopper with significant experience using algorithmic modeling and computational design techniques on building structures. 
• Experience with computational structural analysis tools such as Karamba is an asset.
• Demonstrated competence in structural design of buildings.
• Preferred 3-5 years of experience computer programming in C#, VB.net, Python, or equivalent in a working environment.
• Demonstrated experience in digital fabrication through built projects, showing an understanding of design, modeling, detailing, CNC machining, and assembly techniques required to construct complex forms.
• Experience with web programming (e.g. Node.JS, WebGL, etc) would be an asset.
• Great understanding of design and construction sequence concepts.
• Experience organizing design work and managing shifting priorities.
• Experience interfacing with CNC machines (G-code, BTL, BVX file generation) would be an asset.
• English language is required.

Who will you be working with?

You will be working with many of our staff, but reporting to our Managing Structural Engineering Director.

Position terms and conditions:

This is a permanent full-time position, located at 1929 Foy Street, Abbotsford, BC V2T 6B1.

The starting salary for this position is CAD $85,000 to $130,000. We offer a benefits package that includes 3 weeks vacation, extended medical, life insurance, disability insurance, employee and family assistance program, and a matching RRSP program after 2 years employment.

About the Company

Come join North America’s premier timber engineering and construction company!

StructureCraft is a family-owned business, and specializes in the structural engineering, design, fabrication, and erection of timber structures incorporating steel, glass, concrete, and other materials. We work with clients and architects to create carefully detailed buildings and bridge structures that break new ground in sophistication, craftsmanship, and quality. We thrive on new and challenging design concepts, materials, and construction methods. StructureCraft enjoys pushing the boundaries in complex geometry, digital fabrication, and in material testing and research, and our work in this regard has been recognized internationally, including numerous awards for innovation in timber engineering and construction.

The StructureCraft computational design and engineering team leads the development of our freeform projects from conceptual design to prefabrication and installation. The team is a critical component within our complex geometry projects, applying advanced 3D modeling tools to optimize complex geometries for design intent, structural optimization, and digital fabrication. These digital models are then transformed into human and machine-readable information for fabrication and installation. Research and continuing education are also fundamental to the team so we can continue to push the boundaries in complex geometry, structural design and optimization, digital fabrication, and material testing and research.

In this role you’ll have a completely unique opportunity to work with the highly talented Branch software engineering team, who are in-house at StructureCraft.  Working alongside talented structural engineers and computational designers, you will have access to the specialists behind tools such as K2 Engineering. You’ll be able to build on the shared Branch codebase, author custom Grasshopper plug-ins, and integrate your scripts directly into our digital-fabrication workflow. The models and algorithms you develop will guide structural decisions on complex timber and hybrid projects – from early formfinding and structural optimisation through to shop-ready detailing – giving you a clear, measurable impact on the finished work.  This type of opportunity to be involved in engineering from concept through to fabrication is distinctive to StructureCraft’s master builder model.