Structural Design Engineer

Job Highlights

Company Profile

Valmont modernizes vital infrastructure and increases agricultural productivity, sustainably and reliably. The company galvanizes steel to last a century with minimal environmental impact.

Job Profile

The company is hiring a Structural Design Engineer who will work with a team of engineers to complete calculations, analysis, testing, and documentation required for the design of solar racking and related products.

Be a subject matter expert in building code, wind tunnels, foundations, and other structural design considerations within the project engineering team.

Work closely with mechanical, electrical, and control systems engineers as well as product management, program management, and supply chain through the life cycle of project completion.

Work with other structural engineers working in other groups within the solar team.

Be responsible for attending technical design review meetings and providing technical design inputs.

Be able to follow standard design and development procedures and recommend updates to design and development procedures as necessary.

Must continually improve his or her knowledge of existing codes, standards, and research in the field.

Education Level

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil or Structural Engineering with 5+ years of relevant experience
• Bachelor’s Degree with 7+ years of relevant experience or Master’s degree with 5+ years of relevant experience

Work Experience

• Direct Experience with Solar Racking Structures, particularly solar trackers
• Experience automating design calculations or processes
• Experience developing testing protocol and specifications in product context and/or site-specific foundation load testing
• Experience in performance-based engineering
• Experience specifying, reviewing, interpreting, and implementing wind tunnel testing
• Experience with material specification, surface finishing requirements, and manufacturing techniques (bends, welds, surface treatments)
• Experience working in SAP or ETABs including modal and non-linear analyses
• Foundation design experience
• Hot-rolled and cold-formed steel design experience

Duties/Responsibilities

• Perform structural design calculations according to local building codes in support project design efforts
• Perform and manage engineering work using Structural Analysis software and other software to solve problems in structural design, finite element analysis, design optimization, fatigue analysis, structural dynamics and kinematics, vibrations, and thermal analysis
• Analysis of project site Geotech report
• Produce design documentation to be used for customer qualification and AHJ review and approval
• Write proposals, technical reports, and papers
• Develop structural engineering calculation templates and procedures
• Review and critique CAD construction drawings templates
• Participate in technical design review meetings and conference calls and provide structural design direction and input
• Follow standard design and development procedures, recommending updates to design procedures when needed
• Responsible for providing creative and innovative engineering solutions that aid in the resolution of field and manufacturing problems and the maintenance and improvement of existing products
• Provide technical support to other departments as required to meet the needs of our customers
• This position reports to the Engineering Supervisor and no direct or indirect reports
• This role requires up to 10% travel (internationally/domestically), including overnight stays. Initially, this role may spend extended time in Omaha or Denver for training and development purposes.
• Hybrid schedule however must be able to work in the office (Omaha or Denver) 2-3 days per week

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Familiarity with design standards and test protocols used in the solar industry including UL 1703, UL 2703, UL 3703, IEC 62817, and SEAOC PV-2
• A Professional Engineer (PE) license in Civil Structural engineering is highly preferred
• Deep knowledge of US building code requirements (ASCE 7, IBC, AISC, AISI, ACI)
• Familiarity with finite element analysis using ANSYS, Abaqus, etc.
• Basic computer programming knowledge (VBA, Matlab, etc.)
• Basic knowledge of SolidWorks (or similar) and AutoCAD
• Working knowledge of probability and statistics
• A strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office with expertise in Excel
• Must have a current U.S. passport or the ability to obtain one for international travel

Working Environment

• Typically performed in an office setting.
• Regularly required to sit for extended periods, as well as talk and listen on the phone and in personal conversations or meetings.
• The environment is fast-paced and demanding most of the time. 25% of travel requirements for this position include domestic and international travel.
• Frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms while working in the office with various files and forms and while working on the computer.
• Occasionally required to move about the office.
• Must utilize proper ergonomic safeguards such as monitor height and positions, keyboard location and height and proper wrist rests.
• Must occasionally lift or move up to 15 pounds in working with large files, binders, and computer equipment.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

Benefits/Perks

• 401k retirement plan with company match
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability including maternity leave
• Healthcare (medical, prescription drugs, dental and vision)
• Paid time off
• Tuition Reimbursement up to $5,250 per year
• Voluntary programs like tobacco cessation, Type 2 diabetes reversal, one-on-one health coaching, mortgage services, and more
• Work-Life Support

Employer’s Statement

Valmont is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.