Structural Project Manager

Project Manager - Structural Engineering | Chicago, IL (Downtown)

Salary: $110,000 - $135,000 base + bonus + full benefits

Want to run your own projects, help grow a Chicago team and still be close enough to the work to design it yourself?

About my client

My client is a specialist structural engineering firm that's been around for over 30 years. They have offices across the Midwest and beyond, and they're licensed nationally. The work is varied and spread across the country, but it's all run from their Midwest offices.

They're big enough to take on serious projects and small enough that everyone knows each other. All the offices work as one team and talk every day about projects, technical questions and how things are run. There's a traditional structure on paper, but in practice people at every level get involved, and developing younger engineers is a genuine priority.

The culture is a big part of the appeal. They've been named a Best Firm To Work For several years running, they promote from within and they get people in front of clients and out on site early.

The Chicago office

The office is in downtown Chicago and easy to reach by train. It's led by a highly respected SE with more than 20 years designing some of Chicago's best-known high-rise, civic, higher education and renovation projects.

He's actively building out the Chicago team, and this hire is a key part of that. You'll work directly with him, with plenty of exposure to leadership across the firm.

The work

• Concrete: post-tensioned, precast and tilt-up
• Steel: composite steel framing, braced frames and skywalks
• Wood: wood framing, wood over podium, and mass timber/CLT
• Light gauge: cold-formed metal framing
• Existing buildings: renovation, adaptive reuse, historic preservation, parking structures and restoration

Recent projects include post-tensioned residential high-rises, composite steel office towers, large wood-over-podium apartment schemes and mixed-system hospitality builds.

They get involved early with the architect, owner and contractor, with a big focus on cost. That means you'll be helping shape projects from the start rather than just running calcs at the end.

What you'll be doing

• Leading structural projects from concept through construction, including scope, schedule, fee, quality and client relationships
• Designing in concrete, steel, wood, masonry and cold-formed framing, on both new build and existing structures
• Assessing existing buildings and designing repairs, strengthening and adaptive reuse solutions
• Working directly with architects, developers, owners and contractors across Chicago and the Midwest
• Bringing in work by building client relationships and supporting proposals and fees
• Mentoring and training the engineers in the Chicago office
• Working day to day with colleagues in the other offices on shared projects
• Supporting construction administration and visiting sites

What you'll bring

• 5 to 15 years of structural consulting experience, focused on buildings
• A mix of new design and restoration or renovation work
• A PE licence (an Illinois SE is a strong plus)
• Experience running your own projects and dealing directly with clients
• Appetite for business development: someone who can bring in the work, do the work and train younger engineers
• Solid knowledge of IBC, ASCE 7, ACI 318 and AISC, and ideally the Chicago Building Code
• Experience with RAM, RISA, ETABS or similar, and with Revit-based project delivery
• A preference for working with your team in the office

Benefits

• Pay: $110,000 - $135,000 base, plus bonus
• Medical: a choice of medical plans, with preventive care covered at 100%
• Dental, vision and telemedicine
• 401(k): with company match
• Time off: generous PTO that increases with tenure, plus paid holidays and paid parental leave
• Education: tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 a year
• Development: support towards your licence, plus professional memberships paid for
• Accounts: HSA and FSA options, including dependent care
• Insurance: life and AD&D, plus short- and long-term disability cover
• Other: a wellness rewards program, an EAP, pre-tax parking or transit, and employee discounts

Why this role

• You'll help build a growing Chicago team rather than fill a seat in a big corporate office
• You'll work closely with an SE behind some of Chicago's best-known structures
• The work is genuinely varied, from PT high-rises to historic adaptive reuse
• It's a multi-year Best Firm To Work For
• There's a clear path to leadership for someone who can grow clients and people

If you're a structural PM who wants more ownership, more variety and a real say in how a Chicago office grows, let's talk. Message me directly for a confidential chat.