The role requires 4–8+ years of structural engineering experience; residential project experience is strongly preferred.
A PE license is required; an SE license is a plus or may be in active pursuit.
A B.S. or M.S. in Civil or Structural Engineering is required.
Seismic design experience is required.
Strong project management and client communication skills are required.
Proficiency in ETABS, SAP2000, or RISA is required.
An appreciation for design is expected, with an understanding that the structure supports the home’s architecture.
Responsibilities
Own a portfolio of high-end custom residential projects from schematic design through construction administration.
Serve as the primary point of contact for architects, contractors, and homeowners, building lasting relationships.
Develop structural designs in wood, steel, concrete, and masonry across complex sites and challenging programs.
Lead and review the work of junior engineers and designers.
Develop creative, cost-conscious solutions for nonstandard challenges, including hillside sites, cantilevered forms, tight urban lots, and seismic demands.
Collaborate with project teams and, when relevant, draw on the technical expertise of the broader Holmes network.
Desired Qualifications
Residential project experience is strongly preferred.
An SE license is a plus or may be in active pursuit.
The homes we work on don't make it into the pages of a building code textbook. They make it into Architectural Digest.
Our Residential Studio partners with some of the most talented architects and builders on the West Coast to deliver structural engineering for high-end custom homes - the kind where every constraint is unique, every client has strong opinions, and every solution needs to be as elegant as the architecture it supports. We're looking for an engineer who's ready to own that process from start to finish.
This isn't a supporting role. You'll run your own portfolio of projects, lead the relationships, and bring the creative thinking that turns a challenging site or an architect's ambitious vision into something that actually gets built. If you've been doing the work and you're ready to lead it, this is your move.
Who We Are
Holmes US is an international structural engineering firm with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, and Boulder - and roots in New Zealand going back over 65 years. We operate at the intersection of technical excellence and design sensibility, and our Residential Studio is one of the most respected boutique practices on the West Coast.
Our approach: fold the engineering into the architecture, let the client's goals be the true north, and never produce a stock-standard solution when a better one exists. We've grown this practice almost entirely through referrals and long-term relationships - and the engineers who lead those relationships are the reason why.
What You'll Actually Do
Own a portfolio of high-end custom residential projects from schematic design through construction administration
Serve as the primary point of contact for architects, contractors, and homeowners - building relationships that outlast the project
Develop structural designs in wood, steel, concrete, and masonry across complex sites and challenging programs
Lead and review the work of junior engineers and designers
Bring creative, cost-conscious solutions to problems that don't have a standard answer - hillside sites, cantilevered forms, tight urban lots, seismic demands
Collaborate closely with our project teams and, when relevant, tap into the technical depth of our broader Holmes network
What We're Looking For
4-8+ years of structural engineering experience; residential project experience strongly preferred
PE license required; SE license a plus (or in active pursuit)
B.S. or M.S. in Civil / Structural Engineering
Seismic design experience - this is non-negotiable in the markets we serve
Strong project management and client communication skills - you're comfortable being the person the architect calls on a Friday afternoon
Proficiency in ETABS, SAP2000, or RISA
An appreciation for design - you understand that the structure is in service of the home, not the other way around
Depending on your experience, this role will be placed at our Project Engineer or Senior Engineer level. What we're looking for in either case is someone ready to lead projects, not just contribute to them.
Why Holmes Resi Studio?
We're a small, close-knit team inside a firm with serious global resources. That combination is rare. You'll work on projects that are genuinely interesting - not because we tell you they are, but because no two are the same. The team you'll join cares deeply about the craft. Your mentors are accessible. And when a project calls for expertise we don't have in the room, we can reach across the Holmes network to find it.
We're also honest about work-life balance. Our hybrid model means you're in the office three days per week. The rest is yours. We do biannual profit share because we want you to share in what we build together. And we take seriously the idea that you do better work when you have a life outside of it.
Benefits Offered:
Depending on your employment status, benefits may include:
Hybrid work model
Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, Short-term and Long-term Disability and other voluntary plans
Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical & Childcare
Health Savings Account
Pet Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Paid Time off - Vacation, Sick, Personal Leave, Family Leave for new parents, and Community Service time
Paid Holidays
Pre-Tax Commuter Transit
401(k) retirement savings with Company contribution
Company sponsored events
Diversity / Inclusion programs and initiatives
Compensation
$87,000 - $141,000+ depending on experience level and location, plus biannual profit share bonus potential. Salary is commensurate with experience, skills, and office location.
Our Commitment
At Holmes, we believe in building teams as diverse as the communities we serve. We provide equal support and opportunities for all our people to thrive, grow, and develop - no matter where you're coming from.