Protective Design Engineer - Structural/Blast Engineering

Job Description

Start your structural engineering career working on challenges that go beyond conventional building design.

As a Protective Design Engineer at KPFF, you’ll be part of a specialized team working across San Francisco and Portland to help make buildings and critical infrastructure safer and more resilient. Our work considers how structures respond to extreme events, including both intentional threats and accidental hazards, and develops practical engineering solutions to reduce risk and protect people.

You’ll apply structural engineering fundamentals while building expertise in areas such as blast effects and design, structural dynamics, progressive collapse, and hostile vehicle mitigation. Depending on the project, your work may include structural analysis, computational modeling, design development, technical calculations, coordination with multidisciplinary teams, and support during design and construction.

This is an opportunity for an early-career structural engineer who enjoys analytical problem-solving and wants to explore specialized applications of structural engineering while developing a strong technical foundation.

What You’ll Experience

• Specialized technical work: Develop experience with protective design methodologies, structural dynamics, advanced analysis, and the behavior of structures under extreme loading conditions.
• Challenging engineering problems: Work on projects where standard solutions may not apply and thoughtful analysis, creativity, and engineering judgment matter.
• Meaningful project impact: Contribute to designs intended to improve safety, resilience, and protection of people and critical infrastructure.
• Variety across markets: Support projects in sectors such as aviation, aerospace, manufacturing, industrial facilities, and other complex or mission-critical environments.
• Collaborative project teams: Work alongside structural engineers and multidisciplinary teams of architects, contractors, consultants, and clients.
• Early-career development: Learn directly from engineers experienced in protective design while gradually taking on greater technical responsibility.

Qualifications

Qualifications

We’re looking for an early-career structural engineer who is interested in developing expertise in protective design and enjoys solving technically challenging problems.

What You’ll Bring

• Master’s degree in Structural Engineering, or a closely related graduate program with a strong structural engineering emphasis.
• Strong foundation in structural engineering principles, analysis, and mechanics.
• Coursework, research, internship, or professional experience related to areas such as structural dynamics, blast engineering, progressive collapse, extreme loading, or nonlinear analysis.
• Curiosity and an analytical mindset, with an interest in understanding how structures behave beyond conventional design conditions.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly and work effectively with engineers, architects, contractors, consultants, and other project partners.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance.

Helpful Experience

You do not need to arrive as a protective design expert. Experience with any of the following can help you succeed and grow in the role:

• Structural analysis programs such as ETABS, SAP2000, RISA-3D, or LS-DYNA.
• BIM and drafting tools such as Revit or AutoCAD.
• Computational modeling or programming using MATLAB, Python, or similar tools.
• Advanced structural analysis, finite element analysis, nonlinear analysis, or structural dynamics through academic research, coursework, internships, or professional experience.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Primarily performed in an office environment, with extended periods working at a desk or computer.
• Occasional visits to project or construction sites, which may involve walking, standing, kneeling, or navigating uneven terrain.
• Occasional lifting of objects weighing up to 15 pounds.
• Occasional travel to project sites, client meetings, or other KPFF offices, which may involve driving or air travel.

Additional Information

Compensation

The expected salary range for this entry-level position is $80,000 to $95,000. This range is intended for candidates who have recently completed a master’s degree in structural engineering and bring up to three years of relevant internship, research, or early professional experience.

Final compensation will consider factors such as education, relevant experience, technical skills, and licensure status. KPFF also offers performance-based bonuses that recognize individual and firm contributions. During the interview process, we’ll discuss the complete compensation and benefits package and answer any questions you may have.

Build Your Career at KPFF

Protective design offers a different path within structural engineering. You’ll have the opportunity to build strong structural fundamentals while developing expertise in a highly specialized field where engineering decisions can directly influence the safety and resilience of buildings and infrastructure.

At KPFF, we value technical curiosity, collaboration, autonomy, and continuous learning. You’ll work closely with experienced engineers, contribute to real project work early in your career, and have opportunities to grow your technical capabilities and responsibilities over time.

Mentorship & Growth: Learn alongside engineers with deep protective design experience through project-based mentorship, KPFF’s Forefront Education Program, technical training, and ongoing professional development.

Strong Connections: Work within a collaborative team and build relationships across KPFF as well as with architects, contractors, clients, federal partners, and other technical disciplines.

Supportive Environment: We encourage sustainable careers and provide resources that support employee well-being, professional involvement, community engagement, and connection with colleagues.

Comprehensive Benefits

KPFF offers a competitive benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and life outside of work, including:

• Medical Plan Options: Choice of Traditional PPO or HDHP with HSA, including preventive care and prescription coverage.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Tax-advantaged healthcare and dependent care accounts.
• Dental & Vision: Preventive care and coverage for major dental services and vision expenses.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Free, confidential resources for personal, family, and work-related needs.
• Life & AD&D Insurance: Company-provided life insurance equal to one year’s salary, plus AD&D coverage.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan: KPFF contributes 3% of salary, with no employee match required.
• Disability Insurance: Company-paid short-term and long-term disability coverage at 60% of income.
• Paid Time Off: Generous PTO, two floating holidays, and paid company holidays.
• Paid Family Leave: Six weeks at 60% pay, with the option to use available PTO to supplement income.

Work Authorization

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future.

KPFF Consulting Engineers participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

KPFF Consulting Engineers is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, religion, marital status, sex/gender (including sexual orientation or gender identity), pregnancy, veteran status, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, or any other protected basis.