Principal Structural Engineer

At Mott MacDonald, we trust our brilliant people to do brilliant things in engineering, management, and development services, supporting multisector project work in over 150 countries. As one of the largest employee-owned companies in the world, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional outcomes through our network of 20,000+ talented consultants. With sustainability and innovation at the heart of our sectors in North America—including Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Water—we empower our people to excel, learn, and grow, offering diverse opportunities to contribute to career-defining work.

About the role

We are seeking a Principal Structural Engineer to join our Los Angeles team and play a key leadership role in the development and delivery of major transportation infrastructure projects. As a Principal Engineer, you will serve as a technical authority and project leader, guiding complex structural design work, mentoring engineering teams, and influencing project outcomes across multiple programs. Principal engineers are responsible for setting technical direction, overseeing design quality, and leading multidisciplinary collaboration on large-scale infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the conceptual, preliminary, and final design of structural systems using industry-standard software
• Act as a technical lead and subject matter expert across multiple projects
• Review, approve, and guide design work to ensure compliance with codes and client standards
• Lead project meetings, client engagement, and technical discussions
• Mentor and develop junior engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence
• Oversee and assist in the delivery of projects, including preparing and reviewing technical reports, engineering design plans, specifications, cost estimates, and studies, and providing design services during construction
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams across offices to ensure integrated project delivery
• Support project and commercial management, including scope, schedule, and budget oversight
• Participate in site visits and stakeholder coordination across Southern California
• Drive a digital-by-default approach through modern engineering tools and workflows

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering (ABET-accredited)
• 15+ years of structural engineering experience on infrastructure projects
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in California (or ability to obtain within one year)
• Strong knowledge of relevant codes and standards (AASHTO, Caltrans, AREMA, ASCE, CBC)
• Demonstrated experience with California seismic design and analysis
• Proven ability to lead design for structures using:
  • Reinforced and prestressed concrete
  • Post-tensioned systems
  • Structural steel
• Experience overseeing complex designs, calculations, and documentation

Preferred Skills

• Track record of acting as technical lead or project engineer on major infrastructure projects
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage clients
• Experience mentoring teams and managing distributed project delivery
• Ability to balance technical delivery with strategic project oversight

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefit package including 401k, medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Short-term/long-term disability, paid holidays, PTO, and parental leave
• Company-paid life insurance
• Personal and group performance bonuses

Pay

The expected salary for this position is $169,000 - $207,000.

Schedule

Our hybrid approach centers on an in-office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face-to-face and a minimum of three days per week in the office.

Location(s): Los Angeles, CA, US or Austin, TX, US. Full-time, regular (US only) position.