Description
Plan and design structural systems for buildings and other structures, producing calculations, models, and construction documents that meet codes, safety, and performance requirements. Coordinate with architects, engineers, and contractors through design and construction to ensure constructability and quality.
- • Develop structural design criteria, load assumptions, and material specifications.
- • Calculate gravity, wind, and seismic loads and analyze member capacities using applicable codes.
- • Layout framing systems, grids, and load paths for buildings and other structures.
- • Select structural systems and size members in steel, concrete, wood, or masonry.
- • Create structural plans, sections, details, and schedules in CAD/BIM software.
- • Build and refine analytical and BIM models to evaluate behavior and coordinate geometry.
- • Design connections, reinforcement, anchors, and lateral-force-resisting elements.
- • Prepare structural notes, specifications, and calculation packages for permitting.
- • Coordinate designs with architects, MEP, civil, and geotechnical engineers to resolve conflicts.
- • Review geotechnical data and site conditions to recommend foundations and slabs.
- • Perform concept and feasibility studies comparing structural system options.
- • Ensure compliance with IBC, ASCE 7, ACI, AISC, NDS, and local codes.
- • Estimate quantities and provide cost and schedule inputs for structural scope.
- • Conduct clash detection and model coordination meetings.
- • Direct and review the work of drafters and BIM technicians.
- • Meet with clients and project teams to present and discuss structural solutions.
- • Develop final structural construction documents and issue revisions or addenda.
- • Support bid and procurement phases by answering structural questions and clarifications.
- • Administer construction-phase services for the structural portion, including RFI and submittal review.
- • Perform periodic site observations and field measurements to verify conformance with documents.
- • Prepare structural assessment reports and retrofit or strengthening recommendations for existing buildings.
- • Optimize designs for material efficiency and sustainability where feasible.
- • Maintain QA/QC processes, including independent checks of drawings and calculations.
- • Document as-built structural changes and prepare record drawings.
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
