Structural Design Engineer for Steel Structures

JOB DESCRIPTIONStructural Design Engineer – Steel Structures

Company: Space Structure Engineering Consultancy LLC (Partner Company)

Department: Structural Engineering / Design

Location: Dubai, UAE

Position: Structural Design Engineer – Steel Structures

Reports To: Senior Structural Engineer / Design Manager / Engineering Manager

Job Purpose

The Structural Design Engineer – Steel Structures will be responsible for the analysis, design, verification, and coordination of structural steel projects in accordance with approved engineering standards, project specifications, and UAE authority requirements. The role includes preparation and review of structural calculations, member sizing, connection design, technical coordination, and support for authority submissions, fabrication, and construction activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform structural analysis and design of steel structures including warehouses, industrial buildings, mezzanine floors, canopies, platforms, staircases, extensions, and other structural steel works.

• Develop safe, economical, and practical structural design solutions based on architectural drawings, project requirements, site conditions, and applicable loading criteria.

• Carry out structural modelling and analysis using appropriate engineering software such as STAAD.Pro, ETABS, SAP2000, SAFE, RAM Connection, IDEA StatiCa, or equivalent software.

• Design structural members including columns, beams, rafters, trusses, bracing systems, purlins, secondary framing, base plates, anchor bolts, and structural connections.

• Perform design calculations for dead loads, live loads, wind loads, seismic loads, equipment loads, and other applicable design loads.

• Prepare and review structural design calculations, analysis reports, design notes, and supporting technical documentation.

• Coordinate with architectural, MEP, civil, fire & life safety, and other engineering disciplines to ensure proper integration of structural requirements.

• Review shop drawings, fabrication drawings, connection details, and structural drawings to ensure compliance with approved structural design calculations.

• Review contractor and fabricator technical submissions, RFIs, material submittals, and proposed structural modifications.

• Provide technical clarification and engineering support to drafting, estimation, fabrication, procurement, and site execution teams.

• Optimize steel member sizes and structural systems while maintaining safety, serviceability, constructability, and cost efficiency.

• Check structural stability, deflection, vibration, buckling, member utilization, and connection adequacy.

• Prepare design inputs and structural requirements for foundations, pedestals, anchor bolts, and steel-to-concrete connections.

• Coordinate with geotechnical and civil engineers regarding foundation reactions and structural loads.

• Attend design coordination meetings, technical meetings, and client/consultant discussions when required.

• Support authority submissions and respond to technical comments from relevant UAE authorities and reviewing consultants.

• Ensure structural designs comply with applicable international codes and local authority regulations.

• Review existing structures and assess their capacity for proposed modifications, extensions, additional loads, mezzanine structures, equipment installations, or structural alterations.

• Conduct site inspections when required to verify existing structural conditions and ensure execution complies with approved drawings.

• Prepare structural assessment reports and recommendations for strengthening or modification works where necessary.

• Maintain proper documentation, calculation records, design revisions, and project correspondence.

• Coordinate design changes and ensure all revisions are properly communicated to relevant project stakeholders.

• Support value engineering exercises and recommend economical structural alternatives without compromising structural integrity.

• Ensure projects are completed within agreed design schedules and submission deadlines.

Technical Competencies

The Structural Design Engineer should have strong knowledge and practical experience in:

• Structural steel design and analysis.

• Pre-engineered buildings and conventional structural steel systems.

• Steel mezzanine structures.

• Industrial warehouses and factory buildings.

• Structural extensions and modification works.

• Steel connection design.

• Base plate and anchor bolt design.

• Structural strengthening and rehabilitation.

• Wind and seismic analysis.

• Foundation reaction calculations.

• Load combinations and structural stability analysis.

• Structural design optimization.

• Fabrication and erection requirements for structural steel.

Applicable Design Codes

The engineer should be familiar with relevant international and UAE-approved standards, including where applicable:

• AISC – American Institute of Steel Construction

• ASCE 7 – Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures

• IBC – International Building Code

• BS / EN Standards

• Eurocode 3 – Design of Steel Structures

• AWS – Structural Welding Requirements

• Applicable UAE Municipality, Civil Defence, Free Zone, and other local authority requirements.

Software Skills

Preferred proficiency in:

• STAAD.Pro

• ETABS

• SAP2000

• SAFE

• AutoCAD

• Tekla Structures

• IDEA StatiCa / RAM Connection or equivalent connection design software

• Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office

Knowledge of Revit Structure / BIM will be an added advantage.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering / Structural Engineering from a recognized university.

• Master's Degree in Structural Engineering will be an added advantage.

• Professional engineering certification or UAE authority accreditation will be an advantage.

Experience

• Minimum 3–5 years of relevant structural engineering experience, preferably involving structural steel projects.

• UAE experience in structural steel design, consultancy, or contracting is preferred.

• Experience dealing with UAE consultants, contractors, fabricators, and approving authorities will be an advantage.

• Experience in industrial buildings, warehouses, mezzanine structures, and structural modification projects is preferred.

Required Skills

• Strong structural engineering fundamentals.

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving ability.

• Ability to independently perform structural calculations and modelling.

• Strong understanding of steel fabrication and erection practices.

• Ability to interpret architectural, structural, and MEP drawings.

• Good understanding of constructability and value engineering.

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.

• Good technical communication and coordination skills.

• Ability to prepare clear structural reports and calculations.

• Strong teamwork and coordination capabilities.

Key Performance Indicators – KPIs

Performance will be assessed based on:

• Accuracy and reliability of structural designs.

• Compliance with applicable codes and authority requirements.

• Timely completion of structural calculations and design deliverables.

• Reduction of design errors and site-related structural issues.

• Efficient steel tonnage and design optimization.

• Timely response to RFIs, technical queries, and authority comments.

• Quality of coordination with architectural, MEP, drafting, fabrication, and site teams.

• Successful approval of structural submissions.

• Proper documentation and revision control.

• Contribution toward safe, economical, and constructible structural solutions.

Authority & Coordination Responsibilities

The Structural Design Engineer shall coordinate with relevant stakeholders including:

• Clients

• Architects

• Structural Consultants

• MEP Consultants

• Main Contractors

• Steel Fabricators

• Site Engineers

• Drafting / BIM Teams

• Estimation Teams

• Project Management Teams

• UAE Authorities and Free Zone Authorities

The engineer shall ensure that structural designs and supporting documentation are technically complete and suitable for approval, fabrication, and execution.

General Responsibility

The Structural Design Engineer shall maintain the highest standards of engineering professionalism, structural safety, technical accuracy, and compliance while protecting the interests and reputation of Space Structure Engineering Consultancy LLC.

The engineer is expected to continuously improve design efficiency, support multidisciplinary coordination, and provide technically sound and commercially practical structural engineering solutions for the company's projects.

Pay: AED2,500.00 - AED4,000.00 per month

Work Location: In person