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Entry-Level Structural Engineer | Hybrid (1 Days In Office)

Location

Chicago, IL

Wage

$28.85 – $36.06/hr

Employment Type

Full-time

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Posted on August 26, 2026

Job Description

Overview

This entry-level structural engineer position offers a unique opportunity for new graduates or early-career engineers to join the largest nuclear engineering firm in the U.S. The role focuses on supporting the design and analysis of structural systems for critical infrastructure projects while receiving mentorship and training from industry experts.

Responsibilities

  • Design and analyze structural systems using established engineering principles and codes.
  • Prepare structural calculations for concrete, steel, and foundation systems under supervision.
  • Develop and refine structural models to evaluate performance, safety, and constructability.
  • Produce detailed construction documents and drawings using AutoCAD and related tools.
  • Assist with structural steel framing and connection design.
  • Support foundation design and evaluation for infrastructure projects.
  • Review loads, load paths, and overall system behavior.
  • Collaborate with senior engineers and multidisciplinary teams.
  • Participate in customer-facing engineering discussions and technical reviews.
  • Support engineering documentation, reports, and design packages.
  • Engage in structured interviews and ongoing feedback processes with structural leadership.

Requirements

  • ABET-accredited degree in Civil or Structural Engineering or Mechanical.
  • Coursework in structural analysis, concrete, and/or steel design.

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • 401k
  • PTO

Additional Information

  • This is a Permanent position based out of Chicago, IL.
  • The pay range for this position is $28.85 - $36.06/hr.
  • Application deadline is anticipated to close on Sep 4, 2026.

Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
401k
PTO
Apply for This Position

How this job compares in Chicago, IL

Pay in context

At roughly $32/hr, this posting comes in about 45% below the $59/hr median for structural welder jobs in Chicago, IL, where the middle half runs $50–$64/hr across 14 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 0% of the comparable postings we have wage data for. That gap is worth raising directly — in a market this size there is normally room to negotiate toward the median, particularly if you already hold the certifications the posting asks for.

The local market in Chicago, IL

We're tracking 111 other active welding openings in Chicago, IL right now, from 76 different employers. 44 of them were added in the last week. Across Illinois as a whole we're tracking 367 other active welding openings from 265 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in Chicago, or widen the search to Illinois.

The most active employers in Illinois at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are S&C Electric Company (18), Gerber Collision & Glass (8), and Aerotek (7). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within Illinois, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Chicago at $36/hr, Itasca at $36/hr, and Melrose Park at $34/hr. Chicago is among them.

Similar openings near Chicago, IL

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Entry-Level Structural Engineer | Hybrid (1 Days In Office) figures were last recalculated when this page was built.