Principal Structural Engineer

Building Structures | Glasgow

As our pipeline continues to strengthen, with particular focus on the renewable energy market, we have an excellent opportunity for a highly capable and collaborative structural engineer to take a leading technical role within our Building Structures team. As a Principal Structural Engineer, you will be at the forefront of delivering multidisciplinary building projects across the Energy sector along with a mix of residential, public sector, and commercial developments.

This role is ideal for someone who combines strong technical expertise with a passion for mentoring others, influencing project outcomes, and contributing to innovative, sustainable engineering solutions. You will play a key role in shaping the future of engineering delivery at Tetra Tech RPS.

You will join the Building Structures team in Glasgow, where you will lead the structural design and integration of steel, concrete and masonry structures across a varied project portfolio. Working closely with mechanical, electrical, architecture, fire engineering, and other specialist disciplines, you will ensure that structural solutions are fully coordinated, compliant, and aligned with client aspirations.

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include providing technical leadership on projects, reviewing and approving BIM and CAD outputs, attending internal and external design meetings, and undertaking occasional site visits. You will be expected to adopt a proactive and solutions‑focused mindset, identifying opportunities for technical innovation and continuous improvement while maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety.

A high level of technical competence across steel and concrete design is essential. You will carry out detailed structural analysis, produce and review design calculations, and interrogate BIM and CAD models to ensure accuracy and constructability. Experience with industry‑standard software, particularly Tekla Structural Designer, is a key requirement. You will have strong knowledge of steel portal frame design, especially in the context of Energy and industrial developments, with an understanding of structural behaviour, fire performance and connection detailing.

An appreciation of embodied carbon, low‑carbon materials, and Whole Life Carbon Assessments will support the team’s commitment to sustainable and responsible design.

You will regularly contribute to internal technical discussions, design reviews, and project coordination meetings, providing clear and well‑reasoned engineering input. While you may not always lead external meetings, your participation will consistently add value through sound judgement, technical credibility, and collaborative engagement. Your ability to communicate complex engineering concepts clearly to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders will be critical, helping to build strong relationships with clients, contractors, and colleagues.

A core element of this role is supporting the development of others. You will actively mentor graduates, engineers, and technicians, helping them build technical confidence and progress towards chartership. You will contribute to a positive and inclusive learning culture, sharing knowledge and encouraging open technical discussion.

You will be comfortable working across the full lifecycle of Building Structures projects, from concept design through to construction. Your experience will extend beyond primary structural frames to include coordination of external works, drainage, and interfaces with other disciplines. A holistic approach to project delivery provides a broad and rewarding technical environment where curiosity, adaptability, and continuous skill development are key.

You will hold a degree in Civil and/or Structural Engineering accredited by the ICE and/or IStruct

E. Chartered status, or clear progress towards…