Senior Structural Engineer - Retail Team Leader

The Senior Structural Engineer - Retail Team Leader position will support the firm's Retail Vertical Market. This is a new role created to provide technical and mentoring leadership for a growing team of structural engineers working on retail tenant improvement and existing-building modification projects nationwide.

What does this role involve day to day? The role splits time across technical design and engineering, mentoring and training early-career engineers, client meetings, internal standards development, and team leadership responsibilities including staffing, recruiting, and performance coaching. The work centers on a high volume of smaller projects with quick turnaround times, requiring practical, creative solutions for existing structures rather than an overly conservative approach.

What will I create? Structural designs and calculations for retail tenant improvements and building modifications, along with internal engineering standards and repeatable processes that support consistency across a nationwide client program. What does success look like year one? By 90 days, the Team Leader is expected to apply current standards consistently, lead assigned work and direct reports, and identify practical opportunities for process improvement. By one year, the person is established as a credible technical and people leader with strong relationships across the Retail team.

Position Salary Range

The expected salary range for this position is $110,000 to $130,000 annually.*

• Actual pay will be determined based on the candidate's years of experience, licensure status, location, level of proficiency, and other job-related factors (as permitted by law).

Required Qualifications

• Active Professional Engineer (PE) license
• 10 years of structural engineering experience
• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering
• Experience with retail tenant improvements and existing-building modifications
• Experience delivering projects on a nationwide basis
• Strong communication skills and a demonstrated ability to collaborate across teams
• Proficiency with Bluebeam, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and RISA

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency with AutoCAD, Revit, and RAM Structural System
• Experience developing engineering standards and repeatable processes
• Prior experience leading or mentoring engineering teams
• Structural Engineer (SE) license

Did you know that some people hold back on applying to jobs if they don't meet 100% of the listed requirements? We don't want you to hold back! If you check most of the qualifications above and believe you could successfully do the work, we encourage you to apply!

Position Responsibilities

• Lead technical design and engineering for retail tenant improvement and existing-building modification projects nationwide
• Mentor and train early-career engineers and EITs, building technical skill and confidence across the team
• Develop and maintain internal engineering standards and repeatable processes for the Retail vertical
• Coordinate with Client Managers and multidisciplinary project teams to ensure consistent, on-time project delivery
• Manage staffing, resource planning, and recruiting for a growing Retail structural team
• Lead performance coaching and career development for direct reports
• Balance a high volume of smaller, quick-turnaround projects while maintaining technical quality and consistency across programs
• Bring practical, creative problem-solving to existing-structure challenges rather than defaulting to overly conservative solutions

Working at Cushing Terrell

Cushing Terrell is a multidisciplinary design firm with 17 offices and more than 500 team members who bring together their expertise to deliver holistic built environments. Leveraging our influence as designers, we work to create sustainable systems and spaces that help people live their best lives.

Why Cushing Terrell

At Cushing Terrell, we empower creative designers to discover imaginative, responsible, first-of-their-kind environments. But more than that, we support a strong, cohesive team, from our design professionals to our business operations staff. Together, we champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, placing people at the center of our practice, thus our tagline, 'design meets you.' Together, we find joy in uncovering imaginative solutions for the people who work here, the people we work for, and the planet as a whole. We offer a competitive benefits package, work opportunities in a variety of locations and markets, and a company culture that celebrates all the unique viewpoints and personalities that make up our talented team. View our Employee Benefits Guide: https://cushingterrell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CushingTerrell_BenefitsGuide_2026_rev.pdf

Things to Note

• Actual pay will be determined based on the candidate's years of experience, licensure status, location, level of proficiency, and other job-related factors (as permitted by law). This position is also eligible for an annual performance bonus.

**Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Cushing Terrell will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

***The majority of the time, a person in this role will be sitting in an office with limited physical requirements. This may require individuals to bend, stretch, twist, and reach.

Cushing Terrell is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. Contact 406.248.7455 if you require assistance or accommodation during the employment application process.

Note to recruitment agencies: Cushing Terrell does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or agencies. Any resume submitted to any employee of Cushing Terrell without a prior written search agreement will be considered unsolicited and the property of Cushing Terrell.