What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Principal Structural Engineer position at ICON Technology?
ICON is building the future of human shelter using large-scale additive construction technology to deliver homes and structures that are more resilient, more sustainable, and more attainable than anything conventional construction can produce. Our work spans single-family housing to large-scale federal facilities, and our projects are redefining what's structurally possible when design, engineering, and technology are developed as a unified system.
ICON is looking for a Director of Structural Engineering to lead and own the structural delivery of ICON's design-build projects. This is a senior engineering leadership role where you will serve as Engineer of Record for internal project delivery and engage with external engineering professionals in a design-assist capacity. The role sits at the intersection of structural practice, computational design, and a construction technology that doesn't have decades of precedent to fall back on. This role will report to the Senior Director Design Delivery at our Austin, TX office.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Function & Team Leadership
- Own ICON's structural engineering function - its standards, tools, methods, and delivery quality across the project portfolio.
- Build, lead, and develop the structural engineering team; own hiring, performance, and career growth.
- Set and steward structural design standards, details, and review processes; drive their adoption across design-build teams.
- Own the structural engineering budget and resourcing; forecast capacity against the project pipeline and resolve bottlenecks before they hit schedule.
- Contribute to engineering-wide strategy and policy alongside senior leadership; represent structures in portfolio and roadmap decisions.
Engineering Leadership & EOR Accountability
- Serve as Engineer of Record across ICON's design-build project portfolio, taking full structural responsibility from design through construction completion.
- Lead structural calculations and documentation for complete building and wall systems, coordinating across ICON's architecture, materials science, print path, and construction teams.
- Evaluate ICON's structural building systems for compliance with applicable building codes, standards, and performance criteria - including systems with no direct code precedent.
- Provide senior-level guidance on foundation system design across varied site and soil conditions.
Design-Build Integration
- Act as the primary structural voice in cross-disciplinary design-build teams, coordinating with architects, MEP consultants, Construction Architects, Print Path Technologists, and Project Managers to keep projects moving without sacrificing structural integrity.
- Maintain project delivery schedules in collaboration with the broader design-build team, identifying and resolving structural bottlenecks early.
- Propose structural designs optimized for both performance and cost, leveraging state-of-the-art computational tools to explore solutions that conventional structural practice wouldn't consider.
Team & Consultant Oversight
- Lead and develop a small team of structural engineers executing project delivery.
- Review structural drawings from third-party consultants for conformance with ICON standards, cost efficiency, and constructability using ICON's technology.
- Review shop drawings and submittals from contractors for conformance with ICON's structural standards and details.
Field & Testing
- Conduct field inspections, site observations, and structural testing in support of new project construction.
- Participate in test preparation and execution with project team members and external partners.
- Travel to project sites as required (typically 1-2 overnight trips per assignment).
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- 9 years of structural engineering experience, with meaningful exposure to concrete structural systems.
- Licensed PE in your state of residence; ability to obtain Texas PE licensure within 6-8 weeks of hire.
- Degree in Structural or Civil Engineering (or closely related discipline).
- Demonstrated experience across multiple structural system types - concrete, wood-framed, light-gauge steel, and structural steel.
- Proficiency with structural analysis software and computational design tools.
- Working knowledge of AutoCAD, FEA software (Abaqus or equivalent), Navisworks, and Microsoft Office.
- Ability to read and interpret architectural drawings, building envelope details (cladding, curtain wall, waterproofing, roofing), and structural specifications.
- Working knowledge of test methods and standards required for code compliance of structural systems.
- Strong communication skills - written and verbal - and the organizational discipline to manage multiple projects against hard deadlines.
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Advanced degree in Structural or Civil Engineering.
- 9 years specifically in complex concrete structural projects within a design-build delivery environment.
- Experience with computational design and parametric structural modeling; familiarity with Trimble Tekla, Autodesk Forge, or CATIA.
- Background in forensic structural investigation and failure analysis.
- Familiarity with sustainability metrics in structural material selection - embodied carbon, life cycle assessment, material efficiency.
- Experience with novel or non-standard construction methods where engineering judgment had to extend beyond established code pathways.
Furthermore, as a federal government contractor, the Company maintains an affirmative action program which furthers its commitment and complies with recordkeeping and reporting requirements under certain federal civil rights laws and regulations, including Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended) and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (as amended).
Headhunters and recruitment agencies may not submit candidates through this application. ICON does not accept unsolicited headhunter and agency submissions for candidates and will not pay fees to any third-party agency without a prior agreement with ICON.
As part of our compliance with these obligations, the Company invites you to voluntarily self-identify as set forth below. Provision of such information is entirely voluntary and a decision to provide or not provide such information will not have any effect on your employment or subject you to any adverse treatment. Any and all information provided will be considered confidential, will be kept separate from your application and/or personnel file, and will only be used in accordance with applicable laws, orders and regulations, including those that require the information to be summarized and reported to the federal government for civil rights enforcement purposes.
Internet Applicant Employment Notices
ICON is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an innovative, inclusive, and discrimination-free work environment. Employment with ICON is based on merit, competence, and qualifications. We provide employment opportunities without regard to age, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), genetic trait, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic in accordance with applicable law. If there are accommodations we can make to help ensure you have a comfortable and positive interview experience, please let us know.