Senior Structural Engineer
Application Deadline: 22 May 2026
Department: Engineering
Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time
Location: Sunderland
Description
pxFairport (pxF) is a project delivery specialist offering full turnkey EPC and OEM solutions to the bulk material handling and plant processing markets. Our services cover the aggregates, processing, tunnelling, mining, quarrying, alternative fuels, waste‑to‑energy, ports, and food sectors, globally. With unrivalled industry expertise, pxF manages, specifies, engineers, designs, supplies, installs, operates, and maintains market‑leading equipment for complex material handling needs, guaranteeing performance excellence, reliability, and optimal operating costs.
The Opportunity: We are now recruiting for a Senior Structural Engineer to join our Sunderland Office. The primary purpose of the Senior Structural Engineer role is to design complex structures to the specified brief and produce the associated technical outputs e.g. calculations, analysis models, connection designs and structural reports. You’ll be supported with personalised on‑the‑job training, coaching, mentoring and twice‑yearly development and performance reviews to help maintain & develop your contributions and competence.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and develop complex structures to the specified brief.
- Produce analysis models in accordance with company standards to validate civil/structural configurations, and to generate foundation loads. Ensure analytical models transfer loads as expected, and that axial forces and moments are fixed/ released as stability & connection design demands.
- Produce calculations in accordance with company standards to validate connection design.
- Produce structural reports in accordance with company standards for inclusion into the project technical file.
- Prepare Civil/Structural Basis of Design summary prior to commencing engineering works.
- Manage technical outputs (calculations, analysis, reports, etc.) using company systems.
- Undertake peer reviews of colleagues’ work (calculations, analysis, reports, etc.).
- Check structural drawing output (as required) to ensure that the information within accurately reflects analytical models and calculations.
- Identify variations to contractual scope and escalate to the Project team.
- Identify and escalation of all civil/structural Technical Queries that occur on the project.
- Attend internal design review and scoping meetings.
- Attend client meetings as requested by the Project Engineer.
- Ensure design compliance with the project/task brief, relevant standards, and regulations.
- Support CAT 2/CAT 3 checking requirements with supplementary information as required.
- Carry out analysis of designs with a view to improving safety, DfMA, and functionality.
- Promote value engineering, standardisation, risk reduction, and a right‑first‑time approach.
- Undertake site visits / condition surveys and prepare reports on findings to support successful delivery of projects.
- Support other areas of the business with information and guidance (steel weights, configurations, engineering time, and concept designs).
- Provide support, guidance and mentorship to junior team members when required.
- Support the rectification of any NCR raised against the department.
- Participate & contribute to any lessons learned and continuous improvement meetings.
- Support the development of processes to improve efficiency and project delivery.
- Deliver work in alignment with the business’ ISO 9001 processes and templates as controlled within the Quality Management System (COS).
- Engage with the performance review process and take actions to address areas for improvement.
- Drive overall departmental/business objectives year‑on‑year.
- Support the Structural Manager in department tasks when absent/ unavailable.
Minimum Requirements
- Degree qualified in a Civil or Structural engineering (minimum BEng).
- Chartered Engineer status (preferably ICE or IStructE).
- Knowledge of bulk material handling, conveyor systems, and associated structures (e.g. towers, trestles, gantries, silos, retaining structures).
- Good structural analytical software knowledge (STAAD Pro preferred).
- Good ability to interpret site investigation reports and identify implications.
- Excellent understanding of load cases and combinations, and ability to deduce that structures are behaving as intended through calculation and/or analysis.
- Good understanding of the design process, and its associated documentation.
- Excellent knowledge of structural codes, standards and regulations.
- Excellent understanding of structural design principles.
- Basic knowledge of detailing steelwork and drafting standards.
- Basic 2D CAD software knowledge (Autodesk AutoCAD preferred).
- Good understanding of Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA).
- Good knowledge of manufacturing processes associated with heavy fabrication.
- Good understanding of checking calculations, reports, analytical models, and drawings.
- Proficient at using Microsoft Office applications.
- Ability to clearly communicate design ideas, both internally and externally.
- Ability to cope with the pressure of deadlines.
- Ability to work across multiple projects / tasks.
- A high attention to detail and commitment to quality performance/output.
What you will receive from us
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
- Contribution towards eye test and glasses.
- Online company discount benefits site including cinema tickets and gym membership discount.
- Long Service Awards.
- Employee recognition scheme – ELITE Awards.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Flexible Benefits Package.
- Onsite parking.
We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.
Please note this role may close early or be extended depending on the volume of applications.
#J-18808-Ljbffr