Structural Engineering Manager - Lightweight Structures

About the role

A Cape Town-based design-build company specialising in high-end lightweight structures is looking for an experienced Structural Engineering Manager to lead its engineering function, oversee project delivery and build a high-performing engineering team. This is a hands-on, office-based position in which the successful candidate personally leads priority projects while managing the engineering department, reporting regularly to the CEO on progress, risks and capacity.

Key responsibilities

• Lead, manage and develop the engineering team, plan resources and recruit additional support, including a supporting engineer
• Manage external engineering consultants and develop a second-in-command with succession planning
• Personally lead priority structural projects and prepare the Basis of Design report for each project
• Review structural steel, connection and substructure designs and provide reaction loads and interface information for other designs
• Coordinate tensile engineering, act as the primary engineering contact for clients and engineers of record, and support site teams during installation
• Manage engineering programmes, scope changes and ensure accurate inputs for estimating, procurement and manufacturing
• Develop engineering workflows, standards, templates and quality control, including design reviews and technical sign-off
• Drive workflow automation and AI-enabled coded engineering tools, and integrate engineering reporting into the company's AI-enabled ERP system
• Own the engineering of pre-designed and modular product ranges, including design rules and release management

Required profile

• Degree in Civil or Structural Engineering with a strong structural specialisation
• ECSA Professional Engineer registration (Pr.Eng), or well advanced towards it
• Approximately 10 years or more of structural engineering experience
• Proven hands-on project engineering experience and previous engineering team leadership, ideally 5 years or more
• Experience developing engineering standards, workflows and quality-control processes
• Strong technical, analytical and problem-solving capabilities

Required skills

• Structural steel design and engineering
• Advantageous: SolidWorks, RFEM, technet Easy, lightweight or long-span steel structures, modular structures, international projects
• Interest in workflow automation, coding and AI tools in engineering

The position is office-based and not suitable for remote work; Cape Town-based candidates are strongly preferred, though relocation may be considered. Applications are made through the recruiter, with a short summary of project experience, team leadership, professional registration, career history, location, notice period and salary expectations.