Structural Engineer Principal

What we offer

Join AEP Service Corporation in Columbus, Ohio, onsite, and influence retrofit and new build projects across gas, coal, and renewable plants. This role centers on defining structural design criteria and delivering calculations, drawings, and specifications for buildings, supports, foundations, platforms, stacks, and other plant structures while coordinating with AE, EPC, and project stakeholders. The position carries a salary range of USD 117,000 to 151,132 per year, accompanied by a comprehensive benefits package and paths for professional growth.

• Discretionary short- and long-term incentives
• 401(k)
• Pension
• Health insurance
• Vacation
• Educational assistance

Responsibilities

• Develop and document structural design criteria for buildings, supports, foundations, steel framing, platforms, ladders, and access structures.
• Perform and review structural analyses and calculations for gravity, wind, seismic, thermal, dynamic, fatigue, and equipment-induced loads.
• Coordinate foundation and anchor design with geotechnical and civil inputs; verify equipment anchor loads, grout details, and anchorage specifics.
• Prepare and review structural drawings, connection details, material specifications, and fabrication/shop drawings.
• Interface with OEMs during RFx and procurement to confirm loadings, lift points, shipping restraints, and installation constraints.
• Collaborate with Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, and I&C teams to address structural interfaces, alignment, access, and maintenance requirements.
• Support construction and erection activities including shop drawing reviews, welding/NDT requirements, field inspections, NCR resolution, and as-built documentation.
• Assess retrofit or modification scopes and recommend reinforcement, bracing, or replacements to meet code and lifecycle needs.
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards and contribute to inspection and long-term asset management planning.

Requirements

• Strong knowledge of structural steel and reinforced concrete design, connection design, and fabrication practices.
• Understanding of dynamic and vibration effects from turbomachinery and their impact on support design and isolation.
• Proficiency in seismic, wind, thermal, and fatigue loading; applying codes such as AISC, ACI, ASCE, IBC, and AWS.
• Familiarity with erection sequencing, rigging and lifting plans, temporary works, and field inspection protocols.
• Solid technical writing and communication skills for coordination with multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholders.
• Proficiency with MS Office and document control systems.

Technologies

• STAAD.Pro
• SAP2000
• ETABS
• RISA
• RAM
• AutoCAD
• Revit
• PDMS
• AVEVA
• MS Office

What you’ll do

• Technical Expertise: Apply advanced proficiency and specialized knowledge to serve as a technical resource in focused domains such as system production, underground systems, control systems, thermo-hydraulic controls, distribution standards, and plant operations including fossil or nuclear facilities.
• Leadership & Guidance: Influence thinking within the unit by leading and coordinating work, and assume project or function management for assigned tasks.
• Planning & Organization: Develop and implement plans that cover scheduling, resources, and cost information to tackle complex engineering challenges requiring cross-functional collaboration.
• Problem Solving & Initiative: Identify, clarify, and resolve complex problems, pursuing opportunities that yield system-wide impact.
• Communication: Lead the preparation and presentation of technical topics to senior management, professional groups, and regulatory bodies with clarity and credibility.
• Interpersonal Skills: Build cross-company networks with AEP, partners, professional associations, regulatory agencies, and academia.
• Decision Making: Make technical decisions with calculated risk and long-range implications, often across organizational boundaries.
• Business Awareness: Recognize opportunities and understand how decisions affect customers and suppliers.

Preferred qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license or actively pursuing PE
• Direct experience with simple/combined-cycle plant structures, HRSG supports, stack design, and renewable plant structural scopes
• Experience with construction management, shop fabrication practices, and NDT/welding specifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Structural or Civil Engineering with a structural emphasis
• Structural engineering experience on power generation, industrial, or heavy construction projects
• Proficiency with structural analysis and design software (STAAD.Pro, SAP2000, ETABS, RISA, RAM) and CAD/3D tools (AutoCAD, Revit, PDMS/AVEVA)
• Experience producing and reviewing structural calculations, shop drawings, and RFx/vendor submittals

Working conditions

• Approximately 25 percent travel, including day trips and overnight stays up to a week or longer
• Work conducted in both indoor and outdoor environments with exposure to heat, cold, noise, dust, fumes, and operating machinery
• Mandatory safety gear at construction sites and generating stations: hard hat, eye and hearing protection, steel-toed shoes with heels and non-slip soles
• Compliance with site-specific safety requirements is required