Principal Structural Engineer - Secondary Steel

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience and expertise in detailed design of secondary steel for offshore wind projects, particularly in platforms, ladders, handrails and cable support systems. You will have excellent problem‑solving skills and be comfortable applying your general experience to solve novel and innovative technical challenges. You will bring proven leadership skills, with the ability to guide, support, and mentor a technical team to successfully deliver on project requirements. Alongside your technical strength, you will be approachable, collaborative, and an effective communicator, comfortable engaging with clients and contributing positively within a team environment. A deep understanding of secondary steel design is essential, while a broader range of technical knowledge and awareness is highly desirable. You will have a minimum of 6 to 8 years’ experience in the structural design and analysis of offshore foundations, with a strong focus on secondary steel for substations and wind turbines.

At SLPE, you’ll join a close‑knit team of highly skilled engineers in a role that genuinely values innovation, ownership, and excellence. As a growing company with a flat structure, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of offshore wind design and engineering, where everyone plays a meaningful role in our success. We foster a friendly, flexible, and forward‑thinking culture, continuously pushing the boundaries of offshore wind engineering. We work on industry‑leading projects using cutting‑edge methods, delivering work that is both challenging and rewarding. The role offers a competitive salary of £75,500 to £97,100 per annum, depending on experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert technical guidance on the design and analysis of secondary steel structures for offshore substations and wind turbine foundations, ensuring alignment with project specifications, industry codes, and best practices.
• Contribute to the development of innovative solutions, including collaborating with SLPE and Smulders colleagues to design better, safer, and more cost‑effective secondary structures.
• Lead and coordinate the development of secondary steel designs from concept through detailed design, including the preparation and review of calculations, drawings, material specifications, and design reports.
• Perform and review structural analyses for secondary steel elements under various load conditions.
• Have in-depth knowledge of bolted and welded connection design for offshore structures.
• Communicate with project managers, clients and fabricators to ensure seamless integration of secondary steel elements within larger structural systems and project timelines.
• Collaborate closely with primary steel designers, electrical designers, and other multidisciplinary teams to ensure seamless design integrations.
• Interpret offshore design codes and develop complex analysis models using SLPE’s in‑house software and the Sesam software suite.
• Liaise with clients, certification bodies and regulatory authorities to ensure all technical designs meet safety, regulatory and environmental standards.
• Deliver technical presentations and reports to internal and external stakeholders, effectively communicating complex engineering concepts.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement in secondary steel design approaches, focusing on safety, design efficiency, ease of fabrication, transportation and offshore installation.
• Contribute to technical input for tenders, proposals and business development activities, including defining scopes of work, estimating engineering hours and proposing technical methodologies.
• Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies and regulatory changes to ensure cutting‑edge design practices are adopted.
• Mentor junior engineers and guide their professional development within the offshore wind sector.
• Lead technical problem‑solving and decision‑making, fostering a collaborative and innovative working environment.
• Lead design teams, delegate tasks and ensure high‑quality technical outputs.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil, Structural, or Mechanical Engineering (or related field).
• Chartered Engineer status preferred.
• Strong experience in secondary steel design for offshore structures, including ladders, handrails, platforms, cable trays, J‑tubes and cable support structures.
• Proficiency in design codes and standards for offshore structures.
• Extensive knowledge of structural analysis software (e.g. SESAM, ANSYS, ABAQUS) and experience using Finite Element Analysis for complex structural components.
• Hands‑on experience with offshore wind projects.
• Proficiency in design software (note that there will be a learning curve for use of SLPE’s in‑house software).
• Strong understanding of marine loads, operational requirements and the technical challenges associated with offshore environments.
• In-depth knowledge of bolted and welded connection design for offshore structures.
• Knowledge of fabrication processes and practicalities, offshore installation and O&M activities.
• Track record of managing health and safety risks during the design process.
• Experience leading engineering teams from conceptual design through to fabrication and installation.
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams and deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Ability to deliver results that stand out in the market.
• Ability to determine technically robust solutions where codes and standards do not provide guidance.

Soft Skills

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with the ability to motivate and guide junior team members.
• Self‑driven and proactive mindset, demonstrating dedication to quality and innovation.
• Think from the customer's perspective and continually deliver improved offerings that provide win‑win impact.
• Energised by creating better ways of doing things, so that higher levels of performance are possible.

Additional Information

This position is available in either London or Bristol. SLPE operates a hybrid working model, requiring staff to be in the office at least 3 days per week. Candidates based in Bristol must be willing to travel regularly to SLPE’s central London headquarters – all travel expenses will be reimbursed. It is expected that this role will involve regular collaboration with SLPE’s parent company Smulders, both for knowledge sharing and for design development. Occasional travel to Smulders’ offices in Europe may therefore be required. In addition to a competitive salary, we offer comprehensive benefits focused on employee well‑being and work‑life balance: 25 days of flexible annual leave, with the option to purchase additional days after one year of service; additional annual leave rewarded for longevity; annual discretionary bonus scheme; fully paid professional subscriptions, training and support; enhanced salary‑sacrifice pension contributions; private medical and dental insurance; income protection insurance; life assurance cover; employee assistance programme; option of international remote working for up to 8 weeks per year; Cycle to Work scheme; generous family‑friendly policies; team social and well‑being activities organised by SLPE.