Principal, Structural Engineering
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Washington, DC · $214k–$273k an hour · Posted September 28, 2026
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About the job
Do you want to help engineer what’s next?
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) is a multidisciplinary, national engineering firm of trusted consultants and technical experts offering services in structures, building enclosures, advanced analysis, performance & code consulting, and applied science & research. We are committed to building long-term client partnerships, creating rewarding careers for our employees, advancing our profession, and giving back to our communities. At SGH, we lean into complex challenges—applying our expertise, curiosity, and collaborative approach to help our clients move forward with confidence.
What makes careers at SGH so special?
The only way to advance is to question and explore. Every member of the SGH team is both a learner and an educator, committed to advancing ourselves, our teams, and our industry. Together we are creating a community that never settles for what is but always seeks what could be.
There are many reasons to love SGH:
Our Work: Our clients trust us to bring clarity and deliver outstanding solutions for their most complex projects.
Our People: We are bold thinkers and compassionate teammates, committed to lifelong learning and professional growth.
Our Commitment: We live with integrity and embrace an obligation to give back to our professions and communities.
Our Contribution: We offer a comprehensive and rich compensation and benefits package with company-paid and voluntary programs to help build healthy lifestyles, strong relationships, and future prosperity.
We want someone passionate about technical leadership and business development.
SGH is seeking a Principal-level leader to participate in the growth and development of its Washington, DC Structural Engineering (SE) Division.
SGH’s Washington, DC SE Division desires to grow its structural investigation practice area. As part of this process, SGH seeks to employ a recognized technical expert with a proven business track record who will help grow and perpetuate the success of the structural investigation practice in the Division.
The position requires technical expertise and experience in the forensic evaluation of structures and their failures and in litigation support. The candidate should demonstrate a deep understanding of the performance of structures both under environmental loading and as related to durability. Overlap with our Structural Repair and Rehabilitation capabilities and our Materials Science capabilities would be extremely beneficial. Examples of SGH’s work areas include complex commercial, institutional, industrial, energy, and horizontal infrastructure facilities. We anticipate that the candidate would collaborate extensively with our Washington, DC Building Technology (BT) Division on projects involving both disciplines.
The Principal will be responsible for developing business and delivering projects through client relationships, strategic marketing, project management, and technical expertise and oversight. They will market, organize, coordinate, and execute project assignments of various sizes that leverage the engineering skillsets of SGH personnel. This individual will lead, supervise, support, mentor, and train staff and will work in a team atmosphere that fosters technological achievement, business development, and collaboration with other SGH practice areas while emphasizing a high-quality product. SGH Principals play key roles on professional committees and frequently contribute to journals and other technical publications.
Currently, SGH’s SE Division has a strong presence in Washington, DC, with regional support from our multi-disciplinary engineering and materials laboratory and operations groups in Boston, MA. SGH’s Washington, DC office is our second-largest office and includes a robust team working in Building Technology, Structural Engineering, and Advanced Analysis. Our SE Division in Washington DC provides leading-edge services in structural investigation, repair and rehabilitation, and new structural design. In addition to the large group of BT engineers and architects in Washington, DC, the Washington, DC SE Division benefits from easy access to SGH’s national team of experts including analysts, structural engineers, geotechnical engineers, civil engineers, fire engineers, materials scientists, chemists, petrographers, and architects.
What You’ll Need:
Master of Science, Master of Engineering, or Doctorate in Structural Engineering or related field required.
15+ years of professional experience in structural engineering.
Must have a Professional Engineer (PE) license or Structural Engineer (SE) license, SE preferred.
Experience with and a desire to conduct leading-edge work and experience leading projects that require finding and communicating creative solutions outside the standard.
Notable track record of recognized technical excellence and market leadership.
Demonstrated ability to develop strong client relationships and a substantial revenue base.
Strong leadership and mentoring skills with a commitment to developing high-level talent.
Participation in professional society activities and publications.
Experience as an accomplished public speaker.
Commitment to and track record of professional collaboration.
SGH prides itself on its standards of ethics and honesty; candidates must view these qualities as paramount.
Benefits Overview:
SGH provides the following benefits to eligible employees.
Paid Time Off (Vacation time, Sick leave, Holidays)
Paid Parental Leave
Profit Sharing and 401(k) plan with a discretionary company contribution
Health Insurance (Medical, Dental & Vision)
Short and Long-Term Disability (company paid)
Employee Basic Life and AD&D insurance (company paid)
Optional Life Insurance
Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Fertility, Family Forming, and Hormonal Health benefit
Employee Assistance Program
Empathy Bereavement Support
Pre-tax Commuter Benefit
AFLAC Accident & Cancer Insurance
Legal & Identity Theft plans
Tuition Reimbursement
Compensation:
The compensation range below is a good faith estimate pursuant to applicable equal pay and pay transparency laws. The actual salary offered will be based on several factors including the candidate’s experience and qualifications.
Base salary is a part of SGH’s industry leading Total Compensation package. Our Total Compensation package includes base salary, pay for extra direct hours worked, an annual discretionary bonus program, generous paid time off, and health and wellness benefits with a special emphasis on substantial SGH contributions to medical insurance premiums and SGH’s Profit Sharing & 401(k) Plan.
Pay Range:
Associate Principal: $214,240 - $236,080
Principal: $262,080
Senior Principal: $273,000
Principal (all levels) $214,240 — $273,000 USD
SGH is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all job applicants and employees. We consider all qualified applicants and encourage individuals with disabilities and protected veterans to apply. If the application system is not accessible to you, or you need a reasonable accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email jobs@sgh.com or call 781-907-9000 and ask for Human Resources.
TO ALL RECRUITMENT AGENCIES: SGH does not accept unsolicited agency resumes or candidate profiles. Please do not forward resumes or profiles for any of our job postings to our career site or to any Simpson Gumpertz & Heger employee. SGH is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.