Structural Designer — Entry Level

About the role

FireFly GX is recruiting an entry level Structural Designer for an established industrial power equipment manufacturer in Crosby, Texas, on the east side of Houston. This is a genuine first or second job in design: you will be mentored by senior design and engineering staff and are expected to grow into owning the building structure on assigned projects.

You will work alongside engineering, project management and production to develop and update structural designs and drawings for industrial electrical buildings — Power Distribution Centres and E-Houses — and their structural components. Recent graduates from technical drafting or design programmes are encouraged to apply.

What you'll do

• Prepare, revise and maintain 2D AutoCAD drawings for structural and mechanical applications
• Assist with equipment layouts, structural steel details, fabrication drawings and general arrangement drawings
• Develop framing plans, skid base and floor details, member and connection details and weld details under senior direction
• Assist with base plate and anchor bolt layouts, lift lug details, and equipment weight and centre-of-gravity calculations
• Coordinate structural layouts with electrical equipment, cable tray, cable entries, HVAC and floor and wall penetrations so conflicts are resolved on paper
• Review drawings for accuracy, completeness and consistency, and maintain organised drawing files and project documentation
• Work on several projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines
• Communicate design revisions and project changes to production personnel promptly
• Help resolve drafting and fit-up issues arising during fabrication and assembly
• Visit the production floor to verify dimensions, review installations and answer design questions

Key skills

• Basic proficiency in AutoCAD 2D
• 0–2 years' experience — recent graduates from technical drafting or design programmes are encouraged to apply
• Structural or mechanical drafting background preferred
• Basic understanding of structural steel shapes, connections and welding symbols
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to manage several assignments and prioritise tasks
• Good communication and organisational skills, working independently and with engineering and production teams
• Willingness to learn and adapt to company drafting standards and procedures
• Able to walk, stand, climb stairs or ladders, and safely navigate an active manufacturing and fabrication environment

Also useful

• 3D modelling software — SolidWorks, Inventor, Tekla or Revit
• Exposure to structural analysis software — STAAD.Pro or RISA-3D
• Awareness of AISC 360, ASCE 7 and AWS D1.1
• Previous experience in an industrial or fabrication environment
• Bilingual English and Spanish

What's on offer

• A structured entry route into industrial structural design, with senior mentoring
• Ownership of the building structure on your own projects as you develop
• Design office and fabrication shop under one roof — you see what you drew get built
• Technically varied work across PDCs, E-Houses, skids and structural steel
• Full-time, permanent, on-site in the Houston area