Staff Structural Engineer

About Karman:

Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Gardena, California, Karman Industries is at the forefront of revolutionizing industrial thermal energy. Our mission is to electrify global thermal systems across data centers, manufacturing, and energy industries. Karman is developing the revolutionary Heat Processing Unit (HPU) to reinvent thermal handling for giga-scale data centers & AI factories. The HPU is built around a supercritical CO2 chiller system utilizing a high-speed electrically driven turbomachinery core. Our system aims to reduce energy consumption in data center thermal management by greater than 25% and increase energy density by 10x.

At Karman Industries, we are committed to fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where innovation thrives. Our team is composed of passionate professionals dedicated to making a tangible impact on the future of industrial manufacturing. Join us in our mission to transform the industry and contribute to a more sustainable world.

Job Description

Karman Industries is seeking a highly motivated Staff Structural Engineer to join our team designing the next generation of heat processing systems. The candidate will be responsible for structural engineering of all structural designs in the Karman Heat Processing Unit (HPU) program, and for managing the vendors and processes that turn those designs into fabricated, certified structural hardware. The role spans concept design, detailed design, project management, vendor coordination, engineering certification and build supervision across a range of challenging applications. We are a team that relies on a strong first principles approach and working together to deliver a cohesively developed system.

Responsibilities:

• Perform design and analysis for new structural steel design projects, including new products and facility structures.

• Lead detailed structural design and analysis for the utilization of existing structural steel designs to new sites across the USA.

• Provide structural engineering support for machinery design, including support in analysis of mechanical loads and environments.

• Manage project schedules, budgets, and deliverables for structural engineering projects

• Coordinate vendors across design, procurement, and fabrication for structural engineering projects.

• Perform structural analysis and calculations to support design decisions and code compliance

• Certify (PE stamp) own designs and review and certify designs produced by others.

• Interface with mechanical and analysis teams to integrate structural design with equipment and process requirements.

• Support permitting submittals and respond to plan-check comments from authorities having jurisdiction.

• Hands-on support of structural integration and construction of own design and designs produced by others.

• Implement novel solutions to challenging problems, thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo.

Required Qualifications:

• B.Sc./B.Eng. in structural engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, or equivalent

• 5+ years of experience in structural steel design and fabrication, including skid-mounted, process, or industrial equipment.

• Experience managing structural engineering projects, including schedule, budget, and scope and coordination design, procurement, and fabrication vendors.

• Self-motivated / high performer, ability to self-manage, multi-task, and communicate excellently

Desired Skills and Experience:

• Solid understanding of geotechnical engineering and seismic engineering inputs and constraints to structural fabrications.

• Active California Professional Engineer (PE) license.

• Experience in designing structural elements for rotating equipment machinery, pipe loads, thermal loads.

• Proficiency with Siemens NX CAD and Siemens NX drafting software.

• Familiarity with ANSYS and NASTRAN structural and vibration analysis.

• Familiarity with relevant structural codes and standards (AISC, ASCE 7, IBC) and process and piping codes (ASME BPVC, B31.1/B31.3).

• Experience with modular, crane-liftable, or containerized and transportable structural systems.

• Experience with multi-jurisdiction PE stamping and permitting across US states.

• Manufacturing experience with structural steel weldments produced at scale.

Application Process

Direct applicants only — we are not working with outside recruiters or agencies for this role.

Legal Disclaimer

Karman Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Karman Industries is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.