Protective Design Project Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Company Description

At  KPFF Consulting Engineers , we are more than just an  engineering design firm . For  65 years , we have dedicated ourselves to  innovative, sustainable engineering  that shapes the  built environment  and tackles  complex infrastructure challenges . Our  team culture  emphasizes  balance, growth, and well-being , supporting each member’s professional journey with  flexibility, generous benefits,  and a  collaborative approach  to work-life integration.

With over  1,400 professionals across 30 offices nationwide , KPFF’s  decentralized structure  allows each office the  flexibility to pursue projects  aligned with their  regional strengths . Learn more at www.kpff.com.

Job Description

As a Protective Design Engineer at KPFF, you’ll be part of a specialized team with members in San Francisco and Portland who focused on designing resilient structures that protect people and critical infrastructure. You’ll apply and expand your expertise on projects that address both intentional threats and accidental events, building advanced skills in areas such as blast engineering, progressive collapse prevention, and hostile vehicle mitigation.

If you’ve built a foundation in protective design or structural engineering and are eager to take on more responsibility, this role offers the opportunity to expand your expertise, lead portions of projects, and guide early-career engineers. You’ll work with diverse teams to create tailored solutions that strengthen safety and resilience in projects across industries and clients.

What Makes This Role Unique :

• Apply advanced design skills in specialized, analytical projects that push technical and creative boundaries.
• Lead portions of projects and support technical development of early-career engineers while continuing to grow your own expertise.
• Collaborate with diverse design teams where your input directly shapes construction and implementation.
• Contribute to impactful projects across industries including aviation, aerospace, manufacturing, and industrial facilities.
• Engage in ongoing innovation with opportunities to explore emerging technologies and material applications.

Qualifications

If you’re looking to build on your experience in protective design, this role gives you the chance to take on complex projects, grow your technical expertise, and develop your leadership skills along the way. The qualifications that will help you succeed include :

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Additional Information

Compensation

The expected salary range for this role is $90,000 - $110,000 , aligned with candidates who bring at least 3 years of structural engineering experience with protective design exposure. Final compensation will also consider education, licensure status, and overall skills. In addition, we offer performance-based bonuses to recognize outstanding contributions. During the interview process, we’ll review the full compensation and benefits package and answer any questions you may have.

Culture and Benefits

At KPFF, your career growth and well-being matter. In the Protective Design group, you’ll be part of a collaborative, specialized team where your work directly contributes to projects that protect people and critical infrastructure. We value autonomy, innovation, and teamwork, and we’re committed to helping engineers grow into leaders in this unique field.

Comprehensive Benefits : We’re proud to offer flexible and competitive benefits, including : ​​​​​​​

KPFF Consulting Engineers participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

KPFF Consulting Engineers is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, religion, marital status, sex / gender (including sexual orientation or gender identity), pregnancy, veteran status, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, or any other protected basis.