Structural Designer Jobs in Virginia
Structural Designer jobs in Virginia are consistently active, with demand concentrated in defense and aerospace contracting, civil infrastructure, and commercial construction across a market that ranges from drafting-focused entry-level roles through senior structural engineering support positions. The largest hiring metros are Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hampton Roads, where anchor employers such as Leidos, AECOM, and Clark Construction Group maintain ongoing staffing needs. The most in-demand specialties include steel connection detailing, BIM-based structural modeling, and bridge and transportation infrastructure design. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Description
Ready for a rewarding career challenge?
Unleash your potential at Leidos, where we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customer’s success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainably. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business.
If this sounds like an environment where you can thrive, keep reading!
Gibbs & Cox, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leidos, is the largest independent naval architecture and marine engineering firm in the United States. Since our founding in 1929, 24 classes of combatants and nearly 7,000 vessels have been built to Gibbs & Cox designs. We proudly support military and commercial clients in the U.S. and internationally with all phases of marine design, construction, and lifecycle management. Our passion is solving our customers’ 21st-century maritime obstacles with quality and integrity.
Are you a skilled electrical designer with a passion for ship design? Gibbs and Cox are seeking a talented Naval Structural Designer to join our team in Newport News, VA. As a member of our dynamic and highly collaborative Ship Design team, you will be crucial in producing intricate distributive structural ship systems designs, 3D models, diagrams, and 2D drawings for ship construction and modification. You will work closely with our team to ensure that all designs adhere to strict ship specifications, standards, and regulatory body requirements for Naval, Coast Guard, and Commercial ships. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to work with a top-tier team and make your mark in the ship design industry – apply today!
Your greatest work is ahead!
The Mission
The Leidos Defense Group provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the world’s toughest security challenges for customers with “can’t fail” missions. From scanning for illicit material at ports and borders to predicting future events and instability up to five years in advance, our products help customers make the world safer. To explore and learn more, click here!
Are you ready to join a team dedicated to a mission? Begin your journey of a flourishing and meaningful career, share your resume with us today!
The Challenge:
- Prepare accurate and detailed designs, free-form surface models, and/or drawings based on concept sketches, photographs, scans, or clearly stated functional requirements.
- Work closely with our clients, naval architects, engineers, and design team members to produce high-quality, detailed ship design products and drawings.
Basic Qualifications:
- U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain a Secret Security Clearance.
- High School and 1-2 years of experience.
- Some experience translating specification requirements and incorporating standards, requirements, design practices, and techniques into detailed ship design, drawings, and other finished design products distributive ship structural systems.
- Structural Design experience in Naval and/or commercial Shipbuilding programs a plus.
- Experience with PDF Editing Programs.
- Proficiency in AUTOCAD 2014 or later is required.
- 3-D modeling experience.
- Knowledge of standards and regulatory body requirements is a plus.
- Demonstrated proficiency in drafting methods, procedures, and techniques.
- Experience in drafting methods, procedures, and techniques.
- Ability to work some overtime as needed.
- Strong MS Excel, Word, and PowerPoint skills.
- Excellent oral, written, and presentation skills.
- Strong time management and organization skills as an independent contributor.
- Demonstrated interpersonal skills as a member of a collaborative multidisciplinary team.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience with ShipConstructor.
At Leidos, the opportunities are boundless. We inspire our staff with interesting assignments that allow them to thrive professionally and personally. For us, helping you grow your career is good business. We look forward to learning more about you – apply today!
If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.
Original Posting:
October 28, 2026
For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.
Pay Range:
Pay Range $40,300.00 - $72,850.00The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.
About Leidos
Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.
Pay and Benefits
Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.
Securing Your Data
Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com.
If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
Commitment to Non-Discrimination
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.
See All 11 Structural Designer Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Structural Designer JobsStructural Designer Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Structural Designer Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in structural designer jobs across Virginia.
- Associate or bachelor's degree in structural engineering technology, civil engineering, or a closely related field
- Proficiency in structural detailing and modeling software such as AutoCAD, Revit, or Tekla Structures
- Working knowledge of IBC, AISC, and ACI standards as applied to Virginia commercial and infrastructure projects
- Experience producing construction documents including fabrication drawings, connection details, and material schedules
- Ability to read and interpret architectural and civil drawings and coordinate across disciplines
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for coordinating with engineers of record and field teams
Structural Designer Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a structural designer in Virginia?
Most structural designer roles in Virginia require an associate or bachelor's degree in civil or structural engineering technology. Virginia does not issue a standalone structural designer license, but many employers prefer candidates working toward or holding an Engineer-in-Training credential through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Building proficiency in BIM tools like Revit or Tekla and assembling a portfolio of detailing work significantly strengthens candidacy with Virginia's defense contractors and infrastructure firms.
How much do structural designers make in Virginia?
Structural designers in Virginia earn a median of about $97,120 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $74,000 for the lowest 10% to over $150,710 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire structural designers in Virginia?
Employers hiring structural designers in Virginia right now include Sargent & Lundy, Leidos, and Ramboll, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Virginia's concentration of federal defense contractors and large civil infrastructure firms means demand is distributed across both the Northern Virginia corridor and Hampton Roads shipbuilding and government facility sectors.
Which Virginia cities have the most structural designer jobs?
The cities with the most structural designer openings in Virginia are Reston, Richmond, and Blacksburg. Northern Virginia drives volume through its dense cluster of federal contractors and commercial development, while Richmond and Hampton Roads generate openings through transportation infrastructure programs and naval and shipyard facility projects tied to large government and defense employers in those metros.
Are there remote structural designer jobs in Virginia?
Yes, but they're limited. Structural designer work is largely project-based and often requires hands-on coordination with fabricators, site teams, and engineers of record, which reduces full-remote availability. About 0% of structural designer openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those tend to involve BIM modeling or plan review tasks that can reasonably be performed off-site.
How can I get hired as a structural designer in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an entry-level detailer or CAD technician role at a Virginia structural or civil engineering firm, where hands-on detailing experience builds quickly under licensed engineers. Large Virginia contractors and defense-sector engineering firms regularly bring on junior designers from community colleges such as Northern Virginia Community College and Tidewater Community College. A strong portfolio of academic projects or internship work, combined with demonstrated proficiency in Revit or AutoCAD, gives candidates a clear edge over those without it.
Where can I find and apply to structural designer jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to structural designer jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings from active employers across the state. Find roles that fit your experience and target region, then apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 11 Structural Designer Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Structural Designer Jobs