Welcome to a company where you'll enjoy getting up and walking to the office every morning! A place where your new team and clients will welcome you and make you feel right at home.
We are currently LOOKING FOR A structural engineer with the following minimum level of experience:
- STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: 0-2 years of Structural Engineering experience
POSITION: Project Engineer (Structural)
DATE AVAILABLE: April 25, 2023
LOCATION: 100% Remote.
HOURS: 8:00AM-5:00PM*
PAY: $60,000 to $70,000
BENEFITS: Medical and Vision, 401K, two weeks PTO, Work from Home (fully remote), Quarterly Bonuses based on performance (UP TO $18k PER YEAR!), Paid Overtime, Paid Holidays (8 days/year)
All computer equipment, software, and office supplies provided
MUST HAVE GOOD, RELIABLE INTERNET AND CELL PHONE (Direct VOIP phone line will be provided)
* There will be some flexibility as long as goals are being met. If you are in the Eastern or Central Time Zones, a minimum of 5 hours per day during Pacific Standard Time will be required to be worked during the aforementioned hours in order to be available to clients and to coordinate with your team.
Building section from designer with our engineering implemented
Vista Structural Engineering's Core Values:
Service-oriented
Service-oriented
Always aiming to serve our clients and to ensure our clients consistently feel deeply that we value them and care about their success and the success of their projects
Positive
Positive
Relentlessly seeing the bright side. Able to let go quickly when something doesn't go as planned, moving onward and upward. Bringing an upbeat attitude that makes people feel you are approachable
Team-focused
Team-Focused
Quick to jump in and help another person on the team who has a question or needs assistance; excited to help move the team forward in pursuit of a team goal
Time management & Efficiency
Time management & efficiency
Efficient and effective in allotting time each day to achieving and conquering tasks that continually advance one's self toward personal short-term and long-term goals and the company toward its goals
Dependable
Dependable
Able to be counted upon to show up and be effective every day. Doesn't allow negative outside influences to enter into one's life. Focuses on results and refuses to make excuses.
Continuing your career with the team at Vista Structural Engineering...
…will give you a wide variety of engineering experience in wood-framed, steel, and reinforced concrete structural engineering that we use in residential construction.
We have all the fun software you’ll need to be successful and efficiently come up with solutions.
You’ll be on the most fun and supportive team you could have imagined. No pocket protectors and boring cubicles here. WFH while you GSD and BS with your co-workers (those are some of the many fun acronyms we use).
When we do our job, we play a key role in providing families a safe, strong, comfortable home in which they’ll be able to enjoy years and years to come, making memories!
Elevation of a house we engineered in the Columbia River Gorge
As a project engineer, your day-to-day would focus on these main tasks:
• Coordinating with project manager, clients, and our drafting team to obtain the information we need for our drafting team to perform a pre-engineering plan setup on each project. This would include marking up preliminary foundation, framing, and shear wall layouts.
• Once our All-Star drafting team has completed the plan setup in AutoCAD for a project, you would then engineer the gravity, lateral, and foundation systems of the house
• Get the pens and paper out and bring out your artistic side! This phase of each project includes a combination of pulling in details from our CAD library and drawing new custom details for each project. The new custom details are most engineers’ favorite part, where they get to imagine themselves out in the field, putting the structure together. These details would then be passed on to our drafting team for them to implement into the plans
• Once our drafting team has turned our structural plans and detail sheets into a work of art, you’ll then review their work and send to the project manager for review. This is where the the i’s get dotted and the t’s get crossed.
• Spend some time on Microsoft Teams with your co-workers, collaborating about ideas for projects, having fun (watercooler talk), and building culture and team unity with each other. Who knows when the next nickname that sticks will present itself?!!
Your #1 responsibility every day will be to quickly and efficiently advance our clients’ projects toward being permit-ready, finalized construction documents
Some of our projects can take as little as a couple of hours, while others can take weeks to complete. On rare occasion, we’ll get in a project that will take longer than three to four weeks. Your average project will take about three to five days to complete the engineering.
Some of our projects are very easy and straightforward – size some gravity members, check point loads on foundation, and show that we’re within the “10% rule” for lateral. These will only require a briefing up front from your project manager, who will then allow you to run with it through to the end.
Other projects (especially those with Team B.A.C.H.) will require coordinating with our client and your project manager to go over how to most creatively approach situations that have multiple ways of being resolved, in order to narrow it down to the option that our client will like the most.
The coordination is the fun part – it takes us engineers “out of the cubicle” and gives us an opportunity to build relationships internally with our team and externally with our clients.
After up-front coordination and the drafting team has set up the plans for you, it’s on to our “bread and butter” – the engineering. This is what we’re really known for – we provide structural designs for which our clients can rest assured that they won’t be getting callbacks from their homeowners; yet, we do so in a way that is creative and as economical as possible in terms of construction cost. We even have an engineer who was a framer for years, who we regularly consult for constructability questions. We want contractors to love working with our plans – and they do!
We have internal guidelines and training videos for engineering to help the process flow more smoothly. We set minimum standards for allowable deflection, we have retaining wall design videos, and guidance for how to best economize lateral engineering design. These provide clarity to our engineering team and allows you to avoid getting stuck in one spot for too long. In the end though, you will have the opportunity to own the engineering. The rest of the team is available for help and guidance, but each project is your baby. You’ll have the opportunity to get creative and have fun putting the structural “puzzle” together.
Flip the page
Which position are you interested in?
Project Engineer
Structural Drafter
Project Engineer – Open Letter
We have an extensive library of previously used CAD details that is growing every day, and we have a team of structural drafters that is second to none. We continually have internal conversations on text and video chat about how to improve our detailing process, and we have a process of drawing details to pass on to our drafters (color coded) that makes their lives much easier and, therefore, our process becomes more efficient.
Once your project moves on to review by your project manager, this is where a good amount of learning occurs for our project engineers. Your plans will be reviewed by a project manager with 15+ years in the industry and a refined knowledge of what clients and contractors will want to see on a set of our plans. Your managing engineer will mark up plans – again, color coded – with recommended changes, things to consider before finalizing the plans, and with comments clarifying markups. This is also a collaborative effort, where you’ll have the opportunity to have some back-and-forth. Then the plans are ready to go out the door!
We don’t want your day to be 100% head-down, pedal to the metal, so we also encourage interacting with your co-workers and clients to give yourself a little bit of a break throughout the day. Being able to converse back and forth on text and video chat plays a huge part in the culture we’ve built within our team. We’re all very helpful to each other, and very positive. Negative attitudes not allowed at Vista Structural Engineering!
We truly, honestly, enjoy working with each other. We have a lot of fun working together and teaming up to GSD (one of our go-to acronyms as a team). We also really enjoy coming up with fun monthly and quarterly goals where we band together to serve as many clients as possible; the team comes up with a reward to be earned at the end of the month if we hit a goal – which has been anything from Vista-branded YETI mugs, to Vista Carhartt beanies, $50 worth of bags of coffee of your choice…and even an annual Fall revenue goal that has resulted in the week off between Christmas and New Year’s each of the last three years.
We generally take about three months to get someone onboarded and trained in our systems and methods. Once a project engineer gets past this point, we expect them to complete projects at a minimum rate of a 2.5:1 ratio of amount invoiced to salary, averaged out over each quarter. For those who achieve beyond this minimum requirement, we have a quarterly bonus program.
In the essence of achieving the perfect balance we’ve found of working efficiently for our clients and providing a quality set of plans, we are not looking for someone who:
• Is a perfectionist who makes a mistake and can’t focus afterward. We all make mistakes, which is why we have an excellent internal review process, followed by a jurisdictional review. We need someone who can continually move forward.
• Has a hard time in general of focusing and completing tasks in a timely manner
• Gets lost in the weeds of detailing and looking to show every last nail in the structure. We’re very detailed for residential engineering, but we realize that we don’t need to show every stick of lumber in our detailing. We prioritize providing details that will allow our builder client to complete their project with as few RFI’s to us as possible, while also not shaking their head and wondering why we provided details that they didn’t need.
We hope this letter has helped to explain what your day-to-day would look like as a Project Engineer with our fun crew at Vista Structural Engineering.
While there is quite a bit more to touch on, we wanted to give you a general idea of what to expect.
If this sounds like an appealing opportunity to you because you really enjoy structural engineering, admire residential architecture, enjoy working on a positive team of fun people, appreciate being able to work remotely, and love serving amazing clients, then there’s a good chance you’ll have what it takes to be an All-Star project engineer on our team.
- Dennis Heier
Owner and Founder of Vista Structural Engineering
Flip the page
Project Engineer – Open Letter
Which position are you interested in?
Project Engineer
Structural Drafter
As a Structural Drafter, your day-to-day would focus on these main tasks:
- Coordinating with project engineer to obtain the information we need to provide a preliminary setup of plans for the engineer to mark up with structural information. This would include setting up the preliminary walls, beams, joists, roof framing, and shear walls.
- Once the project engineer has completed the engineering markups, you would then be responsible for transferring all the structural information to the plans and drawing and organizing details on the sheets that follow the structural plans
- The project would then be reviewed by the project manager, who would provide markups of the project engineer’s design. You would then coordinate implementation of these markups with the project engineer to get the set finalized, cleaned up, and ready to send to the client.
- As the project progresses, you and the project engineer and project manager would work together to coordinate any changes the client requests between the time the project is submitted to the client and when the project is finished.
- Enjoy what you get to do every day, and have fun with your co-workers!
Your #1 responsibility every day will be to quickly and efficiently advance our clients’ projects toward being permit-ready, finalized construction documents
Some of our projects can take as little as a couple of hours, while others can take weeks to complete. On rare occasion, we’ll get in a project that will take longer than three to four weeks. Your average project will take about three to five days working with the project engineer to have the plans permit-ready.
Some of our projects are very easy and straightforward – a simple remodel and a few standard details from our library. These will only require a briefing up front from the project engineer, who will then work with you to guide the project through to the end.
Other projects (especially those with Team B.A.C.H.) will require coordinating with the project engineer and project manager to formulate how to most efficiently create a set of structural plans that is both economical and constructable, and easy for our clients to understand in the field. In a sense, you get to be an artist who helps relay how to build some beautiful homes!
The coordination is the fun part – it gives us an opportunity to build relationships internally with our team and externally with our clients. As a drafter, you wouldn’t be required to coordinate with our clients, but there is definitely the opportunity to do so, if desired. There is also the opportunity to get out and see some of the projects you worked on being built.
We have internal guidelines, training, and training videos for drafting to help the process flow more smoothly. The way our templates are set up and with the library of CAD previously used CAD details we have, you’ll be able to be very efficient in helping to get our client their plans. You’ll also have the opportunity to draft your own new details and offer feedback to the project engineer and project manager regarding ways to do things better, constructability, etc. You’ll have the opportunity to get creative and have fun putting the structural “puzzle” together.
We’re not the “cheap option” as a residential engineer in our market, as we are quite possibly the most detailed. Our clients absolutely love the product and service they receive from us. In addition to the creative engineering we provide, we also deliver a set of plans that is highly detailed.
Flip the page
Structural Drafter – Open Letter
Which position are you interested in?
Project Engineer
Structural Drafter
We have an extensive library of previously used CAD details that is growing every day, and we have a team of structural drafters that is second to none. We continually have internal conversations in Microsoft Teams text and video chat about how to improve our detailing process, and we have a process of drawing details (color coded) that makes your life much easier and, therefore, our process becomes more efficient.
Once your project moves on to review by your project manager, this is where a good amount of learning will occur for you as a Structural Drafter. Your plans will be reviewed by a project manager with 15+ years in the industry and a refined knowledge of what clients and contractors will want to see on a set of our plans. Your managing engineer will mark up plans – again, color coded – with recommended changes, things to consider before finalizing the plans, and with comments clarifying markups. This is also a collaborative effort, where you’ll have the opportunity to have some back-and-forth. Then the plans are ready to go out the door!
We don’t want your day to be 100% head-down, pedal to the metal, so we also encourage interacting with your co-workers and clients to give yourself a little bit of a break throughout the day. Being able to converse back and forth on text and video chat plays a huge part in the culture we’ve built within our team. We’re all very helpful to each other, and very positive. Negative attitudes are NOT allowed at Vista Structural Engineering!
We truly, honestly, enjoy working with each other. We have a lot of fun working together and teaming up to GSD (one of our go-to acronyms as a team). We also really enjoy coming up with fun monthly and quarterly goals where we band together to serve as many clients as possible; the team comes up with a reward to be earned at the end of the month if we hit a goal – which has been anything from Vista-branded YETI mugs, to Vista Carhartt beanies, $50 worth of bags of coffee of your choice, Stanley thermoses…and even an annual Fall revenue goal that has resulted in the week off between Christmas and New Year’s each of the last three years.
We generally take about two weeks to get you onboarded and trained in our systems and methods. Once a Structural Drafter gets past this point, we set expectations for how long plan setups should take based on plan size and number of floors, and we expect new custom details to be drafted in about 15 minutes each. Our drafting is done as a team effort, and quarterly bonuses are awarded based on team performance.
In the essence of achieving the perfect balance we’ve found of working efficiently for our clients and providing a quality set of plans, we are not looking for someone who:
- Is a perfectionist who makes a mistake and can’t focus afterward. We all make mistakes, which is why we have an excellent internal review process, followed by a jurisdictional review. We need someone who can continually move forward.
- Has a hard time in general of focusing and completing tasks in a timely manner
- Gets lost in the weeds of detailing and looking to show every last nail in the structure. We’re very detailed for residential engineering, but we realize that we don’t need to show every stick of lumber in our detailing.
We hope this letter has helped to explain what your day-to-day would look like as a Structural Drafter with our fun crew at Vista Structural Engineering.
While there is quite a bit more to touch on, we wanted to give you a general idea of what to expect.
If this sounds like an appealing opportunity to you because you really enjoy structural drafting, are fascinated by how houses are built, admire residential architecture, enjoy working on a positive team of fun people, appreciate being able to work remotely, and love serving amazing clients, then there’s a good chance you’ll have what it takes to be an All-Star structural drafter on our team.
- Dennis Heier
Owner and Founder of Vista Structural Engineering
Flip the page
Structural Drafter – Open Letter
Which position are you interested in?
Project Engineer
Structural Drafter
Example of what our detail sheets look like, and the high level of attention we pay to detail
Plan view of the lower level of a house overlooking the Pacific Ocean, in Tillamook County
Employee Testimonials
What do current employees think?
"Vista has written the playbook on how to successfully practice structural engineering from home without losing the key advantages of the traditional office environment. Beyond being equipped with all of the typical and necessary office infrastructure needed to do our engineering work, Vista also provides great opportunities to bond with our team; whether it be virtual monthly social hours or the occasional in-person meet ups for work/training sessions (or just to socialize over drinks). All in all, Vista has provided me with everything I have needed to grow as an engineer and to succeed in my journey to find a healthy work-life balance (something that seems to be lacking in most firms in our profession, in my experience). Did I mention that I don’t have a commute?!"
Stephen S.
"Working at Vista has been an amazing and educational experience, as well as fun. Dennis is a very competent and considerate leader and knowledgeable mentor. The benefits are great and the team is tight-knit. There are regular online happy hours as well as fun and rewarding monthly challenges. The flexibility of working from home just makes life so much easier. Finally, we have a varied and interesting client base, offering a wide variety of residential and light commercial engineering projects to dig into."
Marshall S.
"Working at Vista has been nothing short of incredible. The owner loves to take care of his employees and offers constant bonus and perk incentives to keep everyone motivated and committed to our short-term and long-term goals. The remote office is dialed in and allows for easy flexibility without the need for a daily commute. The lead engineers have extensive experience in the industry and make themselves available for prolonged discussions when called on to share their knowledge. For the first time in my career, I enjoy the position I’m in and can feel secure about the quality of my own engineering."
Corey H.
"I have always dreamed of working somewhere like Vista, where I am encouraged to learn and grow, and where the work-life balance is respected. Working remotely has been perfect for me as the parent of a toddler, while Vista still provides many opportunities for us to get to know each other and feel like a team. I am so happy to have gotten the chance to work here and expand my knowledge of structural engineering, it’s been such a great experience!"
Kerri F.
What we called internally a “sprawling ranch”. Nearly the length of a football field from one end to the other!
Having a Good Reputation: We are well known and liked within circles of architects, builders, and their subcontractors. We regularly hear from our builder clients, for example, who will tell us, “I started a project with a new architect who said you’re her engineering company. We both love your work, so this will make things easier!”
Good Project Management Skills: We have an internal project management application that we us to track progress of all our projects so that anyone on our team can get in at any given time and see the status of any given project. We have project managers organizing and distributing work strategically to our team, and making sure each engineer and drafter has what they need to successfully execute on each project.
Having contacts within key markets: We have built relationships with contractors, designers, and architects in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington and Idaho) and Midwest (Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa), and we will be expanding soon to the South Texas market.
Access to highly skilled workforce: We have a highly skilled team of 16 (as of January 2023), with a wealth of knowledge and a vast bandwidth that allows us to take on a wide variety of residential projects
Having a high prior success rate (including completed prior contracts): Over 4,000 projects successfully completed, with over 400 clients served
Development of a symbiotic relationship with another industry: We have an extraordinary relationship with the homebuilders, architects, and designers in the markets we serve
According to Industry Reports for A/E/C in the US, key success factors of which Vista Structural Engineering excels at are:
Custom detail created after collaboration with designer and builder. Corner without post, where two slider doors meet
Moment frame and deep foundation for house on the beach, south of Lincoln City
HOME BUILDING INDUSTRY FACTS & FIGURES
The U.S. home building industry has been on a continual upward trend since beginning its recovery from the Great Recession. Strong demand is predicted into the future, due to low supply, a very high demand, and interest rates being at or near all-time lows.
