Structural Engineer

Senior / Structural Engineer

Location: Porto, Portugal

Type: Full-Time, On-Site

About CTS Group

CTS Group is a fast-growing international design and build company specialising in data centre development across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). We combine engineering excellence, innovation, and digital transformation to deliver high-performance, sustainable, and future-ready data centre solutions.

With over 40 nationalities represented across our teams, CTS fosters a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance culture where innovation and technical precision drive every project. Beyond construction, CTS develops digital systems and standardised modular data centre units to meet the evolving needs of hyperscalers, colocation providers, and enterprise clients.

Role Overview

CTS Group is looking for Structural Engineers and Senior Structural Engineers to join our Structural Engineering team in Porto.

The role covers the structural design of steel and reinforced concrete structures for modular and prefabricated data centre units, plant rooms, foundations and supporting civil works, from concept and detailed design through fabrication, transport, site erection and as-built documentation.

Depending on experience, the successful candidate will either contribute to structural analysis and design or take technical leadership, design sign-off, mentoring and client/fabricator coordination responsibilities across CTS's EMEA data centre projects.

Key Responsibilities

Perform and/or lead structural analysis and design of steel and reinforced concrete structures for modular data centre units, plant rooms and supporting structures.

Design foundations, structural frames, connections and supporting structures, considering fabrication, transportation and lifting load cases.

Apply Eurocodes EN 1990–EN 1998 and Portuguese National Annexes to structural designs.

Lead complex structural design, including seismic considerations under Eurocode 8, where applicable.

Develop structural calculations, general arrangement drawings, specifications and technical documentation.

Use Tekla Structures, Revit Structure and Robot Structural Analysis / STAAD.Pro / SAP2000 for structural design and analysis.

Coordinate with mechanical, electrical, architectural, civil and BIM teams to resolve clashes and integrate MEP loads and penetrations.

Support or lead MEP/BIM coordination and clash detection using Navisworks.

Review fabricator and vendor shop drawings for structural steel packages and ensure compliance with design intent and tolerances.

Provide structural engineering support during fabrication, transportation and site erection.

Support structural inspections, FAT activities and pre-dispatch structural integrity checks.

Conduct design risk assessments and contribute to value-engineering and optimisation reviews.

Coordinate with steel fabricators and specialist subcontractors, including technical evaluations and negotiations at Senior level.

Provide technical authority and design sign-off for structural packages at Senior level.

Liaise with clients, authorities, certifying bodies and other stakeholders regarding structural compliance and certification.

Mentor junior and intermediate structural engineers and review their calculations and design deliverables at Senior level.

Required Skills & Experience

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering or a related discipline.

5–10+ years of structural engineering experience, depending on seniority.

Experience in Data Centres, modular/prefabricated construction, industrial facilities or mission-critical projects is highly desirable.

Strong knowledge of Eurocodes EN 1990–EN 1998 and Portuguese National Annexes.

Experience with structural steel, reinforced concrete, foundations and bolted/welded connections.

Knowledge of transport and lifting load cases for modular/prefabricated structures.

Proficiency in Tekla Structures and Revit Structure.

Experience with Robot Structural Analysis, STAAD.Pro or SAP2000.

Experience with structural fabrication and shop drawing review.

Experience with multidisciplinary/BIM coordination and Navisworks.

Ordem dos Engenheiros membership – required for applicable sign-off responsibilities; candidates with membership in progress may also be considered for the Structural Engineer level.

Strong analytical, problem-solving and coordination skills.

Strong communication and stakeholder-management abilities.

For Senior level: proven experience in technical leadership, mentoring, design sign-off, fabricator/subcontractor management and client/authority engagement.