Who We Are

Perry & Associates is a structural engineering firm located in downtown Chicago. We provide structural and forensic engineering services for a wide variety of clients including architects, building management companies, private businesses and individuals.

About the Position

We are seeking Co-Op engineering candidates with a primary interest in structural engineering pertaining to vertical structures. As a Project Assistant, you will work under the guidance of experienced engineers to assist with document creation, project administration, and corporate tasks. Project Assistants also assist in the design, investigation, analysis, and evaluation of new and existing building systems under the direct supervision of licensed structural engineers. You will be exposed to many building and project types including residential, educational, and commercial projects utilizing steel, concrete, masonry, and wood structural systems. Additional duties include field investigations to document existing conditions, construction site observations and documentation, and drafting of structural plans and details. As the Co-Op progresses, there is typically an increased emphasis on project work (both management and design) and autonomy.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist project engineers and company principals with engineering projects and tasks

• Perform local field investigations to document existing conditions and ongoing  construction projects

• Develop and detail portions of project designs under the direction of project engineers

• Perform calculations for new and existing structural building elements

• Review and interpret technical documents and designs

• Review and evaluate building codes and specifications

• Assist project engineers in authoring of technical reports and project correspondence

• Attendance and participation in project meetings with clients and other design professionals under the supervision of project engineers

What You’ll Need

• An interest in solving problems in the built world

• Enrollment in a Bachelor’s degree program in Civil Engineering or Architectural Engineering

• Minimum GPA: 3.0 (required)

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite of programs

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Willingness to adapt to new project types and tasks

• Prior experience with AutoCAD is preferred

• Able to perform physical field work, including climbing ladders, performing visual observations from afar/rooftops/scaffolding, using precision instruments, etc.

• Eager to learn in every aspect of the job; one project may require researching a method of structural analysis while another may require using power tools to make an inspection opening (required)

• Current U.S. driver’s license (required)

• Legal ability to work in the United States