The Challenge
EKSPAN required an experienced Structural Design Engineer to support the design and delivery of bridge bearing systems across major infrastructure projects.
Unlike many structural engineering positions, this role demanded a rare combination of structural analysis expertise and practical manufacturing design experience. The successful candidate needed to be capable of:
- Developing engineered design solutions
- Producing technical calculations and engineering justifications
- Ensuring designs were suitable for manufacture, installation and long-term structural performance
- Supporting design validation through FEA analysis and engineering verification
- Working to standards including EN 1337, BS 5400 and the Eurocodes
Finding an engineer with both structural consultancy knowledge and product design experience within manufacturing presented a significant challenge.
EnquireWhy Recruitment for these roles are challenging:
Engineers with strong structural design backgrounds are typically employed by engineering consultancies or Tier 1 contractors such as Arup, AECOM and Waterman rather than specialist manufacturers.
As a result, the available talent pool was extremely limited, particularly within commuting distance of Sheffield.
The hiring manager had a very clear picture of the ideal candidate, making it essential to understand not only the technical requirements but also the type of engineering experience that would transfer successfully into EKSPAN's products.
Our Approach:
We spent time with the Engineering Manager to fully understand the technical requirements, the projects the successful engineer would work on and the exact experience that would add value to the team.
During our search, we identified a candidate who was an exceptional match. The candidate lived locally, reducing commuting concerns, and had previously designed products remarkably similar to those manufactured by EKSPAN. They also shared examples of their previous design work, which closely aligned with the company's own product range.
The challenge was that the candidate was already progressing through several interview processes and had another offer on the table.
Rather than rushing the decision, we worked with both parties to arrange a second visit to the business. This gave the candidate the opportunity to spend more time with the engineering team, gain a deeper understanding of the projects and ask any remaining questions before making a long-term career decision.
The Outcome
Following the second meeting, the candidate was completely sold on the opportunity. The role offered exactly what they were looking for - greater technical ownership, long-term career progression and the opportunity to become a key member of the engineering team.
The successful candidate brought experience including:
- Structural analysis and engineering design
- Eurocode and BS EN hand calculations
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
- Independent engineering verification
- Bridge structures, bearing systems, cranes and heavy engineering projects
Their previous experience closely mirrored the work undertaken by EKSPAN, enabling them to add value from day one.
The Result
By taking the time to understand the client's exact requirements and carefully managing the recruitment process, EKSPAN secured an engineer with an exceptionally close technical fit despite a very limited candidate market.
The successful hire not only possessed the specialist structural knowledge the business required but also chose EKSPAN over competing opportunities because they could clearly see the long-term career path and technical challenge on offer.
Looking to Recruit Structural Engineers?
Whether you're hiring Structural Design Engineers, Mechanical Design Engineers, CAD Engineers or other specialist engineering professionals, EMT Talent provides targeted headhunting solutions designed to reach candidates who aren't actively applying for jobs.
If you're struggling to find engineers with niche technical experience, we'd be happy to discuss how we can help.
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