Job Advert – Associate Technician/Technologist

Post Date:             February 2, 2024
Close Date:           Open until filled
Location:               Vancouver, BC

Equilibrium Consulting is looking for an Associate Technician / Technologist to join our team in Vancouver.

EQUILIBRIUM is an award-winning mid-sized consulting Structural Engineering firm working on a diverse range of ambitious projects both locally and internationally. EQUILIBRIUM was founded in Vancouver in 1998 with a focus on progressive and innovative building projects, sustainability-oriented construction, and particularly projects utilizing timber construction.

While still based in Vancouver, BC, we are growing our presence in the US and France with our offices in Atlanta, GA and Paris respectively.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for a talented and ambitious Technician / Technologist to manage and grow our drafting and BIM department across the entire company. The role provides the opportunity to work on our most high-profile projects around the world, while also working directly alongside the management team, providing an opportunity for long-term career development within our growing company.

WHAT YOU’LL GET UP TO

• Serve as drafting and BIM lead on our most high-profile projects.
• Establish and implement best practice drafting and BIM Standards across the company.
• Establish protocols and provide ongoing support for budgeting projects from a drafting and BIM perspective.
• Create and oversee structural BIM models (LOD 300+) and construction documents for a variety of building types using Revit/AutoCAD.
• Develop structural engineer’s concepts and sketches into accurate models and drawings, with a clear understanding of how to organize drawing sets in compliance with our drawing standards.
• Participate in coordination with the consultant team, client, and other project stakeholders to ensure delivery of fully coordinated models and documents.
• Maintain clean and organized Revit and AutoCAD files, ensuring ease of navigate and ability to access and modify information.
• Conduct quality reviews and lead the management of project models and drawings and models to ensure quality of work produced for the team.
• Troubleshoot problems that arise within the rapidly changing digital coordination environment.
• Develop and maintain client relationships.
• Act as a role model and mentor for other team members, demonstrating alignment with firm values and professional standards as well as overseeing the work of the rest of the drafting department.
• Oversee the growth of the drafting team, including training, mentoring, recruitment and setting priorities and areas of development with senior management.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Education:
• Diploma or Certificate in Civil/Structural drafting or technology from an accredited University or Technical College.

Requirements:
• Located in Vancouver or willing to relocate.
• Valid work status in Canada.
• Min 10 years of experience producing structural drawings, specifically building designs.
• Min 8 years Revit experience on structural projects (modeling, drawing development, BIM, family creation inclusive)
• Technically proficient in AutoCAD, Microsoft Office, and Windows.
• Knowledge of Bluebeam.
• Sound knowledge of timber, steel, concrete, and hybrid construction.
• Min 5 years of experience leading a team and/or training staff.

Skills:
• Ability to work and lead a team in a collaborative environment across multiple locations.
• Disciplined work ethic with great attitude and energy.
• Ability to multi-task and work on multiple projects and teams concurrently.
• Organized, self-motivated, pro-active, detail-oriented, and willing to take on new challenges.
• Problem-solver and critical thinker.
• A desire to partake in business development and relationship building with Clients.
• Fast learner who can communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to coordinate with internal staff and Clients.
• Ability to provide feedback and training to team members.
• Dependable and willing to work extra hours when required (noting that at Equilibrium we take pride in our culture and ability to maintain a good work life balance).
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes or experience producing manufacturing shop drawings (an asset but not required).
• Knowledge of Dynamo, Grasshopper, Navisworks, or other parametric or coordination tools (an asset but not required).
• Experience in Excel operating and programming (an asset but not required).
• Parametric modelling experience (an asset but not required).

BENEFITS OF WORKING AT EQUILIBRIUM

EQUILIBRIUM is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package commensurate with experience and ability including:

• Opportunities for career progression in a growing company.
• Performance bonuses.
• Retirement savings plan matching.
• Extended health benefits contribution.
• Healthy and flexible vacation policy.
• Annual adventure bonus (please ask about this).
• Pet-friendly office environment.
• Personal wellbeing and health support, including use of our in-house climbing / bouldering wall!
• Chef-cooked lunch at the office 2x per week.
• Healthy Social culture including yearly summer weekend away, ski trips and many more.

All applicants should submit a CV and cover letter to hello@eqcanada.com. Please specify the job title in the subject line. No phone calls, please. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Jobs – Intermediate / Senior Engineer – Atlanta

INTERMEDIATE / SENIOR ENGINEER – ATLANTA

Post Date:             December 21, 2023
Close Date:           Open until filled
Location:               Atlanta, GA

EQUILIBRIUM is an award-winning mid-sized consulting Structural Engineering firm working on a diverse range of ambitious projects both locally and internationally. Equilibrium was founded in Vancouver in 1998 with a focus on progressive and innovative building projects, sustainably-oriented construction, and particularly projects utilizing timber construction.
While still based in Vancouver, BC, we are growing our presence in the US and France with our offices in Atlanta, GA and Paris respectively.

We have several exciting projects on the go in the US including an 862-bed residence hall at Georgia Tech, a dining hall at Stephen F. Austin University, ongoing work on a grant-funded research project, and many more.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
We are looking for a talented and ambitious structural engineer with 5+ years of experience to join our growing team in the US.

WHAT YOU’LL GET UP TO
– Perform structural analysis and develop designs from concept through construction with the support of the Equilibrium team.
– Communicate your designs to our drafting team and coordinate the development of structural BIM models and drawings.
– Manage your own projects and work as part of a wider team on larger projects.
– Have active involvement in design coordination with other consultants, contractors, suppliers, and stakeholders for your projects.
– Have the opportunity to participate in internal committees (sustainability, technical standards, social, etc.) that help to foster your growth and keep Equilibrium on the leading edge.
– An opportunity to be involved with business development and help grow the Atlanta office and US operations.
– Exact responsibilities will be dependent on experience level.

REQUIREMENTS
– Bachelor’s Degree from a Civil/Structural Engineering program required. Master’s degree preferred.
– Licensed Engineer in the US (PE or SE) or ability to gain license within 12 months of starting the role.
– Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in a similar role.
– Interest in mass timber. Mass timber experience a bonus.
– Interest in embodied carbon and minimizing the climate impact of structural design.
– Seismic analysis and design experience an asset.
– Quality written and verbal communication skills.
– Experience with structural analysis software such as RFEM, RSTAB, ETABS, GSA, Tedds, RAM etc.
– Valid work status in the US.

BENEFITS OF WORKING AT EQUILIBRIUM
Equilibrium is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package commensurate with experience and ability including:

– Opportunities for career progression in a growing company.
– Performance bonuses.
– Retirement savings plan – immediate eligibility.
– Competitive health benefits.
– Three weeks minimum PTO for all employees.
– Annual adventure bonus (ask us about this).
– Continuing education allowance.

All applicants should submit a resume and references to hello@eqcanada.com.
Please specify the job title in the subject line. No phone calls, please. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

New Associate Principals at EQUILIBRIUM

EQUILIBRIUM is excited to announce the promotions of Jack Lloyd, Craig Fowler, and Matt Kantner to the roles of Associate Principal.

Since joining EQUILIBRIUM, Jack, Craig, and Matt have had a remarkable impact on our firm, teams, and clients through their innovation, culture-building, and design excellence.

Jack and Craig have taken on an increasingly important role in the management of our Canadian operation and will continue to steer projects from our Vancouver office.

From our Atlanta office, Matt manages the day-to-day operations of our growing US team while providing leadership on projects south of the border.

Jack is a strong leader and is the rock of our head office in Vancouver. He believes in the continuous improvement of himself and the firm. Always thinking ahead, Jack is an excellent project manager and engineer, and is dedicated to making every project a success.

Jack meets all the pre-requisites of a true North Vancouver resident; he is an avid skier who you might spot mountain biking, running the trails, or on the golf course when there is no powder to be had.

An exceptional leader, Craig is pragmatic, grounded, and focused. Craig has successfully steered some of our most complex and challenging projects with a steady hand and great skill. He is deeply dedicated to the success of all projects and to the satisfaction of all our clients. A creative engineer, Craig always welcomes the opportunity to innovate.

As a competitive athlete Craig is as likely to be found far off the beaten path adventuring with his young family as he is near the front of the pack running an ultra-marathon.

Matt is a naturally talented engineer. He can just as easily approach a problem with a broad guiding vision as with the most focused attention to detail. Matt is passionate about timber design and sustainability and is always looking for strategies to lower the environmental impact of our designs.

Matt is a car enthusiast (his biggest sustainability “vice”). He loves pushing his car to the limit at autocross events and on the racetrack but has his eye trained on the high-performance electric car options now entering the market.

Eric Karsh, Founding Principal of the firm, continues to lead EQUILIBRIUM with a greater focus on design concepts, mentorship, and innovation.

With these three leaders joining Eric at the helm, we look forward to strengthening our current relationships and building new ones, both locally and internationally. Here’s to the next 25 years of EQUILIBRIUM!

Celebrating Promotions at EQUILIBRIUM

We are extremely pleased to announce the recent promotions of two EQUILIBRIUM employees.

Sam Shulman has been promoted to the role of Intermediate Engineer. Sam has proven himself to be an invaluable member of the team working on a number of our current projects including the Maplewood Fire + Rescue Centre in North Vancouver, UBC Food and Beverage Innovation Centre and Gitxsan West Secondary School in Gitwangak, BC.

Alejandro Coronado, who recently obtained his P.Eng license in BC, has been promoted to Project Engineer. Alejandro, who has a strong seismic design and mass timber connection background, has been working on some of the more complex projects at EQUILIBRIUM including the Museum of Anthropology Base Isolation project at UBC, the University of Toronto Indigenous Learning Centre and a tech campus project in California.

Please join us in congratulating Sam and Alejandro on their recent promotions!

 

EQUILIBRIUM FRANCE

We are thrilled to announce that following two years of successful cooperation between Studio Oktoplus and Equilibrium Consulting Inc on the Rectorat de Créteil on l’Ile de France, we are combining our expertise in the design of timber structures to support our French clients on their most ambitious projects through the creation of Equilibrium Consulting France.

Our Parisian office has officially opened its doors! We are excited and proud to contribute through our designs to our collective progress towards a low-carbon world

Dans la foulée de la dynamique créée par notre conception de la charpente bois du projet X24 pour le nouveau Rectorat de Créteil en collaboration avec Sophie Wu ( BET Studio Oktoplus), nous sommes ravis de vous annoncer que nous unissons toutes nos compétences et expertises dans le domaine des conceptions des structures bois pour vous accompagner dans vos projets les plus ambitieux au travers de la création de la société Equilibrium Consulting France.
Notre agence parisienne ouvre désormais ses portes ! Nous sommes fiers d’apporter notre contribution au travers de nos conceptions à l’évolution vers un monde décarboné.

Si vous êtes curieux, n’hésitez pas à venir partager un café avec nous. Cela sera l’occasion de vous montrer notre savoir faire.

 

New Look Equilibrium

With lots of positive changes happening at Equilibrium, we took the opportunity to refresh our branding to reflect the exciting and ambitious future ahead.

Founding Principal Eric Karsh said “We are very excited to launch our new website and branding as a way to celebrate our recent return to independent ownership, but also to mark a new era of growth with the incorporation of a branch in Seattle, WA and Paris, France. The new simple and contemporary branding reflects our approach to design with a nod to our mass timber expertise, while the new website highlights a small fraction of our award-winning  work over the past 20+ years. With many exciting projects lined up in the coming year, we are looking forward to continued creative cooperation and success with our current clients, and very much looking forward to developing fulfilling new relationships.”

Take a look through our new website, where we outline our approach to building design, introduce the team and showcase a few of our favourite projects from the Equilibrium archive, while taking a deeper dive in to some in the Case Studies section.

Three Equilibrium Projects Win Awards

We are excited to announce that it’s been a succesful few weeks for Equilibrium projects recently.

Oregon State University Forest Sciences Complex received a Commendation at the Institution of Structural Engineers Structural Awards in London, in the Zero Carbon Ambition category. Read more about what the judges had to say and see the other winners here.

Upper Skeena Recreation Centre received two awards at the Architectural Foundation of British Columbia awards; a Design Excellence Award in the Community & Civic Category and the Lieutenant Governor General Award for Architecture in British Columbia.

1 Lonsdale, a Passive House certified Mass Timber commercial project located in North Vancouver also picked up an AFBC Design Excellence Innovation Award. Read more about the project here.

Matt Kantner speaking at Greenbuild

Matt Kantner, PE, SE, from Equilibrium’s Atlanta office, will be speaking at Greenbuild in San Diego on September 21.

Along with three of his colleagues from SEI’s SE 2050 Committee, Matt will be educating attendees on the SE 2050 Commitment and the importance of embodied carbon.

Learn more about Greenbuild here.