Senior Structural Engineer – Tensile Membrane Structures

Remote | Full-Time | Long-Term Position | Immediate Start
About ZAPF Engineering
ZAPF Civil Engineering Consultancy LLC is an engineering consultancy with a strong focus on advanced structural engineering, tensile membrane structures, biogas and biomethane infrastructure, and lightweight structural systems.
Operating from Abu Dhabi and Germany, we combine German engineering discipline with international project experience. Our work spans the full engineering process — from concept development and form-finding through structural verification, detailed engineering, technical coordination and fabrication-ready documentation.
Our projects include double-membrane gas storage systems, industrial membrane structures, architectural tensile structures and complex lightweight steel structures.
The Position
We are looking for an experienced Structural Engineer specializing in Tensile Membrane Structures to join our engineering team.
This position is intended for experienced membrane engineers. It is not an entry-level role.
This is a full-time remote position offering long-term collaboration on international membrane engineering and biogas infrastructure projects.
We are looking for an engineer who can take genuine technical responsibility and work independently — from initial structural concept and geometry through form-finding, nonlinear analysis, detailing, verification and technical documentation.
You should already understand the behaviour of tensile membrane structures and be able to move confidently between analytical engineering, practical detailing and buildable solutions.
All structural calculations, models, reports, drawings and technical submissions will be subject to ZAPF CEC’s internal technical review and approval before release.
Your Responsibilities
Develop structural concepts for tensile membrane, cable and lightweight steel structures
Perform form-finding and define appropriate membrane geometries
Perform prestress analysis and geometrically nonlinear structural analysis
Model and assess orthotropic membrane materials, cables, edge elements and supporting structures
Define appropriate structural systems, boundary conditions and engineering assumptions
Establish loads, load cases and load combinations, including wind, snow, temperature and ponding effects where applicable
Evaluate membrane stresses, deformations, cable forces, support reactions and structural stability
Verify prestress conditions and structural performance
Engineer double-membrane gas holder systems for biogas and biomethane applications
Design and verify membrane anchorage, edge details and supporting structures
Determine design forces for cables, connections, supporting steelwork and foundations
Coordinate membrane, cable, steelwork, clamping and anchoring details
Develop cutting patterns and fabrication-ready membrane geometry where required
Develop general arrangement, fabrication and construction details
Prepare clear, traceable and reviewable structural calculations and technical reports in English
Develop and review AutoCAD and SolidWorks models and engineering drawings
Review structural models and drawings for technical consistency, completeness and constructability
Respond to technical review comments and revise models, calculations and drawings accordingly
Coordinate technical matters with ZAPF CEC, clients, architects, fabricators, contractors and other project partners
Organise assigned work independently and deliver models, calculations, reports and drawings within agreed deadlines
Maintain organised, traceable and fully transferable project files
Required Experience
We are specifically looking for candidates with proven professional experience in tensile membrane or textile structure engineering.
You should have:
Degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering or a closely related discipline
At least three years of directly relevant professional experience in tensile membrane or textile structure engineering
Demonstrable experience in both structural analysis and practical detailing of tensile membrane structures
Relevant project references clearly showing your personal engineering responsibilities
Strong understanding of:
form-finding and prestress
geometrically nonlinear structural analysis
orthotropic membrane behaviour
cable and edge-element modelling
load cases and load combinations
structural stability and deformation
interaction between membranes, cables, steelwork and connections
Professional working experience with Dlubal RFEM or EASY Technet
Good working knowledge of AutoCAD
Working knowledge of SolidWorks or a comparable 3D CAD system
Ability to prepare professional calculations, reports, models and engineering drawings
Ability to identify missing information and establish technically reasonable engineering assumptions
Ability to critically assess the plausibility of structural results
Ability to work reliably and independently in a remote engineering environment
Very good written and spoken English
Ability to maintain an agreed overlap with UAE business hours
Availability to start immediately or at very short notice
Reliable internet connection and a suitable professional workstation
Preferred Experience
Additional experience in the following areas is highly valued:
PVC/PES, PTFE/glass-fibre and/or ETFE systems
Permanent architectural membrane structures
Temporary or demountable membrane structures
Membrane patterning, compensation and fabrication requirements
Design and detailing of:
membrane edges and corners
clamping systems
cable end connections
masts and arches
lightweight steel frames
anchors and supporting structures
Preparation of fabrication, shop or installation drawings
Coordination with checking engineers, fabricators, contractors and approval authorities
Familiarity with Eurocodes and, depending on the project, other international or UAE-relevant design standards
Rhino, Grasshopper, BIM or other parametric design tools
German language skills
Experience working on international engineering projects
Software & Engineering Environment
ZAPF CEC will provide the software licences required for assigned project work, including, as applicable:
EASY Technet
Dlubal RFEM
SolidWorks
The software used will depend on project requirements and the engineer’s experience.
The engineer must work with the software versions, file structures, naming conventions and project procedures defined by ZAPF CEC. All project files must remain complete, traceable and transferable.
Technical Review & Responsibility
The engineer will be expected to prepare and manage assigned engineering work largely independently.
At the same time, all structural calculations, models, reports, drawings and technical submissions will be checked and approved by ZAPF CEC before release.
Engineering documents may not be issued, signed, submitted or approved on behalf of ZAPF CEC without prior authorization.
We expect clear cooperation with the internal technical review process and precise, timely implementation of review comments.
Working Arrangement
Full-time position
Worldwide remote working
Long-term collaboration
Immediate or very short-notice start
Regular working-hour overlap with the UAE
International membrane engineering and biogas infrastructure projects
Long-term professional development within a specialized engineering environment
Selection Process
We value proven engineering judgement over polished interview answers.
Shortlisted candidates will therefore complete a short technical skills assessment of approximately 30 minutes.
The assessment is unpaid and consists of a small, self-contained sample task designed solely to evaluate engineering skills relevant to the position. Submitted work will not be used for any commercial project.
The assessment may include:
identification of missing information
definition of appropriate engineering assumptions
assessment of a simple membrane structure or calculation
interpretation and plausibility checking of structural results
identification of potential modelling errors
preparation of a simple structural or connection detail
a brief explanation of the proposed solution
Candidates may use their own legally licensed engineering software.
Access to a specific software package is not essential unless stated in advance.
The candidate must identify the software and version used.
Candidates without access to EASY Technet, RFEM or SolidWorks will not automatically be excluded from the assessment.
The assessment must be completed independently. Assistance from other persons is not permitted.
Any use of AI-based tools or other external assistance must be disclosed.
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Work arrangement
Yes