Civil/Structural Engineer (Buildings)

Opportunity Overview

Handshake is looking for experienced civil and structural engineers with plan review experience to support AI research through flexible, part-time contract work. This is not a traditional job. You’ll work from real building project materials, including drawings, specifications, and permit records, to build expert-level review tasks that test how well AI models handle professional plan review and drawing-set coordination workflows. The Handshake AI program runs year-round, with project opportunities opening periodically across different areas of expertise.

This is an ongoing, project-based opportunity you can take on alongside your current role.

What You’ll Do

• Work from real building project drawings, specifications, and permit records to create expert review tasks, each focused on one professional workflow, such as plan review, code compliance, drawing-set quality control, or cross-checking structural and civil sheets against architectural and MEP sheets
• Write the prompt for each task and review AI model attempts to confirm where they fall short
• Define the critical components of a correct answer, so each task can be evaluated accurately
• Provide clear, structured written feedback to help improve AI model performance
• Work remotely and complete tasks at your own pace, with no set schedule or minimum hour requirement

Qualifications

• Degree: Completed Bachelor’s degree or higher in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a closely related field (Master’s degree preferred)
• Professional experience: At least 5 years of professional engineering experience in the United States on building projects, including hands-on plan review experience, such as reviewing construction documents for code compliance in a jurisdiction, as an engineer of record responding to plan review comments, or as a third-party reviewer
• US code expertise: Working knowledge of US building codes and engineering standards, applied in real projects
• Construction documents: Able to read full construction document sets, including architectural, structural, civil, and MEP sheets, and cross-check them against each other

Additional qualifications (not required, but strengthen your application)

• Professional engineer (PE) or structural engineer (SE) licensure
• Experience with a range of project types, such as commercial, institutional, multifamily, healthcare, or mixed-use, or with jurisdictions in multiple states
• Experience in permitting and approvals, special inspections, or drawing-set quality control

Required for all applicants

• Must be based in the United States and have US work authorization
• Experience limited to US codes and US practice
• Strong written communication and attention to detail
• Ability to explain complex engineering and code concepts clearly
• Ability to work independently in a remote, asynchronous environment

F-1 students who are eligible for CPT or OPT may be eligible for projects on Handshake AI. Work with your Designated School Official to determine your eligibility. If your school requires a CPT course, Handshake AI may not meet your school’s requirements. STEM OPT is not supported. See our Help Center article for more information on what types of work authorizations are supported on Handshake AI.