Lead Structural Engineer, Mechanical

Lead Structural Engineer

Product Development & Project Delivery

Mechanical / Structural Background

- 10+ years of experience in wind-sensitive structures, utility-scale solar, or comparable structures.

Location: Mascot, Sydney

Reporting to: Chief Technology Officer

5B is a clean technology powerhouse that accelerates access to low-cost, safely deployed, gigawatt-scale solar energy.

We're transforming large-scale solar by building and delivering the 5B Maverick, an innovative prefabricated solution, purpose-built and optimised from first principles to redefine how large-scale solar farms are constructed. The solution is structurally efficient, aerodynamic and gets installed at light speed.

5B has made solar energy generation simpler, faster, smarter and safer.

About the Role:

As Lead Structural Engineer, your role will straddle both projects and product: you'll lead structural design for large-scale solar farms and drive the structural optimisation and certification of our product solution.

The role is critical in shaping the next generation of solar farm infrastructure, leveraging deep expertise in structural design, wind engineering, and product development to deliver innovative solutions at scale.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the structural development of the 5B Maverick product. This requires deeply understanding the product from first principles to drive performance based solutions while ensuring compliance with relevant local and international codes and standards.
• Development and continuous improvement of tools and processes for structural design, to enable the rapid application of the standardised product solution onto specific project sites.
• Lead structural design and certification for high value solar farm projects through feasibility and detailed design.
• Drive significant continuous improvement initiatives related to structural performance and wind design, using new methodologies to drive performance based outcomes.
• Lead the engagement with universities, labs and engineering consultancy services for structural engineering and related development activities, e.g. structural certification, wind tunnel testing, materials performance testing, full scale testing.

What You'll Bring:

You're a seasoned mechanical/structural engineer with 10+ years of experience in wind-sensitive structures, utility-scale solar, or comparable structures. You love the mix of deep technical challenge and practical problem-solving, and you thrive where product meets project.

You will thrive in our dynamic culture when both your attitude and ways of working are aligned to how we work:

• Curious and Creative – challenging assumptions, exploring better approaches.
• A First-Principles and Critical Thinker – solving from fundamentals
• A Problem Solver – clear, rigorous, and practical.
• Outcome-Driven – balancing safety, speed, cost and customer to deliver results.
• Energised by a Fast-Paced Environment – comfortable making progress at speed.
• Collaborative – a partner to colleagues, suppliers, and builders alike.

You will have a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Structural Engineering (Master's a plus) and have at least 10+ years' experience in structural engineering, with exposure to wind-sensitive structures, light gauge steel, and advanced materials including plastics. Other experiences which are essential are:

• Proven delivery of infrastructure projects through design and construction ideally having worked on the structural design and/or delivery of large ground mount solar farms
• Product development of prefabricated structures/products, including the design and certification process to applicable codes and developing performance based design and verification methods through testing (AS1170.0)

Essential Skills:

• Deep working knowledge of local and international structural design codes (AS1170, ASCE7) and key design actions: Wind, Seismic, Snow,
• Proficiency with structural analysis and design tools (e.g. SpaceGass, ANSYS, SolidWorks).
• Comfortable in making evidence and risk based decisions outside of codes and standards guidance
• Ability to complete wind load design and analysis using wind tunnel testing methods
• Strong technical writing and drawing review skills.
• Ability to balance structural rigour with speed, constructability, and cost.

Working at 5B, the Employee Experience:

• At 5B, we prioritise the well-being and satisfaction of our team members, offering a range of perks that enhance work-life balance and cater to diverse needs. Our best practice leave policies underscore our commitment to supporting employees at every stage of their journey. From Birthday Leave to the option of salary sacrificing for additional 2 weeks Annual Leave, we empower our team to enjoy ample time off for rest and rejuvenation.

• Recognizing loyalty and dedication, we provide incremental increases in leave entitlements over your years of service, capping out at an additional 5 days over the first 5 years with us. Our comprehensive gender-neutral Parental Leave policy reflects our dedication to inclusivity and equality, ensuring that all employees have the support they need during significant life transitions. Moreover, our Floating Public Holiday Policy and Flexible Working arrangements demonstrate our commitment to respecting diverse cultural and personal preferences, fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding.

• Additionally, our Salary Sacrifice program extends beyond leave, offering opportunities to invest in personal and professional development, including technology, EV/PHEV transportation, and financial security.

• At 5B, we believe in empowering our team members to thrive both inside and outside the workplace, embodying our commitment to excellence and inclusivity.

5B is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment.

Full-time