
Phoenix, AZ
Best Structural Engineers in Phoenix, AZ
A ranking of Phoenix structural engineers based on verified Google reviews, service capability, and AI visibility.
By Pendium ResearchUpdated October 27, 2026
18
Businesses reviewed
17
AI research reports
10
Top picks

Only four of the highly rated structural engineering firms on this list are based directly in Phoenix. The rest operate out of neighboring cities like Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, and Goodyear, anywhere from seven to twenty miles away. You will likely need to cast a net across the entire Valley of the Sun to find an available engineer for your project.
Phoenix buildings face unique environmental stress. Searing summer temperatures cause aggressive thermal expansion and contraction in building materials. Monsoon season brings violent microbursts that test roof uplift connections, and the valley floor is notoriously packed with caliche, a concrete-like soil layer that complicates foundation and pool excavation.
A competent structural engineer in Maricopa County understands these local stressors. They know exactly what the city permit office requires for a solar panel roof load calculation or a custom pool shell design. The firms listed below carry a mix of commercial and residential expertise, with some focusing heavily on the specific quirks of Southwest building codes.
The verdict
Our Quick Picks
Simply Structural Inc. and ENE Structural Engineering lead the pack for Phoenix properties based on consistent local reviews and established service footprints. SML Consulting Structural & Forensic Engineers (Starling Madison Lofquist, Inc.) stands out for niche work like pool and solar engineering. Since the local Phoenix market is tight, we also included highly-rated firms in neighboring Tempe, Mesa, and Chandler.
- 1Best for Residential ConsultingSimply Structural Inc.
Homeowners needing permitted plans for remodels and load-bearing wall removals.
- 2Best for Pools and SolarSML Consulting Structural & Forensic Engineers (Starling Madison Lofquist, Inc.)
Homeowners adding heavy rooftop solar or planning custom pool excavations.
- 3Best for Regional CoverageENE Structural Engineering
Property owners wanting a highly rated, locally based engineer for straightforward permitting.
- 4Best for Commercial ProjectsCaruso Turley Scott Inc. Structural Engineers
Commercial developers and retail property owners planning large-scale builds.
- 5Best for Institutional DesignBakkum Noelke Structural Engineers
Business owners planning high-end commercial or institutional construction.
- 6Best for Foundation InspectionsStructural Engineers Company
Homeowners needing professional assessments of cracked foundations or sagging roofs.
- 7Best for Lot PreparationJ.L.D. Engineering – Grading & Drainage Design
Property buyers needing drainage and grading plans before breaking ground on a new build.
- 8Best for Diverse Material ExpertiseJRJ Engineering
Builders and renovators working with custom concrete or steel frame additions.
- 9Best for Custom Residential WorkKingdom Structural
Investors planning multifamily developments or homeowners designing custom houses.
- 10Best for Green Building ConsultingJames A Lane PE, SE, LEED AP
West Valley property owners interested in sustainable, LEED-certified building methods.
All 18 structural engineers in Phoenix, at a glance
| Specialty | AI Sentiment | Contact | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for Residential Consulting | 50Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Pools and Solar | 50Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Regional Coverage | 47Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Commercial Projects | 58Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Institutional Design | 50Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Foundation Inspections | 50Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Lot Preparation | 50Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Diverse Material Expertise | 50Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Custom Residential Work | 50Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Best for Green Building Consulting James A Lane PE, SE, LEED AP | — | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
| Based in Scottsdale | 48Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Based in Chandler | 48Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Based in Mesa | 52Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Based in Scottsdale | 50Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Based in Mesa | 50Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Based in Tempe | 50Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Based in Scottsdale | 50Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Based in Scottsdale | 54Factual, no praise | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Reach Simply Structural Inc.
The Offices at 52nd Street, 730 N 52nd St STE 105, Phoenix, AZ 85008, United States
Reach SML Consulting Structural & Forensic Engineers (Starling Madison Lofquist, Inc.)
3600 E University Dr Ste 1400, Phoenix, AZ 85034, United States
Reach ENE Structural Engineering
10210 N 32nd St Ste C8, Phoenix, AZ 85028, United States
Reach Caruso Turley Scott Inc. Structural Engineers
1215 W Rio Salado Pkwy #200, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States
Reach Bakkum Noelke Structural Engineers
2525 E Arizona Biltmore Cir d240, Phoenix, AZ 85016, United States
Reach Structural Engineers Company
2963 W Elliot Rd Unit 3, Chandler, AZ 85224, United States
Reach J.L.D. Engineering – Grading & Drainage Design
2822 S Buckskin Way, Chandler, AZ 85286, United States
Reach JRJ Engineering
1255 W Baseline Rd Ste B135, Mesa, AZ 85202, United States
Reach Kingdom Structural
955 E Javelina Ave #105, Mesa, AZ 85204, United States
Reach James A Lane PE, SE, LEED AP
16757 W Cocopah St, Goodyear, AZ 85338, United States
Before you hire in Phoenix
Hiring a structural engineer in Phoenix requires finding someone who understands extreme desert heat, monsoons, and local soil conditions. You are hiring for technical accuracy and the ability to get plans through the city permit office without endless revisions.
Checking Arizona Licensure
Anyone offering structural design or stamping plans must be licensed by the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration. You can search the state database by name or firm to confirm their Professional Engineer (PE) or Structural Engineer (SE) status is active. A lapsed license means the city will reject your plans immediately.
Solar and Roof Loads
Adding a massive solar array to an older Phoenix home often triggers a requirement for a structural roof analysis. The city wants proof your trusses can handle the dead weight of the panels plus the wind uplift generated during summer monsoons. Ask the engineer if they regularly handle residential solar load calculations.
Dealing with Caliche and Soils
Much of the valley sits on caliche, a naturally occurring cement-like soil layer that makes digging notoriously difficult. A good structural engineer will review geotechnical soil reports before designing foundation footings or retaining walls. Skip any firm that tries to design a foundation without understanding the site's specific soil composition.
The Permitting Timeline
Maricopa County and the City of Phoenix permit offices are often backed up. When you interview engineers, ask about their current backlog and how long it typically takes them to return revised drawings when the city asks for corrections. Slow response times on revisions will stall your entire construction project.
Red Flags on a Quote
Watch out for engineers who refuse to visit the property for a remodel or who hand off the actual site inspection to an unlicensed assistant. If you are tearing down load-bearing walls in a 1960s ranch house, the engineer stamping the plans needs to see the framing with their own eyes.
Insurance and Liability
Structural engineers must carry professional liability insurance, often called errors and omissions coverage. Ask for a certificate of insurance before signing a contract. If their calculation fails and a wall sags, their liability coverage pays for the correction. Never hire an uninsured consultant for structural planning.
Questions people ask
Do I need a structural engineer to remove a wall in my Phoenix home?
Yes, if the wall is load-bearing. An engineer must calculate the size of the beam required to replace the wall and stamp the plans for the city permit office.
What is the difference between an architect and a structural engineer?
An architect focuses on layout, aesthetics, and spatial flow. A structural engineer focuses purely on gravity, wind loads, and keeping the building standing up safely.
Will the engineer pull the building permit for me?
Usually, no. The engineer provides the stamped plans. You or your general contractor will submit those plans to the City of Phoenix to pull the actual permit.
How do monsoons affect structural engineering in Arizona?
Monsoons bring extreme wind gusts and sudden, massive rainfall. Engineers must design roof tie-downs to resist wind uplift and check that site grading directs water away from the foundation.
Do I need an engineer for a swimming pool?
Custom pools, negative edge designs, or pools built near a retaining wall or property line usually require a structural engineer. They design the rebar cage and shotcrete shell thickness to handle the soil and water pressure.
What does a stamped plan mean?
A stamped plan bears the official seal and signature of an Arizona-licensed engineer. It signifies they take legal responsibility for the safety and accuracy of the structural design.
Can I hire an engineer from out of state?
Yes, but only if they hold an active license with the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration. Many firms hold licenses across multiple western states.
When should I bring the engineer into my project?
Bring them in immediately after you have a preliminary architectural layout but before finalizing any designs. They will tell you early on if a specific ceiling span or open floor plan is physically possible.
How we chose
Ranked on reviews and on how ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and AI Overviews see each business.
We pulled the current Google Maps listing for structural engineers in Phoenix and ranked them based on review volume, average rating, and published service categories. We also ran a deep AI visibility analysis on most of these businesses. That analysis reads what is publicly published about a firm and estimates how major AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude describe it when someone asks for a recommendation. We used those findings as context for the profiles below. We did not call, license, inspect, or interview anyone.
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