Structural Engineering Companies in Houston: 2026 Directory and Hiring Guide

Houston has one of the most varied construction markets in the country. Custom homes and remodels in older neighbourhoods, industrial and energy facilities, stadiums, towers, and parking structures all need structural engineers, and each type of project calls for a different kind of firm. Finding the right one is less about choosing the biggest name and more about matching the company to your project.

This guide profiles six structural engineering companies in Houston that are listed on Engineers Mirror, from national practices with hundreds of engineers to local specialists focused on homes, additions, and foundation work. You will see what each company says it does and who it suits best. You will also find a practical checklist for hiring a structural engineer in Texas, a short explanation of licensing and permitting, and the questions to ask before you sign anything.

How We Selected These Structural Engineering Companies in Houston

The companies below are listed on Engineers Mirror with a Houston address or office and structural design, or civil and structural engineering, as a core service. Details come from each company’s public directory profile. Companies are presented in no particular order. This is not a ranking, and a listing is not an endorsement.

That matters because directories can only tell you so much. Before you hire anyone, verify their Texas licence, check references, and confirm that their experience matches your project. We explain how in the hiring section below.

Structural Engineering Companies in Houston at a Glance

Profiles of Structural Engineering Companies in Houston

Walter P Moore and Associates

Founded in 1931 and headquartered in Houston, Walter P Moore is a national engineering firm with more than 700 professionals across 19 US offices, according to its directory profile. It specialises in structural and parking structure design, diagnostics, and restoration.

The profile lists structural systems for stadiums, airports, mixed-use towers, university facilities, and healthcare buildings. Notable work includes NRG Stadium and structural diagnostics at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The profile also says the firm is regularly ranked among the top structural engineering firms by Engineering News-Record.

Best for: large, complex, or high-profile projects, and owners of existing buildings who need diagnostics or restoration. If your project is small, ask early whether the firm takes on work of your size.

LJA Engineering Inc

LJA Engineering was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Houston. Its profile describes a multidisciplinary firm of more than 1,400 professionals in over 40 offices, covering structural design, land development, transportation, water resources, and environmental engineering.

On the structural side, LJA provides services for commercial buildings, industrial facilities, bridges, and infrastructure across Texas and the Southern United States. The profile mentions steel, concrete, tilt-wall, and wood-framed structural systems, and clients that include residential developers, municipalities, industrial clients, and transportation agencies.

Best for: developers and public-sector clients who want structural engineering and civil engineering handled by one firm.

LECGI, Inc.

LECGI is a structural engineering and steel detailing firm headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, with an additional office in Houston. According to its profile, it has provided structural design and detailing services since 2004 for commercial, industrial, power-generation, and institutional projects, and its engineers are licensed in more than 30 US states.

Services include structural steel design, foundation design, connection design, analysis of existing structures, and P.E.-stamped engineering. On the detailing side, the profile lists 3D BIM modelling, shop drawings, erection drawings, and miscellaneous steel items such as stairs, platforms, catwalks, and handrails. Project types include refineries, chemical plants, pipe racks, conveyor supports, schools, hospitals, and bridges.

Best for: fabricators, industrial manufacturers, and general contractors that need steel design and detailing together. Because the headquarters is outside Texas, confirm which engineer will seal your drawings and that they hold a Texas licence.

INSIGHT Structures, Inc.

INSIGHT Structures is a Houston-based structural engineering firm serving residential, commercial, and renovation projects. Its directory profile cites public project records that name the firm as structural engineer on several Houston residential projects, including the Montrose Guest House, the Plus Minus House, the Cherryhurst Conservatory Addition, and the Southampton Place Addition.

Documented work includes structural framing design, wood framing, structural steel, columns, beams, shear walls, foundations, and load-path design. The profile lists an office at 5331 Inker Street, Suite B, Houston.

Best for: architects, custom homeowners, and contractors working on additions, renovations, and new residential structures.

Momentum Structural Engineering LLC

Momentum Structural Engineering, also known as MSE Texas, is a Houston-based firm that serves clients across Texas. The profile says that, according to the firm’s own website, it has more than 30 years of experience and has completed over 900 projects. As with any company claim, treat those numbers as something to confirm during your reference checks.

Its services include structural inspections, foundation repair plans, pier-and-beam foundation repair plans, load-bearing beam and column design, home additions, and new construction engineering. It also lists components and cladding inspection and design. The profile gives an office address at 888 W Sam Houston Pkwy S, Suite 200.

Best for: homeowners and contractors dealing with foundation concerns, cracked slabs, or remodelling and addition projects.

Infrastructure Associates

Infrastructure Associates is listed as a civil and structural provider in Houston. Its profile currently has limited detail, so use the contact form or website on the Infrastructure Associates profile to confirm what services it offers and what projects it takes on.

What Kind of Structural Engineering Does Houston Need?

Houston’s conditions shape structural design in ways that matter when you choose a firm. Clay-rich soils that swell and shrink, a flood-prone landscape, and exposure to hurricane-force winds are commonly cited factors, so experience with local conditions is worth asking about.

Most structural engineering companies in Houston fall into a few broad groups:

• Residential and foundation specialists. These firms inspect homes, design repairs, and engineer additions and renovations. Momentum and INSIGHT Structures are examples from the list above.
• Commercial building engineers. They design the structural frame, floors, and foundations for offices, retail, schools, and healthcare buildings.
• Industrial and energy engineers. They design pipe racks, platforms, equipment supports, and other steel structures for plants and refineries. LECGI’s profile highlights this kind of work.
• Diagnostics and restoration specialists. They investigate existing structures such as stadiums and parking garages, and design repairs. Walter P Moore describes this as a core service.
• Multidisciplinary firms. Companies like LJA combine structural, civil, transportation, and water resources teams, which helps on large site developments.
• Steel detailers. They produce the shop and erection drawings that fabricators use. This is a different service from design, though some firms offer both.

If your project involves 3D modelling, you may also want to browse BIM modelling companies or surveying services alongside structural design.

How to Choose a Structural Engineering Company in Houston

Use this checklist to compare any of the structural engineering companies in Houston, whether they appear on this list or not.

1. Check the Texas licence. Structural engineering work in Texas must be performed by a licensed Professional Engineer (PE). The Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (TBPELS) licenses engineers, and its overview page says that over 69,000 PEs offer services in the state.
2. Check firm registration. Under Texas law, any entity offering engineering services to the public must register with the board. You can read the requirement on the TBPELS firm registration page and search the board’s online rosters at pels.texas.gov to confirm that both the engineer and the firm are in good standing.
3. Match the firm to your project type. A residential foundation specialist and a stadium engineer solve very different problems. Look for completed projects similar to yours in size and complexity.
4. Ask who will do the work. Meet the engineer who will actually review and seal your drawings, not just the person selling the service.
5. Confirm insurance. Ask for proof of professional liability (errors and omissions) cover, and check the limits on larger projects.
6. Ask about Houston permitting experience. Familiarity with local plan review saves time. More on this below.
7. Define deliverables. Agree whether you need an inspection letter, a repair plan, sealed drawings for permit, or full construction documents.
8. Get references. Speak to at least two recent clients, ideally with similar projects.
9. Compare scope, not just price. A cheaper proposal often leaves out site visits, revisions, or permit-response time.

Our general guide on how to hire a structural engineering firm goes deeper on vetting and comparing proposals.

Licensing and Permitting in Houston: What to Know

In Texas, engineering is a regulated profession. TBPELS licenses individual engineers and registers engineering firms, and it provides public rosters so clients can verify credentials. The board’s firm registration requirement, introduced by House Bill 1544 and effective January 1, 2000, applies to any entity offering engineering services to the public in Texas.

Permitting is the second piece. The Houston Permitting Center handles building permits for the City of Houston, and its plan review includes structural review. For residential remodels and additions, the city’s permit requirements indicate that plans may need approval from several groups, including Structural, depending on scope. Plans are submitted through the city’s online review system, so your engineer’s drawings need to be complete and legible before you apply.

Rules differ by project type and location, and projects outside the City of Houston may fall under a different jurisdiction. Always confirm current requirements with the permitting authority for your site before you finalise a design.

10 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Houston Structural Engineer

1. Are you and your firm currently licensed and registered in Texas?
2. Who will be the engineer of record on my project?
3. Have you worked on projects like mine in the Houston area?
4. What exactly will I receive: a letter, a report, sealed drawings, or full construction documents?
5. Is your fee fixed, hourly, or a mix, and what is excluded?
6. How many site visits are included?
7. How do you handle revisions if the architect or builder changes the design?
8. How do you handle City of Houston plan review comments, and are they included in the fee?
9. What is your realistic timeline from site visit to sealed drawings?
10. Can I speak with two recent clients?

Good engineers answer these without hesitation. Vague answers are a signal to keep looking.

What Affects Structural Engineering Fees in Houston?

Structural engineering companies in Houston price their work differently, and published rate cards are rare. Instead of chasing a headline number, understand what moves the fee:

• Project size and complexity. A single beam check costs far less than a multi-storey building.
• Type of deliverable. An inspection letter is simpler than a full set of sealed construction drawings.
• Existing conditions. Investigating an older structure with unknown details takes more time than designing a new one.
• Number of site visits and revisions. These are often the main source of extra charges.
• Permit liaison. Responding to plan review comments can be included or billed separately.
• Schedule. Rush work usually costs more.

Ask for a written proposal that lists scope, deliverables, exclusions, and what triggers extra fees. Get at least three proposals for anything beyond a small job, and compare them line by line.

Find More Structural Engineering Companies in Houston

The six companies above are the structural and civil and structural firms currently listed for Houston. Engineers Mirror lists 47 engineering companies in Houston across all categories, and you can browse the full Structural Design category or the wider Civil & Structural section to compare firms in other cities. If your project spans Texas, you can also look at engineering companies in Dallas and Austin, or browse all engineering companies in the United States.

Prefer to send one brief and let providers come to you? Use the project form on the Engineers Mirror homepage. It is free for buyers, and providers reply to you directly.

Are you a Houston structural engineering firm that is not listed yet? You can list your company for free, or claim your existing listing to update your details and receive project requests. If you want to stand out on category pages, see the Featured plans.

Final Thoughts on Choosing Structural Engineering Companies in Houston

The best structural engineer for your project is the one whose experience matches your work, who is properly licensed in Texas, and who communicates clearly about scope and fees. A national firm with hundreds of engineers and a small residential specialist can both be the right choice, for different projects.

Start by defining what you need. Shortlist two or three firms, verify their licences and registration with the state board, check references, and compare written proposals. Taking a little extra time at this stage can save weeks of delay and a lot of money later.

Ready to compare? Browse the profiles above, or send one project brief on Engineers Mirror and let the right providers come to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a licensed engineer for structural work in Houston?

Structural engineering work in Texas must be done by a licensed Professional Engineer, and firms offering engineering services to the public must be registered with the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. Always confirm the engineer’s and the firm’s status on the board’s online rosters.

How do I verify a Texas engineer’s licence?

Use the online roster and licence lookup on the TBPELS website at pels.texas.gov. You can search for individual engineers and registered firms to confirm they are in good standing.

What is the difference between a structural engineer and a foundation repair contractor?

A structural engineer inspects the problem, determines the cause, and designs the repair or new structure. A contractor carries out the work. Some engineering firms, such as Momentum Structural Engineering, describe foundation repair plans as a service, which means they produce the plan that a contractor then builds. Having the engineer separate from the contractor can give you an independent opinion.

Do I need a structural engineer for a home addition in Houston?

Additions and remodels that change the structure usually need structural design, and the City of Houston’s permit process includes structural review depending on scope. Confirm requirements with the Houston Permitting Center, and ask your architect or builder whether sealed structural drawings are needed.

Can a large national firm handle small residential jobs?

It depends on the firm. Large practices such as Walter P Moore and LJA focus on larger commercial, industrial, and infrastructure work, while smaller firms often specialise in homes and additions. Ask each firm whether your project size fits their typical work before you request a detailed proposal.

How do I request quotes from several structural engineers?

Write one clear brief that covers your property or site, the type of work, your timeline, and what deliverables you expect. Send the same brief to two or three firms so the proposals are comparable. You can also use the free project form on Engineers Mirror to reach providers in one step.