PE + SE
Dual Licensed Engineers
100+
Projects Completed
5 States
NV, CA, AZ, UT, IA
25+ Yrs
Combined Experience
We started PE-SE because we were tired of how most engineering firms operate — slow to return calls, no repeatable process, and still doing things the way they did twenty years ago. We wanted to build a firm that actually picks up the phone, delivers on a predictable schedule, and uses modern tools like BIM and 3D modeling because they make the work better, not because it looks good on a brochure. That's what Paul and Joel set out to do, and it's what we deliver on every project across Reno, Tahoe, and Northern Nevada.
Paul Waite, PE, SE
Paul is a dual-licensed PE and SE with a Master's in Civil Engineering from UNR. He's designed everything from custom hillside homes in Somersett and Caughlin Ranch to 200+ unit multifamily developments — and he builds every project in 3D before it hits the field. Paul started PE-SE because he got frustrated watching engineers hand contractors unbuildable plans and then go silent when questions came up. His approach: model it in Revit, find the problems before your crew does, and answer your call within 24–48 hours.
He also runs the datacenter seismic anchorage side of the business — PE-stamped calcs for server racks, UPS, generators, and cooling units. If you've called three engineers who won't touch your deferred submittal package, Paul's the one who picks up.
Have plans, photos, or a scope description? Send them over — we'll return a fixed-price quote, typically within 24–48 hours →
Joel Heidema, MS, PE
Joel has 15+ years in structural engineering and construction management — and he's spent real time on job sites, not just behind a desk. He also runs Sierra BIM Solutions, which means he thinks in 3D by default. When your architect's design creates a coordination headache, Joel's the one who catches the clash in the model before it becomes an RFI in the field.
Joel handles commercial and multifamily projects — tilt-up warehouses, tenant improvements, mixed-use podium buildings. He's the engineer who designs with your construction sequence in mind, not just the code minimum. GCs like working with him because the plans actually match how things get built.
Most SE firms treat structural engineering like a checkbox — get the calcs done, stamp it, move on. We think that's backwards. Your structural engineer should be the one saving you money on steel, catching coordination problems before they hit the field, and answering the phone when your GC has a question at 2pm on a Thursday. That's how we work.
We know Northern Nevada — Reno, Sparks, Tahoe, Sacramento. We know the snow loads, the seismic requirements, the local building departments, and the soils. We design for SDC D because that's what the region demands, not because someone looked it up on a map for the first time. If you're building here, we've probably already engineered something on your street.
Where We're Licensed
Paul Waite, PE, SE holds active licenses in five states, covering our current Nevada home base and the top US data center growth markets:
- Nevada (NV)
- California (CA)
- Arizona (AZ)
- Utah (UT)
- Iowa (IA)
We add states as our datacenter and multi-family clients expand. Reach out if you need a PE stamp in a state not listed — we can often add a new jurisdiction within 4–8 weeks.
What Our Clients Say
5-star rated structural engineering across NV, CA, AZ, UT, and IA
See what contractors, developers, and architects say about working with us on Google.
Send Us Your Plans — Quote Back Within 24–48 Hours
Email us your drawings, photos, or a one-paragraph scope description. We'll return a fixed-price quote, typically within 24–48 hours — no hourly billing, no scope creep, no chasing.
Email info@pe-se.com or call (775) 323-6633