Pools
Elevated Pool on Sloped Site
Structural design and construction support for a raised residential pool with retained backfill and freestanding walls.
Phoenix, Arizona · Est. Practice 1999
Jesse Light,
S.E., P.E.
Structural Engineer, Business Leader, and President of SML.
I am a structural engineer, business owner, and technical leader focused on practical engineering solutions, reliable project delivery, and the continued improvement of engineering systems and processes.
Visit SML
Fig. 01 — Framing + Pool Shell
Credibility Summary
SML
President & Sr. Structural Engineer
25+
Years of firm operating history
Thousands
Pool projects supported annually
50k–100k
Roof & ground-mounted solar projects per year
≈500 MW
Solar capacity installed per year
All US states & DC (except Alaska)
U.S. jurisdictions licensed
16 states + DC
Structural (S.E.) licenses held
36 states
Civil (P.E.) licensure
Professional Focus
Where the practice concentrates its work.
Four disciplines shape day-to-day engagements — from single-family pool shells to multi-jurisdiction product certification programs.
01
Structural & Forensic Engineering
Evaluating, designing, repairing, and documenting building and structural systems — including existing conditions, damage, failures, modifications, and repairs.
smleng.com →02
Pool Structural Engineering
Residential and commercial swimming-pool structures: standard designs, custom shells, soil-related conditions, freestanding walls, elevated pools, and complex sites.
pools.smleng.com →03
Solar & Product Engineering
Roof- and ground-mounted solar racking, component testing, allowable-capacity determination, certification programs, site-specific letters, and manufacturer support.
solar.smleng.com →04
Engineering Systems & Automation
Improving engineering workflows using portals, structured data, calculation tools, testing data, and AI-assisted processes — with engineer oversight preserved throughout.
About
A structural engineer with a mechanical-engineering foundation.
Jesse Light is the President of SML — Consulting Structural & Forensic Engineers, based in Phoenix, Arizona. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2001) and is licensed as a Structural Engineer in sixteen states and the District of Columbia, and as a Civil Engineer in thirty-six states.
A dual background in mechanical and structural engineering allows Jesse to bridge material science, system optimization, product manufacturing, prototyping, and building design. That multidisciplinary practice supports close collaborations with manufacturers of both building-applied and stand-alone structural components, developed in full compliance with current building codes.
Under his leadership, SML has integrated AI tools and custom software workflows to streamline internal processes — aligning engineering analysis with application and design tools to increase productivity and precision, and to deliver measurable reductions in material usage, transportation costs, and engineering time for clients nationwide.
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Firm
SML — Est. 1999
Education
B.S. M.E., Cal Poly Pomona
Experience
Two-plus decades of structural, forensic, and product engineering.
A continuous progression from drafting board to firm president — with field, forensic, and product-engineering experience throughout.
Jan 2020 — Present
President / Principal
SML — Consulting Structural & Forensic Engineers · Phoenix, Arizona
- Lead the strategic, technical, financial, and operational direction of a multidisciplinary structural and forensic engineering firm.
- Engineer of record for SML pools, spas, and backyard secondary structures; storefronts and curtain walls; handrails and guardrails; shade and tensile structures.
- Direct development of internal automation, calculation tooling, and AI-assisted workflows while maintaining engineer oversight and professional responsibility.
- Mentor engineers, inspectors, project managers, and administrative staff across the practice.
Nov 2007 — Jan 2020
Senior Structural Engineer / Associate
Starling Madison Lofquist Consulting Engineers · Phoenix, Arizona
- Progressed from staff engineer through senior/associate roles across structural and forensic engagements.
- Delivered engineering for pools, product-based systems, building framing, and repair/retrofit work.
Jan 2009 — Feb 2010
Secretary
Engineers Without Borders — USA · Volunteer
- Worked with professional and student engineers, locally and abroad, in support of drinking-water systems.
2007
Mechanical Test Engineer
Orbital Sciences Corporation
- Rocket testing for comparison against finite-element models.
2007
Design Engineer
Felten Group, Inc. · Arizona
- Track-home structural design.
Oct 2001 — Mar 2006
Project Engineer / Manager
Jordan Engineering Group, LLC · Phoenix, Arizona
- Structural component design for production homes — steel and wood framing, post-tensioned foundations, site and retaining walls, and lateral force-resisting systems.
- Clients included Fulton Homes, Trend Homes, and Richmond American Homes.
- Coordination with in-house truss designers and drafters, and with project architects, plumbers, electricians, and HVAC.
- Field consultant and inspector resolving on-site issues.
1999 — 2001
Drafter
Summit Structural Engineering
- Drafted structural plans for custom homes; performed minor gravity and lateral analysis, strap and shear inspections, and plan delivery.
Education
B.S. Mechanical Engineering — Structural & Energy Engineering · California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (1998–2001)
A.S. Math & Science · Mount San Jacinto Community College (1994–1998)
Expertise
Disciplines and specializations.
Organized by discipline so clients, referral partners, and manufacturers can quickly identify where the practice can help.
Structural Engineering
- Building framing — wood, steel, cold-formed steel, concrete, masonry
- Lateral systems, diaphragms, and load-path evaluation
- Post-tensioned and conventional foundations
- Site and retaining walls, freestanding walls
- Repairs, retrofits, and modifications of existing structures
Forensic Engineering
- Existing-condition assessments and distress documentation
- Damage evaluation and cause analysis
- Repair documentation and construction support
- Note: SML is not currently accepting expert-witness legal cases.
Pool Engineering
- Standard and custom pool structural designs
- Residential and commercial pools and spas
- Freestanding walls, elevated pools, complex/sloped sites
- Soil-related conditions and construction support
Solar & Product Engineering
- Roof-mounted and ground-mounted solar racking
- Component testing and allowable-capacity determination
- Certification programs and site-specific engineering letters
- ASCE 7 wind, seismic, and component requirements; code-edition updates
Special Inspection & Testing
- Structural special inspection
- Adhesive-anchor and masonry inspection
- Interpretation of structural-component test data
Engineering Leadership & Automation
- Engineering-firm operations and multidisciplinary team leadership
- Portals, structured data, and calculation tooling
- AI-assisted engineering workflows with retained professional oversight
Projects & Case Studies
Selected work across the disciplines.
Illustrative engagements — a fuller filterable case-study library will grow here over time.
Solar
Ground-Mount Racking Certification
Component testing interpretation, allowable capacities, and multi-jurisdiction certification package for a racking manufacturer.
Forensic
Post-Event Distress Assessment
Existing-condition documentation, cause analysis, and repair recommendations for a distressed masonry structure.
Structural
Curtain Wall & Storefront Anchorage
Engineer-of-record services for storefront and curtain-wall systems, coordinated with the general contractor and manufacturer.
Product Engineering
Shade & Tensile Structure Line
Ongoing engineering support for a family of standardized shade and tensile products, including site-specific letters.
Special Inspection
Adhesive-Anchor Program
Special inspection protocol and reporting for adhesive-anchor installations on a commercial retrofit.
Publications
Technical articles, engineering guidance, and project insights.
A growing library of practical writing intended for clients, referral partners, and fellow practitioners.
Structural EngineeringPool EngineeringSolar EngineeringForensic EngineeringConstructionTestingCodes & StandardsEngineering LeadershipAutomationBusiness Operations
First articles are in preparation.
Contact Jesse directly for reprints of past technical presentations or to suggest a topic for a future article.
Speaking
Talks and presentations.
Available for industry presentations, panels, and manufacturer education.
- 01Scaling engineering services without sacrificing professional judgment
- 02Structural engineering for swimming pools
- 03Engineering support for solar-racking systems
- 04Interpreting structural-component testing
- 05AI-assisted workflows in a licensed engineering practice
The Firm
SML — three destinations for engineering services.
Jesse leads SML from Phoenix. Visit the appropriate site for services, resources, and project intake.
Website
SML — Consulting Structural & Forensic Engineers
Primary firm site. Structural and forensic engineering, product engineering, and special inspection.
smleng.com →
Website
SML Pool Engineering
Pool structural documents, pool-industry resources, project intake, and pool-client services.
pools.smleng.com →
Website
SML Solar Engineering
Solar-racking engineering, manufacturer support, certification programs, and site-specific letters.
solar.smleng.com →
Contact
Discuss a project, a product, or a talk.
The best route for project inquiries is direct email, or the intake forms at the appropriate SML site. New engagements are reviewed for fit, jurisdiction, and schedule.