Lead Mechanical HVAC Design Engineer

Job Description

Job Description:\n\nLead Mechanical HVAC Design Engineer Company Name: MG EngineeringLocation: Hollywood, FLProject Focus: Mechanical Engineering, HVAC and Building Systems, Central Plants, Building Electrification, High-Rise, Healthcare, Life Science, Commercial, Institutional, Hospitality, Residential, and Mission-Critical ProjectsWork Setting: Full-Time | Integrated MEP Engineering EnvironmentBase Salary: $120,000-$220,000+ annually (DOE)Total Compensation Package: Potential total compensation of $140,000-$260,000+, medical, dental, vision, retirement benefits, paid leave, professional development, licensure support, and leadership advancement opportunitiesRecruited Exclusively By: Luxus Group Position Overview MG Engineering is seeking an accomplished Lead Mechanical HVAC Design Engineer to provide technical leadership and design oversight for complex building projects. This is a high-impact opportunity for an experienced mechanical engineer who can lead sophisticated HVAC designs, guide multidisciplinary project teams, mentor developing engineers, and collaborate directly with architects, owners, contractors, utilities, commissioning professionals, and public agencies. The Lead Mechanical HVAC Design Engineer will oversee projects from feasibility, due diligence, and conceptual planning through design development, construction documents, agency approvals, bidding, construction administration, commissioning, and closeout. The position requires advanced knowledge of airside and waterside HVAC systems, central heating and cooling plants, building automation, energy modeling, heat-load calculations, ventilation, smoke control, building electrification, energy-code compliance, and Florida regulatory requirements. The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise with project leadership, quality control, client communication, interdisciplinary coordination, and team development. Core ResponsibilitiesLead the planning, analysis, design, and documentation of HVAC systems for new construction, renovations, infrastructure upgrades, and building-repositioning projectsEstablish project design criteria, system concepts, performance requirements, and engineering standardsDirect the preparation of mechanical drawings, specifications, calculations, equipment schedules, control sequences, and technical reportsLead the design and evaluation of variable air volume, constant-volume air-handling, dedicated outdoor air, variable refrigerant flow and variable refrigerant volume, chilled-water, heating hot-water, steam and condensate, condenser-water, heat pump and heat-recovery, packaged rooftop and split, fan coil, and water-source heat pump systemsLead the design of central utility plants, chillers, boilers, cooling towers, pumps, energy-recovery ventilation, laboratory ventilation and exhaust, healthcare HVAC, commercial kitchen ventilation, smoke-control and stair-pressurization, data room and mission-critical cooling, building automation and direct digital controls, and mechanical equipment for high-rise buildingsEvaluate HVAC alternatives based on first cost, lifecycle cost, energy performance, carbon emissions, resiliency, redundancy, maintainability, acoustics, indoor environmental quality, and available spacePerform or oversee heating- and cooling-load calculations, ventilation calculations, and outdoor-air requirementsSize and select air-handling units, chillers, boilers, cooling towers, pumps, heat exchangers, terminal units, fans, heat pumps, and specialty equipmentPrepare or review airflow and ventilation calculations, hydronic pipe sizing, duct sizing and pressure loss, pump head calculations, equipment schedules and selections, psychrometric analyses, energy-code calculations, equipment lifecycle and efficiency evaluations, pressurization and air-balance strategies, fuel-use and building-load analyses, and central plant capacity studiesLead the evaluation and design of central heating and cooling infrastructure, including concepts involving chillers, boilers, heat pumps, cooling towers, heat exchangers, thermal storage, and pumping systemsAssess central plant performance, capacity, condition, and remaining useful life, and develop recommendations that balance capital investment, efficiency, resilience, maintenance, and long-term operating costsLead or support the conversion of fossil-fuel-based heating systems to electric or hybrid alternatives, and evaluate air-source, water-source, ground-source, and heat-recovery heat pump applicationsDevelop practical electrification strategies for new and existing buildings and analyze electrical-service implications in collaboration with the electrical engineering teamSupport compliance strategies associated with Florida building-emissions requirementsDevelop phased decarbonization plans that account for budgets, equipment life, occupancy, and building operations, and integrate heat recovery, energy recovery, thermal storage, and high-efficiency system conceptsServe as the senior mechanical technical authority for assigned projectsWork closely with Project Managers to establish scope, schedule, budget, staffing, technical milestones, and deliverablesDirect the work of engineers, designers, energy professionals, and BIM/Revit staff, and delegate assignments based on project requirements, team capabilities, and development goalsIdentify design, coordination, permitting, energy, and construction risks early and develop mitigation strategies that protect project quality, schedule, and financial performanceEnsure mechanical designs comply with the Florida Mechanical Code, Building Code, Energy Conservation Code, Fuel Gas Code, and Fire Code, the Florida Energy Conservation Construction Code, ASHRAE standards and guidelines, NFPA requirements, the International Mechanical Code when applicable, Local Laws and agency requirements, and owner-specific design standardsSupport Florida Department of Buildings filings, submissions, objections, and approvals, and coordinate with FDNY, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, utilities, and other authorities having jurisdictionMaintain working knowledge of energy-code compliance, building electrification, refrigerants, indoor air quality, smoke control, and special inspection and commissioningProvide technical leadership for specialized HVAC environments including hospitals and outpatient facilities, laboratories and life-science facilities, cleanrooms and controlled environments, higher-education and research buildings, commercial high-rises, residential towers, hotels and entertainment venues, data rooms and critical facilities, museums and cultural institutions, kitchens and food-service facilities, and historic and landmark buildingsDesign systems that address critical pressure relationships, filtration, humidity, temperature, ventilation, and redundancy requirements, applying relevant ASHRAE, FGI, CDC, USP, and owner-specific standards when requiredLead surveys and assessments of existing mechanical systems, including HVAC equipment, distribution systems, controls, ventilation, central plants, and utility infrastructureCoordinate mechanical systems with electrical, plumbing, fire protection, fire alarm, architectural, structural, civil, lighting, technology, security, and specialty-consultant teamsParticipate in BIM coordination and clash-detection reviews, and confirm that mechanical rooms, shafts, louvers, equipment clearances, access paths, and service spaces are properly incorporatedCoordinate electrical characteristics and emergency-power requirements for mechanical equipment, and coordinate drains, makeup water, gas, fuel oil, and condensate requirements with plumbing engineersCoordinate fire and smoke dampers, smoke-control systems, and fire alarm interfacesDevelop HVAC control sequences and building automation system requirements, and coordinate control points, sensors, safeties, alarms, trending, scheduling, and system interfacesLead discipline-specific QA/QC reviews at major project milestones, reviewing drawings, specifications, calculations, reports, equipment selections, and agency submissionsDevelop and maintain standardized details, calculation templates, specifications, design procedures, and quality-control checklists, and promote consistent engineering practices across project teams and officesIntegrate energy efficiency and sustainability goals into mechanical-system designs and support LEED, WELL, ENERGY STAR, Passive House, and other building-performance initiatives when applicableServe as a senior mechanical engineering contact for clients, architects, developers, owners, contractors, and consultants, and lead technical discussions during client meetings, presentations, and design workshopsProvide senior engineering leadership during bidding, construction, testing, commissioning, and closeoutReview equipment submittals, shop drawings, controls submittals, testing procedures, substitutions, and contractor proposals, and respond to requests for information and resolve unforeseen field conditionsConduct site visits and field observations to evaluate construction progress and compliance, and participate in preconstruction meetings, coordination meetings, equipment startups, punch-list inspections, and commissioning activitiesCoordinate with contractors, inspectors, commissioning providers, and authorities having jurisdiction, and review record drawings, operating manuals, training documentation, and closeout materialsLead, mentor, and develop mechanical engineers, designers, and BIM/Revit staff, providing technical guidance on HVAC systems, codes, calculations, equipment selection, controls, specifications, and construction practices Required QualificationsEducation: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Architectural Engineering, or a closely related disciplineExperience: Eight or more years of progressively responsible mechanical and HVAC design experienceConsulting Background: Significant experience working within an MEP consulting engineering environmentTechnical Leadership: Demonstrated experience leading mechanical design assignments and coordinating multidisciplinary teamsSystem Expertise: Strong technical knowledge of airside and waterside HVAC systemsDocumentation: Experience preparing mechanical drawings, specifications, calculations, schedules, reports, and agency submissionsCodes & Standards: Working knowledge of applicable mechanical, energy, building, fuel gas, fire, and ASHRAE requirementsSoftware: Proficiency with Revit and AutoCADLoad Calculation Software: Experience with HVAC load-calculation software such as Trane TRACE, Carrier HAP, IESVE, or similar applicationsConstruction Administration: Experience reviewing equipment submittals, controls packages, and construction RFIsProject Delivery: Ability to lead multiple projects and prioritize competing deadlinesCommunication: Excellent technical writing, communication, organization, and leadership skillsField Work: Ability to conduct field surveys and participate in construction-phase site activities Preferred QualificationsExperience: Twelve or more years of mechanical HVAC design experienceLicensure: Professional Engineer license in FloridaLicensure Path: EIT certification with active progress toward PE licensure may be considered for a candidate with strong leadership experienceEngineer of Record: Experience serving as Engineer of Record or senior mechanical technical reviewerFlorida Expertise: Advanced knowledge of Florida codes, agency filings, energy requirements, and construction practicesCentral Plants: Experience designing central utility plants and complex heating and cooling infrastructureProject Experience: Experience with healthcare, life sciences, laboratories, higher education, commercial high-rise, residential high-rise, hospitality, or mission-critical projectsSmoke Control: Experience designing smoke-control and stair-pressurization systemsQuality Leadership: Experience leading formal QA/QC or peer reviewsAnalysis Tools: Proficiency with energy modeling, computational fluid dynamics, or central plant optimization toolsMarket Relationships: Established relationships within the Florida architecture, engineering, construction, institutional, or real estate marketTeam Leadership: Experience supervising engineers and developing future technical leadersCredentials: LEED AP, WELL AP, CEM, CPD, HBDP, BEMP, BCxP, or other relevant credentials What Success Looks LikeDeliver technically accurate, coordinated, energy-efficient, and constructible HVAC designsEstablish clear technical direction at the beginning of each projectAnticipate and resolve design, code, energy, agency, and construction challengesReduce redesign through thorough calculations and interdisciplinary coordinationConsistently meet project schedules and quality expectationsBuild confidence with clients, architects, agencies, contractors, and commissioning teamsStrengthen the technical capabilities of developing engineers and designersImprove design standards, QA/QC practices, and project-delivery efficiencyHelp MGE secure repeat assignments and expand strategic client relationshipsBecome a trusted technical leader within MGE's Florida mechanical practice Compensation & BenefitsThe anticipated base salary range for this position is $120,000-$220,000+ annuallyPotential total compensation may range from approximately $140,000-$260,000+, depending on experience, professional licensure, technical expertise, project leadership, client relationships, and broader value to the firmThe compensation range is intentionally broad to accommodate candidates ranging from experienced HVAC design leaders through senior professionals capable of assuming expanded technical, project, client, or practice leadershipMedical, dental, and vision insuranceRetirement planPaid vacation, sick time, personal time, and holidaysFlexible spending accountSupplemental insurance optionsProfessional development and continuing educationPE licensure and professional-association supportLeadership and career-advancement opportunitiesFinal compensation and benefits will be determined based on qualifications and confirmed during the interview process About MG Engineering MG Engineering is a full-service engineering firm specializing in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, fire alarm, lighting, commissioning, sustainability, central energy, enhanced construction administration, and technology services. For more than 30 years, MGE has been headquartered in New York. The company has grown to more than 150 professionals across multiple offices while maintaining deep relationships throughout the Florida architecture, engineering, construction, real estate, healthcare, education, and institutional markets. MGE supports public- and private-sector clients across commercial office buildings, corporate interiors, residential and mixed-use developments, healthcare and life-science facilities, highe