Lead Mechanical Engineer

Lead Mechanical Engineer

FST Technical Services is hiring a Lead Mechanical Engineer to support a semiconductor industry project in the Santa Clara, California area. This is a senior engineering role responsible for technical direction, team leadership, client management, project planning, budget and forecasting oversight, and successful delivery of mechanical engineering and commissioning activities.

The successful candidate will have significant experience working within the semiconductor, advanced manufacturing, high-technology, or similarly complex industrial environment, with a strong understanding of mechanical systems, project execution, commissioning, construction, and client requirements.

Position Overview

The Lead Mechanical Engineer will provide overall leadership for mechanical engineering, commissioning, and field execution activities associated with a major semiconductor industry project. This role combines technical leadership, team management, client leadership, project controls, budget management, forecasting, and project delivery. The successful candidate will work closely with the client, engineering and design teams, contractors, vendors, project management, and FST leadership to ensure project objectives are achieved. The ideal candidate will be comfortable operating in a fast-paced, technically complex environment and will have demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing projects from planning and design through construction, commissioning, turnover, and closeout.

What You'll Do

• Lead and provide technical direction to mechanical engineering, commissioning, and field teams.
• Manage team performance, priorities, staffing, development, and resource requirements.
• Serve as a senior technical and operational point of contact for the client and key project stakeholders.
• Lead client meetings, project reviews, technical discussions, and progress updates.
• Build strong client relationships and identify opportunities for future business.
• Develop and manage project budgets, forecasts, staffing plans, and resource projections.
• Monitor project financial performance, identify risks and scope changes, and support commercial discussions.
• Provide leadership through project planning, design, construction, commissioning, startup, turnover, and closeout.
• Coordinate mechanical activities with contractors, vendors, engineering consultants, and other disciplines.
• Review mechanical designs, specifications, submittals, schedules, testing requirements, and commissioning documentation.
• Monitor project progress, identify schedule risks, and lead technical issue resolution and field troubleshooting.
• Ensure work meets client requirements, applicable codes, quality standards, and FST procedures.
• Oversee commissioning, startup, testing, documentation, deficiencies, and project turnover.
• Provide clear project status, financial, and operational reporting to FST leadership and the client.

The Lead Engineer will ensure project documentation is accurate, complete, timely, and aligned with client requirements. The role will also be responsible for identifying documentation gaps, unresolved technical issues, and project risks that could impact schedule, cost, quality, or client acceptance.

Mechanical Systems Experience

• HVAC and environmental control systems
• Chilled water and process cooling systems
• Central utility and mechanical plant systems
• Cooling towers and heat rejection systems
• Pumps and hydronic systems
• Air Handling Units (AHUs)
• Process and facility utility systems
• Exhaust and ventilation systems
• Mechanical equipment and associated controls
• Building Management Systems (BMS)
• Mechanical controls and sequences of operation
• Equipment startup and commissioning
• Mechanical system testing and functional performance verification
• Complex industrial and mission-critical mechanical infrastructure

Experience within semiconductor or advanced manufacturing environments is strongly preferred.

What We're Looking For

• 10+ years of relevant mechanical engineering, commissioning, construction, or project delivery experience, preferably within the semiconductor or advanced manufacturing industry.
• Significant experience working on semiconductor, advanced manufacturing, high-technology, or similarly complex industrial projects.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical teams and managing engineers, commissioning personnel, or field staff.
• Proven experience with project budgets, forecasting, resource planning, and financial management.
• Demonstrated ability to manage project performance against budget, schedule, scope, and client expectations.
• Strong client-facing experience with the ability to communicate effectively with senior client stakeholders.
• Experience managing relationships with owners, contractors, engineering consultants, vendors, and other project stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects from planning through execution, commissioning, turnover, and closeout.
• Strong mechanical engineering and systems knowledge.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex mechanical and controls-related issues.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, specifications, P&IDs, equipment documentation, submittals, and controls sequences.
• Strong understanding of construction and commissioning processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational, leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced project environment.
• Ability and willingness to work on-site in the Santa Clara, California area.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related technical discipline; extensive relevant industry experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• CxA, CCP, BCxP, or other relevant commissioning certification is a plus.
• Previous leadership experience within semiconductor, advanced manufacturing, or high-technology construction environments.
• Experience with project financial management, forecasting, and cost-control systems.
• Experience with Procore, Autodesk Construction Cloud/BIM 360, Bluebeam, CxAlloy, Facility Grid, or similar project platforms.
• OSHA 10/30 or equivalent construction safety training.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $150,000–$180,000, depending on experience and qualifications.
• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Long-term opportunity within FST's growing engineering and commissioning organization.

Location & Work Requirements

This is an on-site leadership position based in the Santa Clara, California area. Travel may be required based on project and client requirements. FST Technical does not offer employment-based visa sponsorship for this position. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship now or in the future.