Mechanical Engineer

Job Title: Mechanical Engineer

Job Description

This Mechanical Engineer role focuses on the independent design of mechanical and HVAC systems for a diverse portfolio of buildings, including hospitals, residential complexes, commercial facilities, R&D centers, warehouses, and office buildings. You will lead system design from concept through construction documents, perform detailed calculations, select major equipment, and incorporate sustainable design practices. The position offers significant exposure to different project types, opportunities to manage small projects and client relationships, and strong support for professional growth and licensure within a close-knit, family-oriented engineering firm.

Responsibilities

• Independently design HVAC systems for buildings, including ductwork, chilled water piping, steam piping, and related mechanical systems.

• Perform system design calculations, including load calculations and compliance checks, to ensure code adherence and optimal system performance.

• Select appropriate mechanical equipment for building systems, such as cooling towers, chillers, boilers, air handling units, and other major components.

• Incorporate sustainable and energy-efficient design methods into building mechanical systems.

• Prepare detailed contract drawings and construction documents that clearly depict the designed mechanical and HVAC systems.

• Develop technical reports and prepare specifications for mechanical and HVAC systems.

• Coordinate mechanical and HVAC designs with engineers from other disciplines and with architects to ensure fully integrated building systems.

• Attend project meetings and communicate directly with clients to understand their needs, present design concepts, and address design issues.

• Manage small projects, specific work areas, or technical skill sets, including monitoring the quality of work and participating in client liaison activities.

• Conduct code research and apply a strong fundamental understanding of national building codes to mechanical and HVAC designs.

• Work on a variety of project types, including hospitals, residential and apartment buildings, commercial facilities, R&D facilities, warehouses, and office buildings.

• Handle multiple concurrent projects and tasks while meeting strict deadlines and maintaining high-quality deliverables.

• Communicate technical ideas clearly and accessibly, both verbally and in writing, with clients, colleagues, and project stakeholders.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited 4-year institution.

• Minimum of 4 years of professional experience in mechanical and HVAC design for commercial and residential building projects.

• Demonstrated ability to independently design HVAC systems for buildings, including ductwork, piping, and equipment selection.

• Strong proficiency with AutoCAD for mechanical and HVAC design and documentation.

• Proficiency with Revit for BIM-based mechanical and HVAC modeling and coordination.

• Experience using TRACE or similar tools for load calculations and system analysis.

• Solid understanding of mechanical design principles, including heating, cooling, refrigeration, and ventilation.

• Strong fundamental understanding of national building codes and their application to mechanical and HVAC systems.

• Ability to perform load calculations, code compliance checks, and other system design calculations.

• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite for documentation, reporting, and communication.

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet strict deadlines.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts in an accessible way.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Healthcare project experience, particularly hospital mechanical and HVAC design, is highly desirable.

• Experience with boilers, chillers, cooling towers, air handling units, and other mechanical equipment used in building systems.

• Background in refrigeration, heating, and cooling system design for a range of building types.

• Experience with code research and application in mechanical and HVAC design.

• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) credential is beneficial.

• Professional Engineer (PE) license is highly desirable and is recognized and compensated.

• Interest in continuing education through networking events, seminars, and higher education, supported by company-sponsored programs.

• Ability to take on and develop client relationships, with opportunities to manage your own clients over time.

• Comfort working in a smaller firm environment with exposure to multiple disciplines and project phases.

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in preparing drawings, specifications, and reports.

Work Environment

This role is based in an office environment with a long-established engineering practice that has evolved into a smaller, growth-focused firm. The team currently consists of a compact staff with licensed mechanical, electrical, and fire protection engineers, and the firm plans to build out each discipline and expand into multiple studios and departments. You will work on a wide range of projects, including hospitals, residential and apartment buildings, commercial facilities, R&D facilities, warehouses, and office buildings, using tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, TRACE, and Microsoft Office. The schedule is five days per week with very flexible hours, allowing for a balanced workday while supporting project deadlines. The culture is rooted in a long history, family-oriented, community-focused, and committed to making a difference through hospital work and community involvement via donations and sponsorships. The firm offers support for continuing education, including networking events, seminars, and partial higher education, and actively encourages professional licensure, with a licensed PE available to sign off on hours. You can expect a collaborative, multi-disciplinary environment where you are involved in many aspects of projects and have room to grow your responsibilities and client base.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Elmwood Park, NJ.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $48.07 - $62.50/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: - Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Elmwood Park,NJ.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 28, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.