Lead Mechanical Engineer (Smart Building Consulting)

Element Six is partnering with a specialist engineering advisory firm that supports large-scale commercial campuses and complex building portfolios across North America. Their work sits in a space that many mechanical engineers don’t get exposure to early in their careers. Rather than spending years moving from one design project to another, this team works directly with building owners and operators to improve the performance of mechanical systems once buildings are operational. That means looking at real HVAC systems in real buildings, understanding where inefficiencies exist, identifying reliability issues, and helping clients make smarter long-term decisions about their infrastructure. The work is heavily focused on commercial HVAC systems, central plant infrastructure, and building performance. You might be reviewing chiller plant performance, helping shape upgrade strategies for aging infrastructure, working through controls-related issues within BAS/BMS environments, or partnering with facilities teams to improve operational performance across multiple buildings. For engineers coming from traditional consulting environments, this role often feels very different. You are not spending your time responding to endless architectural revisions, reacting to contractor deadlines, or moving from one construction project to the next. The work is still technically challenging, but it tends to be more operational, more strategic, and often far less reactive than traditional design consulting. The team works across large commercial campuses where mechanical performance directly impacts operational reliability. Engineers are given meaningful ownership early and are trusted to manage multiple initiatives at once while working closely with both technical teams and client stakeholders. This role would suit someone with 5-15 years of mechanical engineering experience and strong experience with commercial HVAC systems. That could include chiller plants, chilled-water systems, AHUs, VAV systems, fan coils, central-plant infrastructure, or building-automation systems. Candidates coming from firms such as AECOM, Stantec, Jacobs, WSP, McKinstry, commissioning firms, facilities teams, or broader building performance environments tend to transition well into this type of work. A PE license is helpful but not essential. Compensation ranges from $110,000 to $150,000 in base salary, with bonus potential. For engineers who enjoy solving complex mechanical problems but want to move closer to operational impact and away from the repetitive cycle of traditional project work, this is a genuinely interesting opportunity. If this aligns with your background, please reach out, and we can share more about the business and the projects involved. #J-18808-Ljbffr