Mechanical Engineer

Job Title: Mechanical Engineer Job Description This Mechanical Engineer role focuses on facility and building HVAC and plumbing design for new construction and renovation projects across a variety of sectors. The position offers the opportunity to take ownership of mechanical systems design, perform detailed heating and cooling load calculations, and work closely with clients and internal teams. You will join a growing engineering group within a multidisciplinary firm that values mentorship, professional development, and work-life balance, while providing exposure to diverse projects nationwide. Responsibilities * Design HVAC systems for facilities and buildings, including new construction and renovation projects. * Perform detailed heating and cooling load calculations to size and select mechanical equipment appropriately. * Develop plumbing system designs for a variety of building types, coordinating with architectural and structural disciplines. * Create and modify mechanical and plumbing drawings and models using Revit and AutoCAD. * Collaborate with internal project teams across architecture, interiors, landscape, and engineering disciplines to deliver integrated design solutions. * Interact directly with clients to discuss HVAC and plumbing design concepts, requirements, and design options. * Participate in mechanical engineering project management activities, including coordination, scheduling, and design documentation. * Support the full life cycle of mechanical design services, from planning and consulting through design and maintenance support. * Contribute to multifamily, institutional, cultural, government (federal and state), and corporate interiors projects. * Work closely with senior engineering staff to review designs, incorporate feedback, and ensure quality and code compliance. * Assist in building and strengthening the local engineering team by supporting knowledge sharing and collaboration with other offices. Essential Skills * B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with 6-10 years of applicable experience, or 10+ years of mechanical engineering project management experience. * Facility and building HVAC design experience. * Experience performing heating and cooling load calculations. * Background in HVAC design and plumbing design for buildings. * Approximately 6 years of Revit experience, with strong working knowledge of Revit for mechanical and plumbing systems. * Working knowledge of AutoCAD for mechanical and plumbing design documentation. * Ability to interact effectively with clients and discuss HVAC design requirements and solutions. * Experience contributing to mechanical engineering project management, including coordination and documentation. Additional Skills & Qualifications * Experience designing mechanical and plumbing systems for multifamily, institutional, cultural, government, and corporate interiors projects. * Experience working within a multidisciplinary environment alongside architecture, interiors, landscape, and engineering teams. * Interest in full life cycle services, including consulting, planning, design, and maintenance support for building systems. * Strong communication and collaboration skills to work with geographically distributed teams. * Motivation to mentor and be mentored, with an interest in continuous learning and professional growth. * Openness to obtaining additional training and certifications supported by the firm. * Ability to adapt to flexible schedules and manage workload effectively while maintaining high-quality deliverables. Work Environment This role is based in a Washington, DC office of approximately 30 people within a larger national firm that also maintains offices in Minneapolis, Chicago, and Dallas. The main engineering staff is located in Minnesota, and the organization is actively building a dedicated engineering team in the DC office, where you will work closely with a senior Engineer with 10+ years of experience and a strong project backlog. Around 60% of the work focuses on multifamily projects, with the remaining 40% spanning institutional, cultural, government (federal and state), and corporate interiors. The firm operates as a multidisciplinary practice, integrating architecture, interiors, landscape, and engineering in-house, and offers exposure to projects across multiple market sectors nationwide. You will work with updated technology that supports collaboration and work sharing with other offices, enabling efficient coordination and design delivery. The environment emphasizes work-life balance, professional development, and mentorship, with support for training and certifications and competitive, flexible work arrangements. Dress expectations are typical of a professional office setting. Job Type & Location This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Washington, DC. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $80000.00 - $100000.00/hr. 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 hybrid position in Washington,DC. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Jul 24, 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.