Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email. We are only accepting applications submitted by November 09, 2026. The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

• Health and Life Insurance
• Retirement Programs
• Paid Tuition
• Dependent Scholarships
• Annual Leave
• Sick Leave
• 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities

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Under the supervision of the Assistant Director of Engineering Support, the Mechanical Engineer leads in-house mechanical engineering design efforts and performs technical management for HVAC, hydronic, steam, and plumbing infrastructure projects across the University of South Carolina-Columbia Campus. This role is responsible for executing high-quality in-house mechanical designs, leading multi-disciplinary teams, and conducting thorough technical reviews of campus central energy plants, chilled water modeling, steam distribution, and building mechanical systems. The Mechanical Engineer coordinates mechanical designs across delivery methods to ensure overall compatibility with site and building plans, performs field investigations to refine project scopes, and exercises delegated AHJ technical review and approval authority for campus mechanical installations, energy efficiency renewals, and code compliance.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience - Requires a bachelor's degree in a job related field and 3 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials - Driver's license required.

Preferred Qualifications - Active Registered Professional Engineer (PE) license in the State of South Carolina (or ability to obtain via reciprocity within 6 months of hire).

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities - Deep knowledge of the International Mechanical Code (IMC), International Plumbing Code (IPC), ASHRAE standards (including 90.1 and 62.1), NFPA standards, South Carolina Consolidated Procurement Code, and Office of State Engineer (OSE) guidelines. Authority and capability to serve as a technical AHJ reviewer for campus mechanical permit approvals, field inspections, code interpretations, and system variances. Proficiency in CAD and BIM software (AutoCAD, Revit) and mechanical system modeling/energy analysis tools (e.g., TraneTRACE, CarrierHAP, pipe flow/hydronic modeling). Skilled in leading multi-disciplinary in-house design teams and coordinating across architectural, electrical, structural, and civil disciplines. Strong project management, analytical, field-investigation, and clear technical communication skills.

Job Duties

Job Duty - Execute in-house mechanical engineering design work products and services within specified milestones and quality standards. Perform all aspects of mechanical engineering design for a wide variety of campus infrastructure projects, including HVAC systems, central chilled water, steam distribution, plumbing, and building automation controls.

Essential Function - Yes

Percentage of Time - 30

Job Duty - Serve as a designated Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) representative for mechanical engineering matters. Perform technical plan reviews, approve code compliance documentation, evaluate variance requests, and conduct code enforcement inspections to ensure university projects adhere to IMC, IPC, ASHRAE, OSE, and state building code standards.

Essential Function - Yes

Percentage of Time - 25

Job Duty - Perform technical management and engineering reviews of campus central utility plants, chillers, boilers, steam generation/distribution networks, primary hydronic pumping systems, and campus energy management systems. Evaluate plant capacity, energy efficiency, system reliability, and environmental standards to support campus operational continuity.

Essential Function - Yes

Percentage of Time - 20

Job Duty - Lead multi-disciplinary in-house design teams executing campus projects. Coordinate mechanical engineering design integration with electrical, structural, architectural, and civil disciplines for different delivery methods to ensure overall compatibility, energy efficiency, and safety.

Essential Function - Yes

Percentage of Time - 15

Job Duty - Conduct site investigation field trips to project sites to collect pertinent data, inspect existing mechanical and plumbing infrastructure conditions, and refine or develop project scopes through direct collaboration with sponsoring campus activities, operations staff, and maintenance teams.

Essential Function - Yes

Percentage of Time - 5

Job Duty - Completes work orders and safety data sheets as necessary to communicate needs and/or to indicate completed work assignments.

Essential Function - Yes

Percentage of Time - 5

Position Attributes Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.

Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive - No

Hazardous weather category - Non-Essential

Number of Vacancies - 1

Desired Start Date - 11/01/2026

Job Open Date - 09/25/2026

Job Close Date - 11/09/2026

Open Until Filled - No

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.