Mechanical Engineer - Mission Critical

Job Description

Job Description

Mechanical Engineer - Mission Critical

Our Mechanical Engineering team is looking to add an experienced team member to our group of talented engineers. The Mechanical Engineer is a technical expert and design leader responsible for shaping high-performance, integrated mechanical engineering solutions across major and complex projects. 

About HED

We are a team that is full of ideas, experience, creativity, passionate opinions, insatiable curiosity, uncompromising integrity, commitment, and skill. Our culture is about aspiration, embracing change and challenges, listening to (and learning from) each other, encouraging continual learning, and inspiring collective growth. As an inclusive, integrated architecture and engineering practice, we value the diversity of perspectives, experiences, abilities, and expertise that advance both the work we do, and the world we share.

Position Summary

This role sets the standard for technical execution, QAQC rigor, and interdisciplinary coordination across the firm. Mechanical Engineer Vs operate with full autonomy, own major portions of mechanical project design delivery, and mentor cross-functional teams. As trusted advisors, they represent the firm in client relationships, ensure technical excellence, and guide engineering strategy at the highest level. Their work influences practice-wide standards, design innovation, and technical mentorship.

Essential Functions:

• Lead the engineering design and documentation of large-scale and complex mechanical systems – such as centralized building systems - from concept through construction.
• Approve and apply advanced mechanical calculations to support system sizing, equipment selection, and performance verification.
• Direct the setup and refinement of Revit models for mechanical scope, including template usage, view strategies, and coordination workflows.
• Standardize mechanical Revit workflows across teams and lead the development of firmwide modeling tools, families, schedules, details and system templates.
• Lead the development of controls sequences and diagrams for all mechanical systems.
• Integrate mechanical systems across disciplines, resolving coordination challenges with architectural, structural, mechanical, and civil design partners.
• Serve as the technical lead for mechanical coordination with clients, consultants, and internal teams.
• Lead submittal reviews, RFI responses, and value engineering analysis for mechanical scope, ensuring code compliance and performance integrity.
• Conduct field visits, lead construction observation efforts, and issue high-quality field reports documenting mechanical progress and issues.
• Define mechanical system strategies aligned with budget, performance, maintainability, and schedule requirements, influence system decisions early in the design process.
• Develop and lead QAQC plans for mechanical documentation; guide milestone reviews and apply firmwide drafting and modeling standards.
• Mentor junior mechanical engineers and designers, providing real-time coaching, delegation guidance, and professional development support.
• Develop onboarding content, technical training sessions, and reusable tools that support mechanical team development and consistency.
• Collaborate with project managers and firm leadership on fee development, staffing strategies, and discipline resourcing for mechanical work.
• Lead technical segments of meetings with clients, building officials, and consultants, communicating mechanical design direction and resolving complex issues.
• Guide mechanical response strategies to field conditions, code conflicts, and VE proposals with clarity and ownership.
• Influence client expectations around quality, performance, technical decisions, and lifecycle outcomes of mechanical systems.

Mission Critical Specific Functions:

• Have a strong understanding of mission critical HVAC systems, including but not limited to Fan Coil Walls, MDR/MMR CRAHs, air and water cooled chiller systems, and liquid cooling systems.
• Ability to review and interpret CFD reports to understand impacts to equipment performance and use to inform design decisions.
• Ability to estimate loads for equipment sizing and work with team members to oversee detailed load calculations.
• Knowledge of IEEC, ASHRAE 90.1 & 90.4 requirements for equipment/system efficiency requirements.
• Knowledge of typical redundancy requirements for data centers and impact on design requirements for specific tier.
• Knowledge of master planning for high level client interaction and support for site planning of future buildings and estimate utility impacts.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, or equivalent, required. 
• P.E. licensure required.
• 15+ years in the AEC Industry preferred.
• An understanding of the financial status of projects as they progress, development of cost budgets for projects, value of client relationships and be able to deliver projects with a focus on the quality is required. 
• Written and verbal communication skills commensurate with the position required.
• Strong organizational skills required. 
• Revit experience required. 
• Experience with computers, specifically for word processing, spreadsheet use/creation and email required. 
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, enthusiastic, flexible and curious personalities required. 
• Ability to work well with others under deadline situations required.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to effectively communicate in writing and verbally via phone, video conferencing, and in-person.
• Vis