Senior Design Engineer

About the Company
We are a premier, large-scale Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) contractor serving major multifamily residential and commercial projects across California. With a robust workforce of over 1,500 employees across multiple business units, we pride ourselves on driving innovation, safety, and excellence in the construction industry.


We are looking for a high-caliber HVAC Design Manager to lead our mechanical engineering division, guiding projects from conceptual design through to construction documentation.


Job Summary
As the Design Manager – HVAC, you will take the reins of the mechanical and HVAC design process for high-profile multi-family residential construction projects. You will ensure that all HVAC systems are engineered to meet client expectations, building codes, stringent energy efficiency milestones, and project budgets, while collaborating closely with architects, structural engineers, and cross-functional MEP teams.
Key Responsibilities
HVAC & Mechanical Design Leadership
Lead Complex Designs: Oversee multi-family new construction projects, including load calculations, system selection, and equipment sizing.
Documentation: Develop and oversee the preparation of comprehensive construction drawings, specifications, schematics, and schedules.
Compliance: Ensure all designs comply with applicable codes and standards (including ASHRAE, CMC, IMC, IECC, CBC, CPC, NEFC, ADA, and local energy codes).
Technical Guidance: Provide strategic technical direction and act as the subject matter expert for the HVAC design team.
Team Management & Cross-Functional Coordination
Mentorship: Manage, mentor, and grow a team of HVAC engineers, designers, and drafters—assigning tasks and monitoring project velocity.
Design Reviews: Conduct thorough QA/QC and design reviews to optimize accuracy, constructability, and energy efficiency.

Project Controls & Risk: Manage schedules, budgets, RFIs, and change orders early in the design cycle to mitigate project risks.
Pre-Construction Support: Assist with design proposals, cost estimates, and value engineering options.
Safety Compliance: Ensure strict adherence to OSHA and site safety standards during design coordination.

Client & Project Collaboration
Primary Point of Contact: Act as the technical lead and main interface for HVAC design elements with clients, consultants, and internal teams.

Meetings & Value Engineering: Participate actively in project meetings, presentations, and design coordination sessions. Assist in value engineering initiatives to optimize system performance, cost, and energy efficiency.

Qualifications & Requirements
Education & Experience
Degree: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent (Required).

Experience: 8+ years of experience in HVAC design, featuring 3–5 years in a leadership or management role.

Licensure: 3+ years of Professional Engineer (PE) licensure (Required).

Project Portfolio: Proven track record specifically working on multi-family or residential project designs.
Project Delivery: Experience with design-build or integrated project delivery (IPD) is a plus.
Certifications: LEED accreditation or PMP certification is preferred.

Technical Skills

Software Mastery: Advanced proficiency in Revit MEP, AutoCAD, and HVAC calculation/energy modeling software (e.g., HAP, Trane Trace, Elite, etc.).

Tools: Expert familiarity with Navisworks (for clash detection) and Bluebeam (for document control).

Domain Knowledge: Deep understanding of heating, cooling, ventilation, building energy codes, ASHRAE standards, and BIM clash detection.

Soft Skills
Strong mentorship capabilities with a passion for developing junior engineering talent.
Exceptional problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
Effective communication and collaboration skills for working with high-value clients and multi-disciplinary teams.
Highly organized and adept at managing multiple complex projects concurrently.
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