Director of Project Development

Edwards Electrical & Mechanical Inc.•Indianapolis, IN

About The Position

Duties/Responsibilities: Project Development & Engineering Leadership Lead and oversee the engineering and design‑development process for design‑build and negotiated projects. Direct internal engineering resources and coordinate external design partners to develop practical, constructible solutions. Ensure designs align with customer objectives, budget constraints, operational performance, code requirements, and long‑term efficiency. Apply a systems‑thinking approach to HVAC, MEP, and building performance solutions. Customer‑Facing Leadership Serve as a primary point of contact for customers during pursuit, design, and preconstruction phases. Lead technical discussions, conceptual planning, and solution development with owners, developers, and partners. Support sales pursuits, client presentations, and interviews by translating technical concepts into customer value. Build trusted relationships that position Edwards as a preferred design‑build partner. Design‑Build & Market Growth Focus Drive design‑build and performance‑based project pursuits. Support entry into new markets, verticals, and customer segments consistent with company growth strategy. Identify opportunities for energy efficiency, system optimization, and high-performance building solutions. Partner with leadership to develop differentiated offerings that leverage engineering expertise. Estimating & Preconstruction Support Support the estimating team by establishing clear design intent, scope definitions, and assumptions. Assist with conceptual budgets, GMP development, value engineering, and risk identification. Ensure estimates reflect constructability, lifecycle performance, and customer priorities. Coordinate closely with estimating leadership for alignment and accountability. Project Kickoff & Transition to Operations Participate in project kickoffs to ensure clean handoff to the project management team. Clearly communicate design assumptions, scope boundaries, risks, and customer expectations. Remain engaged during early execution for design clarification, customer support, and issue resolution as needed. Founded in 1968, Edwards Electrical & Mechanical, Inc. has grown to become one of the largest electrical/mechanical contracting firms in Indiana and the Midwest. Our growth has been attributed to “providing quality work at or below market prices”. It is this business philosophy that has led to consistent double-digit annual growth over the past decade for both our construction and service divisions. To support our dedication to long-term, cost-effective solutions, Edwards Electrical and Mechanical has established a supplier network to provide you savings through our negotiated buying power. Don and Ruth Edwards founded Edwards Electrical and Mechanical, Inc. in 1968. The company started out as a small union commercial shop based out of their garage. The business quickly grew and relocated to an old two-story house on East Street in 1970. In 1972, Edwards Electric changed its operation to a merit-based shop, and six short years later, Edwards Electric moved to a 2500 square foot building at the corner of East Street and Merrill. By 1981 this structure became too small, and working with a customer at the time, MacDougall and Pierce, 2500 square feet were added to the building. The company name changed to Edwards Electrical and Refrigeration in 1980, and refrigeration is still a part of our product portfolio. In 1998, FirstEnergy Corporation, a registered public utility holding company headquartered in Akron, Ohio, acquired Edwards Electrical & Mechanical. In 2006, Edwards was purchased by MEP Holding Company, converting it again to a privately owned business. Organically and steadily, Edwards grew from about 250 employees to its current size of over 465 employees. On December 31st, 2021, a national company called Comfort Systems USA acquired all the stock of MEP Holding Company, thereby making it the owner of MEP Holding Company’s subsidiaries. Comfort Systems USA went public as a company in June 1997 and is comprised of over 170 locations across the United States. With Comfort Systems as a parent company, Edwards now has a robust assortment of training resources and has access to national best practices. Today, Edwards is one of the largest electrical & mechanical companies in Indiana and is able to offer an extremely positive work environment for its highly skilled employees. Our service division specializes in preventative maintenance and offers HVAC, plumbing, refrigeration, generator and electrical services. Each office has it’s own service support staff and shares the same resources for Accounting, Human Resources, and Information Technology. Edwards’ Construction Division has capabilities to self-perform Electrical, HVAC, and Plumbing trades ensure our customers that we will meet construction schedule for completion of projects and do so within the customer’s budget. Our mission to be a “one–stop merit shop” for all three trades has allowed us the flexibility to do more work with less people. We have been able to pass these efficiencies along to our customers. The “can do” attitude of the Edwards employee has been demonstrated repeatedly. The vision of our Company is to “Ensure tomorrow’s success by how well we service our customers today.”

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering
Extensive experience in MEP systems, HVAC design, or energy‑focused project development.
Proven success in design‑build project delivery.
Strong customer‑facing and consultative skills.
Experience working across engineering, estimating, and construction teams.
Ability to lead complex projects from concept through commissioning.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Business preferred.
Professional Engineer (PE) license strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee the engineering and design‑development process for design‑build and negotiated projects.
Direct internal engineering resources and coordinate external design partners to develop practical, constructible solutions.
Ensure designs align with customer objectives, budget constraints, operational performance, code requirements, and long-term efficiency.
Apply a systems‑thinking approach to HVAC, MEP, and building performance solutions.
Serve as a primary point of contact for customers during pursuit, design, and preconstruction phases.
Lead technical discussions, conceptual planning, and solution development with owners, developers, and partners.
Support sales pursuits, client presentations, and interviews by translating technical concepts into customer value.
Build trusted relationships that position Edwards as a preferred design‑build partner.
Drive design‑build and performance‑based project pursuits.
Support entry into new markets, verticals, and customer segments consistent with company growth strategy.
Identify opportunities for energy efficiency, system optimization, and high-performance building solutions.
Partner with leadership to develop differentiated offerings that leverage engineering expertise.
Support the estimating team by establishing clear design intent, scope definitions, and assumptions.
Assist with conceptual budgets, GMP development, value engineering, and risk identification.
Ensure estimates reflect constructability, lifecycle performance, and customer priorities.
Coordinate closely with estimating leadership for alignment and accountability.
Participate in project kickoffs to ensure clean handoff to the project management team.
Clearly communicate design assumptions, scope boundaries, risks, and customer expectations.
Remain engaged during early execution for design clarification, customer support, and issue resolution as needed.