Energy Modeler / Building Performance Strategist

Little Careers•Orlando, FL

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

Little, one of the nation's most progressive design firms, is looking for a design-oriented building performance professional who understands energy modeling as more than compliance, calculation, or post-rationalization. We are looking for someone who can help project teams ask better questions earlier, test bold ideas with rigor, and use data to move our integrated process toward higher-performing, lower-carbon, regenerative outcomes. This role is ideal for an electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, architectural engineer, building scientist, energy modeler, or performance strategist who is comfortable working at the edge of performance driven design. We are looking for a self-led individual who deeply understands systems thinking and the greater opportunities toward integrating our work with living places through better design decisions; challenging assumptions, quantifying risk, and translating technical analysis into clear direction for architects, engineers, designers, clients, and consultants. This person may be located in any of Little's office location’s however Orlando, FL is preferred. Our Values at Little Our culture is grounded in Care, Stretch, and Spark: Care: Care passionately about your clients, your work, and the people working beside you. Stretch: Stretch your imagination, your ambition, and your potential. Spark: Spark a spirit of excitement, discovery, and possibility in everyone around you. This role lives at the intersection of all three. It requires care for the consequences of design, the willingness to stretch conventional thinking, and the spark to help teams see performance as a creative force. Curious what it’s like to work at Little? Life at Little: Our Core Values on Vimeo A Candidate We'll Love You are curious, analytical, and persuasive. You know that data matters, but you also know that data only creates impact when people understand it and act on it. You bring a strong foundation in building science and a desire to improve building performance through thoughtful, data-driven analysis. You are comfortable developing energy models for early-stage exploration as well as more detailed design-phase studies, and you know how to document assumptions clearly so teams can trust the results. You have a deep level of experience understanding building systems performance, commissioning outcomes, and tracking operations and their impacts on energy use and can translate that into credible energy models that reflect real-world operational scenarios and can show confirmed data showing energy model results track through actual building perf romance within +/- 1-2 EUI on average. Better yet, you are able to show an understanding of skewed results, the reasons behind the variances, and how your work translated into more accurate results moving forward based on incorporating that learned experience. You are willing to question default approaches. You can evaluate unconventional strategies without being reckless. You understand that innovation in design requires both imagination and evidence. The Kind of Impact You'll Have You will be asked to bring insight to the table early, often, and clearly. You will help design teams see possibilities they may not have considered. You will help Little push beyond conventional sustainability checklists toward work that is more responsive, resilient, and regenerative. We are looking for someone who can balance rigor with imagination - someone who believes that better data can support regenerative outcomes

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Building Science, Architecture, or a related field.
3-7 years of relevant experience in energy modeling, building performance analysis, sustainable design, or high-performance building consulting.
Experience with energy modeling platforms such as IESVE, EnergyPlus/OpenStudio, eQUEST, Trace3D, Sefaira, or comparable tools.
Strong understanding of building systems, envelope performance, HVAC strategies, operational schedules, and how these variables interact with architectural design.
Familiarity with energy codes and standards such as ASHRAE and IECC.
Working knowledge of performance metrics such as EUI, peak loads, unmet hours, energy cost, operational carbon, and related indicators.
Understanding of HVAC controls, computerized building automation, and energy management systems.
Experienced with ROI studies, building commissioning impacts, and operational scenarios
Experience working with multidisciplinary design teams, including architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and sustainability professionals.
Ability to communicate technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Strong writing, presentation, organization, and documentation skills.

Nice To Haves

Licensed Professional Engineer, or ability to pursue licensure.
EIT / Engineer Intern designation.
Building Energy Modeling Professional, Certified Energy Manager, or similar energy-related credential.
LEED AP, WELL AP, PHIUS, ASHRAE certifications, or other relevant sustainability credentials.

Responsibilities

Develop energy models and performance studies for projects across multiple scales, sectors, and phases of design.
Use modeling as a design tool to compare options, evaluate tradeoffs, and guide decision-making.
Assess building envelope, HVAC, operational, electrification, and renewable energy strategies.
Quantify impacts on energy use, EUI, peak loads, unmet hours, carbon emissions, and related performance metrics.
Partner with architects, engineers, interiors teams, planners, and sustainability leaders to integrate analysis into the design process.
Communicate findings through clear summaries, diagrams, graphics, presentations, and actionable recommendations.
Support energy-code compliance, sustainability certifications, and owner-driven performance goals as needed.
Maintain clear documentation of modeling assumptions, inputs, outputs, and version history.
Contribute to quality-control processes for energy modeling and performance analysis.
Help advance Little's tools, workflows, and internal knowledge around high-performance and regenerative design.