Engineer 2

UNC-Chapel Hill•Chapel Hill, NC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Engineer 2 has a comprehensive commissioning and energy management role in the University of North Carolina’s Energy Management unit. The position supports commissioning on capital building projects, including developing commissioning scopes of work, selecting and overseeing third-party commissioning agents, negotiating contracts, reviewing design plans and equipment submittals, assisting with basis-of-design documents, coordinating functional testing and system training, and coordinating with project teams, UNC Facilities, and end users. The role also provides commissioning and retro-commissioning services for smaller capital projects, including control schematic development, building automation system (BAS) functional testing, troubleshooting, and training. The engineer interfaces with complex mechanical and control systems serving research laboratories, including BSL-3 high-containment labs and laboratory animal vivaria. The position helps implement and manage a continuous commissioning program across campus building automation systems by creating rules, identifying and integrating control points with software, and reviewing program effectiveness. As part of the energy management unit, the engineer identifies and analyzes energy and water conservation projects, conducts building audits and drawing reviews, and develops projects with fundable cost estimates and savings calculations. The role partners with engineering services and other UNC Facilities units to implement energy conservation measures and HVAC optimization strategies, while addressing operations and maintenance concerns and ensuring projects stay on budget and schedule. The engineer tracks project issues and shares lessons learned, provides technical support to building control technicians and EMCS operators, and supports other energy management responsibilities as requested by the supervisor. This position is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and is neither remote nor hybrid. The incumbent must be present at the office and work in UNC campus buildings during the work week. A $7,500 sign-on bonus is available, paid in two installments: $3,750 within 30 days of the hire date and $3,750 12 months after the hire date.

Requirements

Ability to troubleshoot and optimize complex mechanical systems for efficiency and maintainability.
Knowledge of control-system sequences of operation and ability to read, understand, and comply with university standards for mechanical and control systems.
Knowledge of HVAC control-system efficiency strategies, including discharge air reset, air-side economizer, discharge static pressure reset, and heat recovery systems.
Demonstrated experience programming HVAC control systems and experience commissioning and retro-commissioning HVAC and building systems.
Ability to read and comprehend complex mechanical, electrical, and architectural plans and specifications.
Working knowledge of current North Carolina building codes.
In-depth knowledge of commercial, institutional, and laboratory heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems.
Ability to communicate complex technical concepts verbally and in writing to trades staff, engineers, and management.
Valid North Carolina driver’s license or ability to obtain one before the start date.

Nice To Haves

Progressive experience with energy conservation methods for electrical and mechanical systems, including lighting, HVAC, chilled-water systems, compressed-air systems, building envelopes, and pneumatic and digital building control systems.
Advanced knowledge of building automation systems, specifically Invensys, Johnson Controls, and Vista.
Strong knowledge of HVAC system maintenance requirements.
Cost-estimating experience for design and construction projects.
Proficiency with MS Word and MS Excel.
Ability to participate in developing long-range strategic goals.
Knowledge of continuous commissioning.
Familiarity with building energy modeling software such as Trane TRACE and bin-data calculations.

Responsibilities

Develop commissioning scopes of work for capital building projects.
Conduct qualification-based selection of third-party commissioning agents, negotiate contracts, and oversee their work.
Review designers’ plans and equipment submittals and assist with developing basis-of-design documents.
Coordinate functional testing, system training, and communication among project teams, UNC Facilities, and end users.
Provide commissioning and retro-commissioning services for smaller capital projects, including control schematic development, BAS functional testing, troubleshooting, and training.
Interface with mechanical and control systems serving research laboratories, including BSL-3 labs and laboratory animal vivaria.
Help implement and manage a continuous commissioning program for campus building automation systems, including creating rules, identifying control points, integrating points with software, and reviewing program effectiveness.
Identify and analyze energy and water conservation projects through scoping, life-cycle cost analysis, building audits, and drawing reviews.
Develop energy conservation projects with fundable cost estimates and savings calculations.
Partner with engineering services and other UNC Facilities units to implement energy conservation measures and HVAC optimization strategies while considering operations and maintenance needs.
Help ensure projects are completed under budget and on schedule.
Track project issues in an Issues Log, ensure discrepancies are addressed, and share lessons learned to improve internal processes.
Provide technical support to building control technicians and EMCS system operators.
Provide other technical and process support related to the energy management unit’s responsibilities as requested by the supervisor.