Lead Mechanical Design Engineer

Luxus•New York, NY

3d•Onsite

About The Position

MG Engineering D.P.C. is seeking an accomplished Lead Mechanical HVAC Design Engineer to provide technical leadership and design oversight for complex building projects from its New York City headquarters. This is a high-impact opportunity for an experienced mechanical engineer who can lead sophisticated HVAC designs, guide multidisciplinary project teams, mentor developing engineers, and collaborate directly with architects, owners, contractors, utilities, commissioning professionals, and public agencies. The Lead Mechanical HVAC Design Engineer will oversee projects from feasibility, due diligence, and conceptual planning through design development, construction documents, agency approvals, bidding, construction administration, commissioning, and closeout. The position requires advanced knowledge of airside and waterside HVAC systems, central heating and cooling plants, building automation, energy modeling, heat-load calculations, ventilation, smoke control, building electrification, energy-code compliance, and New York City regulatory requirements. The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise with project leadership, quality control, client communication, interdisciplinary coordination, and team development.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Architectural Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
Eight or more years of progressively responsible mechanical and HVAC design experience.
Significant experience working within an MEP consulting engineering environment.
Demonstrated experience leading mechanical design assignments and coordinating multidisciplinary teams.
Strong technical knowledge of airside and waterside HVAC systems.
Experience preparing mechanical drawings, specifications, calculations, schedules, reports, and agency submissions.
Working knowledge of applicable mechanical, energy, building, fuel gas, fire, and ASHRAE requirements.
Proficiency with Revit and AutoCAD.
Experience with HVAC load-calculation software such as Trane TRACE, Carrier HAP, IESVE, or similar applications.
Experience reviewing equipment submittals, controls packages, and construction RFIs.
Ability to lead multiple projects and prioritize competing deadlines.
Excellent technical writing, communication, organization, and leadership skills.
Ability to conduct field surveys and participate in construction-phase site activities.

Nice To Haves

Twelve or more years of mechanical HVAC design experience.
Professional Engineer license in New York.
EIT certification with active progress toward PE licensure may be considered for a candidate with strong leadership experience.
Experience serving as Engineer of Record or senior mechanical technical reviewer.
Advanced knowledge of New York City codes, agency filings, energy requirements, and construction practices.
Experience designing central utility plants and complex heating and cooling infrastructure.
Experience with healthcare, life sciences, laboratories, higher education, commercial high-rise, residential high-rise, hospitality, or mission-critical projects.
Experience with building electrification, decarbonization, and Local Law 97 compliance strategies.
Experience designing smoke-control and stair-pressurization systems.
Experience leading formal QA/QC or peer reviews.
Proficiency with energy modeling, computational fluid dynamics, or central plant optimization tools.
Established relationships within the New York architecture, engineering, construction, institutional, or real estate market.
Experience supervising engineers and developing future technical leaders.
LEED AP, WELL AP, CEM, CPD, HBDP, BEMP, BCxP, or other relevant credentials.

Responsibilities

Lead the planning, analysis, design, and documentation of HVAC systems for new construction, renovations, infrastructure upgrades, and building-repositioning projects.
Establish project design criteria, system concepts, performance requirements, and engineering standards.
Direct the preparation of mechanical drawings, specifications, calculations, equipment schedules, control sequences, and technical reports.
Lead the design and evaluation of systems involving: Variable air volume systems, Constant-volume air-handling systems, Dedicated outdoor air systems, Variable refrigerant flow and variable refrigerant volume systems, Chilled-water systems, Heating hot-water systems, Steam and condensate systems, Condenser-water systems, Heat pump and heat-recovery systems, Packaged rooftop and split systems, Fan coil and water-source heat pump systems, Central utility plants, Chillers, boilers, cooling towers, and pumps, Energy-recovery ventilation, Laboratory ventilation and exhaust, Healthcare HVAC systems, Commercial kitchen ventilation, Smoke-control and stair-pressurization systems, Data room and mission-critical cooling, Building automation and direct digital controls, Mechanical equipment for high-rise buildings.
Evaluate HVAC alternatives based on first cost, lifecycle cost, energy performance, carbon emissions, resiliency, redundancy, maintainability, acoustics, indoor environmental quality, and available space.
Resolve complex mechanical engineering challenges and provide practical, technically defensible recommendations.
Ensure designs are code-compliant, energy-efficient, coordinated, constructible, and aligned with client objectives.
Perform or oversee heating- and cooling-load calculations.
Develop ventilation calculations and outdoor-air requirements.
Size and select air-handling units, chillers, boilers, cooling towers, pumps, heat exchangers, terminal units, fans, heat pumps, and specialty equipment.
Prepare or review: Airflow and ventilation calculations, Hydronic pipe-sizing calculations, Duct-sizing and pressure-loss calculations, Pump head calculations, Equipment schedules and selections, Psychrometric analyses, Energy-code calculations, Equipment lifecycle and efficiency evaluations, Pressurization and air-balance strategies, Fuel-use and building-load analyses, Central plant capacity studies.
Establish system zoning based on building use, occupancy, exposure, schedule, tenant requirements, and operational needs.
Analyze part-load performance and equipment staging.
Evaluate system redundancy and reliability requirements for critical facilities.
Review existing system capacities and determine whether infrastructure can support renovations, expansions, or changes in use.
Support energy modeling, utility-incentive studies, and sustainability analyses.
Lead the evaluation and design of central heating and cooling infrastructure.
Develop central plant concepts involving chillers, boilers, heat pumps, cooling towers, heat exchangers, thermal storage, and pumping systems.
Evaluate replacement, expansion, electrification, and modernization alternatives for existing plants.
Develop equipment sequencing, redundancy, controls, and operational strategies.
Plan equipment phasing and temporary-service arrangements for occupied facilities.
Coordinate plant electrical loads, fuel requirements, structural support, ventilation, drainage, acoustics, and equipment access.
Assess central plant performance, capacity, condition, and remaining useful life.
Develop recommendations that balance capital investment, efficiency, resilience, maintenance, and long-term operating costs.
Lead or support the conversion of fossil-fuel-based heating systems to electric or hybrid alternatives.
Evaluate air-source, water-source, ground-source, and heat-recovery heat pump applications.
Develop practical electrification strategies for new and existing buildings.
Analyze electrical-service implications in collaboration with the electrical engineering team.
Evaluate peak heating demand, equipment performance at low ambient temperatures, defrost requirements, and supplemental heat.
Support compliance strategies associated with New York City building-emissions requirements.
Develop phased decarbonization plans that account for budgets, equipment life, occupancy, and building operations.
Integrate heat recovery, energy recovery, thermal storage, and high-efficiency system concepts.
Help clients understand the technical and financial implications of electrification and carbon-reduction strategies.
Serve as the senior mechanical technical authority for assigned projects.
Work closely with Project Managers to establish scope, schedule, budget, staffing, technical milestones, and deliverables.
Lead projects from initial feasibility and due diligence through design, permitting, construction, commissioning, and closeout.
Direct the work of engineers, designers, energy professionals, and BIM/Revit staff.
Delegate assignments based on project requirements, team capabilities, and development goals.
Monitor project progress, engineering hours, deliverable status, and technical quality.
Manage multiple concurrent projects while maintaining responsiveness and accountability.
Identify design, coordination, permitting, energy, and construction risks early.
Develop mitigation strategies that protect project quality, schedule, and financial performance.
Participate in project kickoff meetings, design workshops, milestone reviews, and coordination meetings.
Ensure deliverables are complete, coordinated, constructible, and ready for agency or construction submission.
Ensure mechanical designs comply with applicable requirements, including: New York City Mechanical Code, New York City Building Code, New York City Energy Conservation Code, New York City Fuel Gas Code, New York City Fire Code, New York State Energy Conservation Construction Code, ASHRAE standards and guidelines, NFPA requirements, International Mechanical Code, when applicable, Local Laws and agency requirements, Owner-specific design standards.
Support New York City Department of Buildings filings, submissions, objections, and approvals.
Coordinate with FDNY, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, utilities, and other authorities having jurisdiction.
Participate in meetings with plan examiners, agency reviewers, inspectors, and utility representatives.
Respond to technical objections, agency comments, and requests for additional information.
Maintain working knowledge of requirements associated with: Local Law 97, Building emissions and benchmarking, Energy-code compliance, Building electrification, Refrigerant requirements, Indoor air quality, Smoke control, Special inspection and commissioning.
Help project teams develop practical and defensible compliance strategies.
Remain current on changing energy, emissions, mechanical, and building-performance regulations.
Provide technical leadership for specialized HVAC environments, which may include: Hospitals and outpatient facilities, Laboratories and life-science facilities, Cleanrooms and controlled environments, Higher-education and research buildings, Commercial high-rises, Residential towers, Hotels and entertainment venues, Data rooms and critical facilities, Museums and cultural institutions, Kitchens and food-service facilities, Historic and landmark buildings.
Design systems that address critical pressure relationships, filtration, humidity, temperature, ventilation, and redundancy requirements.
Apply relevant ASHRAE, FGI, CDC, USP, and owner-specific standards when required.
Coordinate specialty exhaust, containment, process cooling, and heat-recovery systems.
Develop reliable solutions for facilities that must remain operational during renovation or system replacement.
Lead surveys and assessments of existing mechanical systems.
Evaluate HVAC equipment, distribution systems, controls, ventilation, central plants, and utility infrastructure.
Assess system condition, capacity, code compliance, energy performance, and remaining useful life.
Prepare due-diligence reports, feasibility studies, condition assessments, and capital-improvement recommendations.
Develop phasing and temporary-conditioning strategies for occupied buildings.
Identify concealed conditions and infrastructure limitations that may affect project scope.
Evaluate potential system reuse and recommend upgrades, replacements, or expansions.
Support facility master plans, campus utility studies, and infrastructure-modernization programs.
Coordinate mechanical systems with electrical, plumbing, fire protection, fire alarm, architectural, structural, civil, lighting, technology, security, and specialty-consultant teams.
Participate in BIM coordination and clash-detection reviews.
Confirm that mechanical rooms, shafts, louvers, equipment clearances, access paths, and service spaces are properly incorporated.
Coordinate electrical characteristics and emergency-power requirements for mechanical equipment.
Coordinate drains, makeup water, gas, fuel oil, and condensate requirements with plumbing engineers.
Coordinate fire and smoke dampers, smoke-control systems, and fire alarm interfaces.
Coordinate equipment weights, vibration isolation, structural support, openings, and roof penetrations.
Resolve interdisciplinary conflicts before construction.
Help architects and owners understand the spatial, acoustic, aesthetic, and operational effects of mechanical systems.
Develop HVAC control sequences and building automation system requirements.
Coordinate control points, sensors, safeties, alarms, trending, scheduling, and system interfaces.
Develop sequences for central plants, air-handling systems, terminal units, heat pumps, and energy-recovery systems.
Integrate energy optimization, demand control, equipment staging, and reset strategies.
Coordinate controls with electrical, fire alarm, life-safety, and commissioning professionals.
Review building automation submittals and control diagrams.
Participate in functional testing and system troubleshooting.
Confirm that control sequences support energy performance, occupant comfort, and safe operation.
Lead discipline-specific QA/QC reviews at major project milestones.
Review drawings, specifications, calculations, reports, equipment selections, and agency submissions.
Verify system sizing, energy compliance, interdisciplinary coordination, and constructability.
Confirm that project requirements and owner standards are properly incorporated.
Track review comments and verify that required revisions are completed.
Identify errors, omissions, conflicts, and professional-liability risks before documents are issued.
Develop and maintain standardized details, calculation templates, specifications, design procedures, and quality-control checklists.
Promote consistent engineering practices across project teams and offices.
Participate in peer reviews and independent technical evaluations.
Integrate energy efficiency and sustainability goals into mechanical-system designs.
Support LEED, WELL, ENERGY STAR, Passive House, and other building-performance initiatives when applicable.
Evaluate high-efficiency equipment, energy recovery, heat recovery, variable-speed pumping, demand-control ventilation, and advanced controls.
Collaborate with energy modeling and commissioning professionals.
Develop energy-conservation measures and system-optimization recommendations.
Participate in owner’s project requirements and basis-of-design development.
Respond to commissioning comments and support functional performance testing.
Review testing, adjusting, and balancing reports.
Help resolve system-performance issues during commissioning and occupancy.
Serve as a senior mechanical engineering contact for clients, architects, developers, owners, contractors, and consultants.
Lead technical discussions during client meetings, presentations, and design workshops.
Explain complex HVAC, energy, electrification, and code considerations to technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
Help clients evaluate system alternatives, infrastructure investments, operational requirements, and lifecycle costs.
Coordinate with public agencies, utilities, contractors, commissioning providers, and equipment manufacturers.
Build trusted relationships that support client satisfaction and repeat assignments.
Represent MGE professionally in meetings with owners, agencies, contractors, and industry partners.
Provide responsive technical guidance when project conditions or client priorities change.
Provide senior engineering leadership during bidding, construction, testing, commissioning, and closeout.
Review equipment submittals, shop drawings, controls submittals, testing procedures, substitutions, and contractor proposals.
Respond to requests for information and resolve unforeseen field conditions.
Conduct site visits and field observations to evaluate construction progress and compliance.
Participate in preconstruction meetings, coordination meetings, equipment startups, punch-list inspections, and commissioning activities.
Evaluate change-order requests for scope, technical merit, and cost reasonableness.
Review record drawings, operating manuals, training documentation, and closeout materials.
Lead, mentor, and develop mechanical engineers, designers, and BIM/Revit staff.
Provide technical guidance on HVAC systems, codes, calculations, equipment selection, controls, specifications, and construction practices.
Review team members’ work and provide clear, constructive feedback.
Help junior professionals strengthen their engineering judgment and client communication skills.
Support internal training, technical workshops, and knowledge-sharing programs.
Assist employees pursuing EIT certification, PE licensure, LEED credentials, or other professional designations.
Promote accountability, collaboration, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
Help identify and develop future technical and project leaders.
Provide technical input for proposals, qualifications packages, interviews, and project pursuits.
Assist with developing scopes of work, project schedules, staffing plans, and fee estimates.
Identify project risks, assumptions, exclusions, and required specialty services.
Participate in client presentations and interviews as a senior technical representative.
Support relationship development with architects, developers, owners, contractors, institutions, and public agencies.
Identify opportunities to expand services with existing clients.
Contribute to the continued growth and reputation of MGE’s mechanical engineering practice.