Mechanical Engineer

Virginia Tech•Blacksburg, VA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Seeking an entry-level Mechanical Engineer to support innovative research and campus projects at a leading university. Reporting to the Associate Director of Engineering within the Office of Facilities University Engineer, the Mechanical Engineer serves as a key technical resource for the University’s mechanical infrastructure, building systems, and campus-wide energy performance. Working collaboratively with the Office of Energy Management, this position supports the identification, design, and implementation of energy efficiency measures that reduce energy costs, improve building performance, and advance campus sustainability goals. The engineer provides project management and technical oversight across capital, renovation, and operational projects—ensuring systems are efficient, resilient, and aligned with the University’s design and construction standards. A strong understanding of centralized steam and chilled water generation and distribution systems serving a large campus is essential to support long-term energy, reliability, and system optimization strategies.

Requirements

B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, or a Bachelors degree in engineering combined with relevant mechanical engineering industry experience.
Experience in mechanical design, analysis, condition assessment, project engineering, and facilities engineering.
Thorough knowledge of engineering principles and techniques of engineering planning; usage of equipment and materials used in engineering operations: specialized subjects used in the fields of engineering, such as mathematics, statistics, mechanics, power, physics, and chemistry; and of the strength of materials.
Ability to apply engineering principles to practical engineering problems and procedures; to use engineering equipment and tools, including computer applications; to make, read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
Ability to handle multiple priorities; manage contracts; analyze problems and negotiate positive solutions; make defensible, unsupervised administrative decisions and recommendations; and provide technical and policy support.
Experience with major construction work, having onsite experience with contractors, and a basic understanding of building construction.
Excellent communication and presentation skills with a highly diverse audience including design professionals, contractors, and others. May include preparing reports, analyzing technical issues, break down complex issues etc.

Nice To Haves

Working towards the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and working toward a PE licensure, with the ability to obtain a Virginia license within 3-4 years.
Engineering operations experience for a large, research institution or other organization with a large number and variety of facilities, including utilities.
Experience with HVAC system commissioning and controls concepts and strategies.
Experience with energy-efficient design concepts and sustainable construction strategies.
Work experience with the management of complex capital construction projects, HVAC systems, controls and tracking of project budgets to align with critical project closeout schedules.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the Office of Energy Management to identify, design, and implement energy efficiency measures (EEMs) that improve performance and reduce energy costs across campus facilities.
Provide mechanical engineering review and support for capital, renovation, and maintenance reserve projects to ensure compliance with VT Design and Construction Standards.
Lead or support HVAC retro-commissioning, performance monitoring, and optimization through the Building Automation System (BAS).
Work in conjunction with shops and the Energy & Utility Service line to successfully complete retro- and re-commissioning projects that optimize building Energy Use Intensities (EUIs) while maintaining life safety and ventilation standards.
Apply expertise in centralized steam and chilled water generation and distribution systems to support system design, efficiency improvements, lifecycle planning, and operational reliability across the campus utility network.
Serve as a subject matter expert for building and utility mechanical systems including HVAC, chilled water, steam, compressed air, refrigeration, lighting, and building envelope performance.
Coordinate and oversee mechanical design reviews, commissioning activities, and project closeout documentation for new and retrofit construction.
Support the development, maintenance, and application of the University’s mechanical design and construction standards and asset management processes.
Provide technical guidance and field support to operations and maintenance teams to ensure systems function efficiently and meet code and performance standards.
Manage multiple projects concurrently, tracking budgets, schedules, and deliverables to meet critical funding and performance objectives.
Apply measurement and verification best practices to confirm that implemented energy measures achieve expected savings and outcomes.
Foster collaboration across Facilities Services, campus partners, and external consultants to promote high-performance buildings and continuous improvement in energy and mechanical system management.