About The Position
WSP is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to join its Tunnel Systems Team in the New York City office. This role combines rigorous analysis with practical design of tunnel ventilation and fire-life safety systems for major road, rail, transit and other underground infrastructure projects. Work spans project phases from planning and concept studies through detailed design, construction support, testing and commissioning. The engineer will lead technical work, guide developing engineers and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams on complex infrastructure projects in the New York region and across the United States. The position involves leading and performing tunnel ventilation, smoke-control and fire-life safety analysis and design; developing ventilation concepts and criteria for normal, congested, emergency and fire conditions; and performing calculations for airflow, pressure losses, fan duty, equipment sizing, heat and contaminant control, and system performance. The role also includes developing and reviewing one-dimensional and computational fluid dynamics models, translating results into coordinated designs, preparing and reviewing engineering documents, and coordinating with other disciplines, clients and authorities. The engineer will plan discipline work, manage assigned scope, schedule and budget, provide technical direction and quality reviews, and contribute to proposals and the growth of WSP’s tunnel systems practice. The role is based at One Penn Plaza in New York City, with occasional travel within the United States. The final working arrangement is subject to applicable WSP business-line and office policy.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
- 10+ years of relevant engineering experience, including substantive experience in tunnel ventilation analysis and design.
- Professional Engineer license in New York, or the ability and commitment to obtain U.S. professional licensure.
- Demonstrated experience with ventilation systems for road tunnels, rail tunnels, transit facilities or comparable underground infrastructure.
- Proficiency with at least one tunnel airflow or CFD platform, such as SES, IDA Tunnel, ANSYS Fluent or FDS, and ability to review models and explain results clearly.
- Experience developing engineering calculations, technical reports, design criteria, drawings and specifications.
- Ability to lead technical tasks, coordinate across disciplines and deliver high-quality work within agreed scope, schedule and budget.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to present technical findings to clients and multidisciplinary teams.
- Ability to travel occasionally for meetings, site visits, field measurements, inspections, testing or commissioning.
- Legal authorization to work in the United States at the time of employment.
- Employment is contingent upon meeting applicable WSP pre-employment requirements and project-specific client requirements.
- A valid driver’s license and satisfactory motor vehicle record may be required where driving is an essential project duty.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree or PhD in mechanical engineering, fire protection engineering, fire safety engineering or a related field.
- Experience across both analysis and physical system design, including selection or specification of tunnel ventilation fans, dampers, ductwork, shafts, controls and related equipment.
- Experience with testing and commissioning tunnel ventilation, station ventilation or smoke-control systems.
- Programming or data-analysis experience using Python, Visual Basic, C/C++, Fortran or similar tools.
- Experience mentoring engineers, leading small technical teams, supporting proposals or working in alternative-delivery environments.
Responsibilities
- Lead and perform analysis and design of tunnel ventilation, smoke-control and fire-life safety systems for road, rail and transit projects.
- Develop ventilation concepts, operating modes and design criteria for normal, congested, emergency and fire scenarios.
- Perform engineering calculations for airflow, pressure losses, fan duty, equipment sizing, heat and contaminant control, and system performance.
- Build, review and interpret one-dimensional and computational fluid dynamics models using tools such as SES, IDA Tunnel, ANSYS Fluent and FDS.
- Translate analysis results into coordinated, buildable designs, including fan plants, shafts, ductwork, dampers, sound attenuation, controls interfaces and associated mechanical systems.
- Prepare and review basis-of-design documents, technical memoranda, reports, calculations, specifications, drawings and design packages.
- Apply relevant project criteria and standards, including NFPA 130 and NFPA 502 where applicable.
- Coordinate ventilation and fire-life safety requirements with civil, structural, architectural, electrical, controls, fire protection and operations disciplines.
- Support client and authority meetings, technical workshops, field investigations, construction-phase services, system testing and commissioning.
- Plan discipline work, manage assigned scope, schedule and budget, and provide technical direction and quality reviews for less-experienced staff.
- Contribute to proposals, scopes of work, level-of-effort estimates and the continued growth of WSP’s tunnel systems practice.
- Travel occasionally for meetings, site visits, field measurements, inspections, testing or commissioning.
Benefits
- Medical coverage
- Dental coverage
- Vision coverage
- Disability coverage
- Life insurance
- Retirement savings
- Paid sick leave
- Paid vacation or other personal time
- Paid parental leave
- Paid time off for bereavement, voting and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
