Senior Professional Engineer, Mechanical - Food & Beverage Processing

TKDA • Downers Grove, IL

19d • Hybrid

About The Position

TKDA, a 100% employee-owned engineering, architecture, and design firm, is seeking a Senior Professional Mechanical Engineer / Project Manager for its Facilities Engineering division. This senior-level role leads the planning, design, and delivery of complex mechanical systems for industrial, food and beverage, manufacturing, agricultural processing, educational, commercial, and public-sector facilities. The position combines technical leadership and project management, guiding projects from initial planning and conceptual design through construction completion. Projects may involve HVAC, industrial ventilation, plumbing and piping, central utility plants, process utilities, steam and compressed air systems, and facility infrastructure improvements.

As part of TKDA's Seller-Doer culture, the role also supports business development by strengthening client relationships, identifying opportunities, supporting proposals, and expanding TKDA's presence in industrial and food and beverage markets. The work arrangement is hybrid: in the office Tuesday through Thursday and working from home Monday and Friday. Travel of up to 10% is required for client meetings, site visits, and construction support.

TKDA is a 100% employee-owned firm with more than 430 professionals. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship. A standard pre-employment background screening is required following acceptance of a conditional offer.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited college or university.
• 10–20 years of progressive professional experience in mechanical engineering and facility systems design.
• Significant experience designing HVAC, plumbing, piping, industrial ventilation, and process-related systems for industrial, manufacturing, food and beverage, agricultural processing, commercial, and institutional facilities.
• Demonstrated project management experience, including responsibility for project scope, schedule, budget, client communication, and multidisciplinary team coordination.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license, or ability to obtain reciprocal licensure in project states.
• Experience leading projects through planning, design, bidding, construction, and commissioning phases.
• Strong understanding of mechanical building systems, process utility systems, and facility infrastructure improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop engineers and designers.
• Experience conducting and leading QA/QC reviews.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to interact directly with clients and project stakeholders.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel up to 10% for client meetings, site visits, and construction support.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship.
• Ability to complete required pre-employment screening and any background, security, and drug testing requested by TKDA, clients, or state and federal agencies.

Nice To Haves

• Experience serving food and beverage manufacturers, industrial manufacturing clients, or agricultural processing facilities.
• Experience designing central utility plants.
• Experience designing boiler and chiller systems.
• Experience designing steam and condensate systems.
• Experience designing compressed air systems.
• Experience designing process utility infrastructure.
• Experience designing refrigeration systems.
• Experience designing sanitary process piping systems.
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD, Revit MEP, and/or Plant 3D.
• Experience with energy modeling software such as TRACE 3D Plus or similar platforms.
• Experience preparing PFDs, P&IDs, equipment layouts, process utility plans, and mechanical system diagrams.
• Professional registration in additional states, particularly Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, or South Dakota.
• Experience supporting business development, proposal preparation, and client account growth.
• LEED accreditation or other sustainability-focused credentials.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, design, and delivery of complex mechanical systems for facilities.
• Manage projects from initial planning and conceptual design through construction completion.
• Oversee project scope, schedule, budget, client communication, and multidisciplinary team coordination.
• Design mechanical systems, potentially including HVAC, industrial ventilation, plumbing and piping, central utility plants, process utilities, steam and compressed air systems, and facility infrastructure improvements.
• Lead projects through planning, design, bidding, construction, and commissioning phases.
• Conduct and lead quality assurance and quality control reviews.
• Mentor and develop engineers and designers.
• Coordinate with clients, project stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Support business development by strengthening existing client relationships, identifying new opportunities, supporting proposals, and helping expand the firm's presence in industrial and food and beverage markets.
• Travel up to 10% for client meetings, site visits, and construction support.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance from day one.
• Eligibility for discretionary bonuses through the annual incentive plan.
• Monthly employer HSA contributions for employees who choose an HSA-eligible plan.
• Employer matching on 401(k) deferrals.
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), funded entirely by company profits.
• Paid time off accrued based on professional experience.
• Eight paid holidays per year.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior