Thermal Plant / Central Utility Plant Subject Matter Expert – Aviation & Infrastructure – PA/MD/NJ/DE

CMTS LLC•Philadelphia, PA

61d•$135,000 - $150,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Thermal Plant / Central Utility Plant (CUP) SME provides technical leadership for the planning, design, integration, commissioning, and performance optimization of airport central utility systems that produce and distribute heating and cooling to terminal and airfield facilities. This includes chilled water plants, heating hot water systems, boilers, chillers, cooling towers, thermal energy storage, and associated mechanical, electrical, and controls infrastructure. The SME ensures CUP systems are properly sized, resilient, and energy-efficient to support critical airport operations under peak and emergency conditions. They coordinate system interfaces with terminal HVAC systems, building automation systems, and energy management platforms while ensuring compliance with applicable codes, sustainability goals, and airport reliability standards. The role also supports construction oversight, testing, commissioning, and operational readiness to ensure long-term system performance and maintainability.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in civil, mechanical or electrical engineering with 10 years of experience or 20 years of experience working with Thermal Plant / Central Utility Plant (CUP)
Professional Engineer (PE) license in Mechanical Engineering preferred.
Minimum 15+ years of experience in central utility plant and large-scale thermal systems design, construction, and commissioning.
Extensive experience with chilled water plants, including chiller selection, sequencing, optimization, and lifecycle performance.
Strong background in steam and/or hot water systems, including boilers, heat exchangers, and thermal energy distribution systems.
Experience with central utility distribution systems serving large facilities such as airports, hospitals, campuses, or mixed-use infrastructure.
Demonstrated expertise in plant optimization, energy efficiency strategies, and operational performance tuning.
Strong knowledge of building automation systems (BAS) and integration with central plant controls and monitoring platforms.
Experience developing and reviewing technical specifications, system layouts, and control sequences for thermal utility systems.
Proficiency in system capacity planning, load analysis, redundancy strategies, and resiliency design.
Experience supporting commissioning activities, functional testing, and performance verification of central utility plants.
Familiarity with thermal energy storage systems, pumping systems, and hydronic distribution design principles.
Ability to coordinate across mechanical, electrical, controls, and architectural disciplines on complex infrastructure projects.
Strong understanding of code compliance, sustainability goals, and energy management best practices.
Excellent communication and stakeholder coordination skills for large-scale capital improvement programs.
Procore
e-Builder
Microsoft 365
Autodesk Construction Cloud / BIM 360
Bluebeam Revu

Responsibilities

Lead the planning, design review, and technical oversight of central utility plant systems supporting airport infrastructure.
Develop and review design criteria, system layouts, load analyses, and equipment selections for chilled water and heating systems.
Provide technical leadership for chilled water plants, including chillers, cooling towers, pumps, and distribution systems.
Oversee design and performance of steam and/or hot water systems, including boilers, heat exchangers, and associated piping networks.
Ensure central utility plant capacity, redundancy, and resiliency meet current and future airport demand requirements.
Review and validate plant optimization strategies, including sequencing, load management, and energy efficiency measures.
Evaluate integration of central plant systems with building automation systems (BAS) and energy management platforms.
Review contractor submittals, shop drawings, equipment data, and control sequences for compliance with design intent.
Support development and verification of control strategies, sequence of operations, and system programming requirements.
Participate in factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), integrated systems testing, and commissioning activities.
Oversee performance testing and optimization of plant systems to ensure efficiency, reliability, and operational stability.
Identify and resolve technical issues related to system performance, controls integration, and equipment operation.
Coordinate with mechanical, electrical, controls, and construction teams to ensure cohesive system implementation.
Support operational readiness, training, and transition of central utility plant systems to airport operations teams.