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Coffman Engineers

Multidisciplinary engineering and project management firm

HVAC Mechanical Engineer

Full-Time
$120k - $155k/yr
Senior, Expert
Bachelor's
Los Angeles, CA, USA
HybridHybrid work schedule.
Architecture & Civil EngineeringBuilding Services Engineering

About the job

Requirements
  • A minimum of 8 years of U.S. professional experience.
  • A bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
  • FE/EIT is required; California Mechanical Engineer PE registration is preferred.
  • Experience designing HVAC systems for building projects.
  • Familiarity with the California Mechanical Code, California Plumbing Code, California Energy Code, and applicable ASHRAE standards.
  • Experience preparing construction documents and engineering calculations using industry-standard software tools.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple assignments and responsibilities.
  • Experience coordinating with multidisciplinary project teams.
  • Experience with plumbing systems is a plus.
  • Experience with healthcare, aerospace, industrial, laboratory, higher education, K-12, civic, commercial, or institutional projects.
  • Experience with central plants, utility infrastructure, laboratory facilities, electrification, decarbonization, or energy efficiency projects.
  • Experience with construction administration and contractor coordination.
  • Experience with project management responsibilities.
  • Proficiency with Revit, AutoCAD, Bluebeam, and Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Experience preparing proposals, scopes, and fee estimates.
  • Experience collaborating with the Southern California architectural and engineering community.
  • Participation in ASHRAE or other professional organizations.
  • Experience performing field investigations and existing-building assessments.
  • Ability to follow through on commitments, take ownership of assigned work, organize and prioritize multiple assignments, think critically and analytically, solve problems, and maintain accuracy.
  • Ability to communicate with clients, project partners, and colleagues; build positive working relationships across disciplines and offices; and review colleagues’ work with constructive technical feedback.
Responsibilities
  • Lead the design and coordination of HVAC systems for a variety of building types.
  • Support plumbing and piping system design based on project needs and experience.
  • Serve as project manager and primary client contact for assigned projects.
  • Develop project scopes, fee estimates, schedules, and work plans.
  • Manage project budgets, schedules, deliverables, and multidisciplinary coordination.
  • Prepare and review engineering calculations, technical reports, plans, specifications, and construction documents.
  • Perform and review heating and cooling load calculations, equipment selections, and system analyses.
  • Coordinate mechanical systems with architectural, structural, civil, electrical, and fire protection disciplines.
  • Lead client meetings, project coordination meetings, site visits, field investigations, and construction meetings.
  • Review submittals, shop drawings, requests for information, and contractor requests during construction.
  • Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers and designers.
  • Review project team members’ work and provide constructive technical feedback.
  • Prepare proposals, project scopes, and fee estimates.
  • Support client development through responsive service, strong project delivery, and continued relationship-building.
  • Collaborate with other Coffman offices to balance workload and share technical expertise.
  • Contribute to the continued growth of the mechanical group and Downtown Los Angeles office.
Desired Qualifications
  • California Mechanical Engineer PE registration.
  • Experience coordinating with multidisciplinary project teams.
  • Experience with plumbing systems.
  • Experience with healthcare, aerospace, industrial, laboratory, higher education, K-12, civic, commercial, or institutional projects.
  • Experience with central plants, utility infrastructure, laboratory facilities, electrification, decarbonization, or energy efficiency projects.
  • Experience with construction administration and contractor coordination.
  • Experience with project management responsibilities.
  • Proficiency with Revit, AutoCAD, Bluebeam, and Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Experience preparing proposals, scopes, and fee estimates.
  • Experience collaborating with the Southern California architectural and engineering community.
  • Participation in ASHRAE or other professional organizations.
  • Experience performing field investigations and existing-building assessments.

About the company

Coffman Engineers provides engineering consulting services as both prime and sub-consultant on projects of all sizes across commercial, retail, institutional, government, industrial, and project/construction management sectors. Its teams bring together multiple disciplines—civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, fire protection, process piping, instrumentation and controls, corrosion control, project management, commissioning, and land surveying—to create integrated, multi-disciplinary project teams.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Seattle, Washington

Founded

1979

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • August 2026 Boise expansion deepens Coffman's Idaho presence amid industrial investment.
  • Justin Freeman's September 2026 Energy role targets oil, CCUS, hydrogen, and renewables.
  • April 2026 shareholder promotions widen ownership incentives and retention across Coffman's network.

What critics are saying

  • Repeated 2026 leadership transitions in Atlanta, Honolulu, and Guam strain client continuity.
  • Federal revenue depends on USACE and DoD awards, where protests delay backlog into 2027.
  • If principal departures outpace hiring, Coffman's people-driven model weakens and margins compress.

What makes Coffman Engineers unique

  • Coffman pairs local, high-touch service with 900 employees across 24 U.S. offices.
  • Internal promotions of Freeman, Ernst, and Unten signal deep leadership continuity.
  • Unified Energy, Federal, and Pacific teams bundle multidisciplinary delivery competitors struggle to match.

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Benefits

  • Hybrid Work Options
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • 401(k) Company Match

Company News

Newswire
Sep 1st, 2026
Coffman Engineers names Justin Freeman Vice President of Energy.

Coffman Engineers names Justin Freeman Vice President of Energy. Freeman to lead Coffman's unified Energy market strategy across traditional, renewable, and emerging energy sectors Summary: Coffman Engineers has named Justin Freeman, PE, as Vice President of Energy, bringing together the firm's oil and gas, alternative energy, and carbon capture and hydrogen services under a unified market strategy. ANCHORAGE, Alaska, September 1, 2026 (Newswire.com) - Coffman Engineers, Inc. (Coffman), a multidiscipline engineering consulting firm, has named Justin Freeman, PE, Vice President of Energy. In this role, Justin will lead Coffman's unified Energy market, bringing together the firm's Oil & Gas, Alternative Energy, and CCUS & Hydrogen services to strengthen collaboration, technical capabilities, and client service across the energy sector. As energy technologies and infrastructure continue to evolve, Coffman has aligned its traditional and emerging energy sectors under one Energy market. This structure enhances collaboration across offices and disciplines while helping clients navigate projects that increasingly incorporate multiple energy technologies and systems. Justin brings more than two decades of engineering and project leadership experience in the energy industry. During his career at Coffman, he has helped grow the firm's presence across conventional and emerging energy markets, supporting clients through complex projects while fostering collaboration among multidiscipline teams. "Justin brings a unique depth of experience in the energy sector and a firm understanding of all components of the project life cycle, from funding through commissioning", said Dave Ruff, CEO and COB, Coffman Engineers. "He has a clear vision for making the consulting experience a value multiplier for our clients. Justin's new role builds upon our long history of service to the industry and helps us solve even more complex problems for tomorrow's energy needs." "We see clients navigating a rapidly changing energy landscape that blends traditional and advanced technologies. Every project is unique," said Freeman. "By bringing our broad energy experience together under one strategy, we can better coordinate our disciplines and support clients as they evaluate opportunities across a range of energy technologies." Coffman's Energy team supports clients across a broad range of markets including oil and gas, transmission and distribution, renewable power generation, energy storage, advanced nuclear, bioenergy, carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS), hydrogen, chemical and heavy industrial facilities. By leveraging technical experience from across the firm's national network, Coffman helps clients develop and deliver resilient, reliable, and forward-looking energy solutions. About Coffman Engineers, Inc. Coffman Engineers is a multidiscipline engineering consulting firm that offers clients local, personalized services by integrating many engineering disciplines including civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, fire protection, and other specialties. Coffman has 900+ employees in 24 offices across the US committed to the team effort it takes to build a better world. Visit coffman.com or connect with us on social media.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 25th, 2026
Coffman Engineers opens Boise office to expand multidiscipline engineering services in Idaho

Coffman Engineers has opened a new office in Boise, Idaho, expanding its presence in the region. The multidiscipline engineering firm aims to strengthen support for existing clients and pursue new opportunities in a market experiencing significant economic and industrial investment. The Boise office will operate as an extension of Coffman's Bozeman location, providing local presence for clients throughout Idaho. The firm currently supports clients in federal, commercial, data centre, and advanced manufacturing sectors. The office is anchored by fire protection engineer Tysen Buster and electrical engineering principal Ben Maxwell, who relocated to lead development. Additional staff relocations are planned for coming months. Boise has emerged as a key market for Coffman, driven by economic expansion and population growth.

Digital Media Net
Aug 25th, 2026
Coffman Engineers opens Boise office and expands presence in Idaho.

Coffman Engineers opens Boise office and expands presence in Idaho. 18 seconds ago New office strengthens service for existing clients while creating opportunities for continued growth in the region Summary: Coffman Engineers opens a Boise, Idaho office, expanding its presence to serve clients and support growth in the region. BOISE, ID / ACCESS Newswire / August 25, 2026 / Coffman Engineers, Inc. (Coffman), a multidiscipline engineering firm, has opened a new office in Boise, Idaho. The new location strengthens Coffman's ability to support existing clients, expand multidiscipline engineering services in the region, and pursue new opportunities in a market that continues to experience significant economic and industrial investment. The Boise office is built on years of strategic planning and business development by Coffman's regional leadership. The location will operate as an extension of the Bozeman office while providing a strong local presence for clients throughout Idaho and the surrounding area. Boise has emerged as a key market for Coffman, driven by economic expansion, population increases, and continued investment across industries that align with Coffman's experience. Coffman is currently supporting clients in the federal, commercial, data center, and advanced manufacturing sectors and sees significant potential to deepen those relationships while expanding services to new clients. The office is anchored by team members already contributing to Coffman's work in the region. Fire Protection Engineer Tysen Buster, PE, has been serving clients in Boise while supporting Coffman's Bozeman team and Electrical Engineering Principal Ben Maxwell, PE, relocated to Boise and is helping lead the development of the office. Their experience, along with additional staff relocations in the coming months, helps establish a strong foundation for the Boise office. Support from the Bozeman team will further strengthen the office's ability to serve clients throughout the region. "Boise represents the kind of market where Coffman's long-term approach to growth can make a meaningful impact," said Scott Twele, PE, President of Coffman Engineers. "We've built strong relationships and project experience in the region, and establishing a dedicated office allows us to serve clients more effectively while creating a foundation for future growth." "Opening a Boise office is about people, both our clients and our team members," said Canaan Bontadelli, PE, Senior Vice President, Rocky Mountain Regional Manager, and Managing Principal of Coffman's Bozeman office. "We've already built momentum through team members who are living and working in the community, and this office allows us to deepen those connections. Being part of the community helps us better support clients, attract talented professionals, and create opportunities that benefit both our team and the region." About Coffman Engineers, Inc. Coffman Engineers is a multidiscipline engineering consulting firm that offers clients local, personalized services by integrating many engineering disciplines including civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, fire protection, and other specialties. Coffman has 900+ employees in 24 offices across the US committed to the team effort it takes to build a better world. Visit coffman.com or connect with us on social media.

Metro Atlanta CEO
Jul 8th, 2026
Coffman Engineers announces General Manager transition for Atlanta office.

Coffman Engineers announces General Manager transition for Atlanta office. Wednesday, July 8th, 2026 Coffman Engineers, Inc. (Coffman), a multidiscipline engineering consulting firm, announced that Mike Ernst, PE, has been named General Manager of the firm's Atlanta office. Ernst assumed the role on July 1, 2026, succeeding Eric Apolenis, PE, Senior Vice President and Southeast Regional Manager. Most recently, Ernst served as Atlanta Operations Manager and Fire Protection Engineering Discipline Manager. He joined the Atlanta office during its early years and has helped expand the firm's fire protection and fire forensics capabilities across the Southeast. This leadership transition supports Coffman's continued investment in the Southeast. As Ernst assumes responsibility for the Atlanta office, Apolenis will devote more attention to regional growth and emerging opportunities. "I've seen firsthand Mike's commitment to our team, our clients, and the quality of our work," said Apolenis. "He is a steady, respected leader who has helped shape the Atlanta office. This transition strengthens leadership capacity for the office and allows us to expand our focus on regional opportunities." "Having been part of the Atlanta office since its inception, it's incredibly rewarding to step into this position," said Ernst. "I'm grateful for the team that has helped build such a strong office and I'm excited to lead us into the future. Together, we will continue strengthening client relationships, developing our people, and pursuing new opportunities for growth across the Atlanta market." Continuity for clients and project teams remains a priority throughout the transition, and Ernst has the full support of regional leadership as he assumes his new role.

Daily Journal of Commerce
Jun 24th, 2026
SEAW hosts inaugural Seattle awards.

SEAW hosts inaugural Seattle awards. Journal Staff Reporter Coffman Engineers won the People's Choice Award at the SEAW inaugural Seattle chapter awards for its work at Lightwell Hotel in Hood River, Oregon. The Seattle chapter of the Structural Engineers Association of Washington (SEAW) held its inaugural SEAW Seattle awards ceremony on June 4. Structural engineers, industry partners and emerging professionals gathered from across the state to celebrate "significant structural engineering achievements" of Seattle chapter members.