Mechanical Engineer 3 - Energy & Utility

Overview

About M.C. Dean

M.C. Dean is Building Intelligence. We design, build, operate, and maintain cyber-physical solutions for the nation’s most mission-critical facilities, secure environments, complex infrastructure, and global enterprises.  With over 7,000 employees, our capabilities span electrical, electronic security, telecommunications, life safety, automation and controls, audiovisual, and IT systems. Headquarters in Tysons, Virginia, M.C. Dean delivers resilient, secure, and innovative power and technology solutions through engineering expertise and smart systems integration.

Why Join Us?

Our people are passionate about engineering innovation that improves lives and drives impactful change. Guided by our core values—agility, expertise, and trust—we foster a collaborative and forward-thinking work environment.  At M.C. Dean, we are committed to building the next generation of technical leaders in electrical, engineering, and cybersecurity industries. 

In the role of Mechanical Engineer 3 – Power Generation & Utility Infrastructure, you will help deliver distributed and central utility-scale energy solutions that support M.C. Dean’s expansion in the power sector. Working within a multidisciplinary EPC/design-build environment, you will develop mechanical designs for behind-the-meter and grid-connected generation facilities and associated balance-of-plant systems for mission-critical, industrial, and utility-facing applications. Core outputs include engineering studies, design packages, equipment specifications, vendor coordination, construction support, and commissioning documentation that enable safe, reliable, and maintainable project delivery.

This position is intended for an experienced mechanical engineer who can independently execute workstreams of moderate complexity and contribute technical leadership on larger power and utility infrastructure programs. You are expected to apply sound engineering judgment, identify and mitigate technical risks, coordinate effectively across engineering, procurement, construction, and operations stakeholders, and develop practical solutions with limited to moderate oversight.

You will have access to senior technical leaders, project delivery teams, and the tools required to succeed, including relevant codes, standards, and engineering software. Success in this role requires curiosity, accountability, and the ability to translate technical requirements into designs that support constructability, operability, and long-term asset performance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain mechanical design standards, specifications, and criteria for power generation and utility infrastructure projects, including the following systems:
  • Reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE), combustion turbine, and combined-cycle generation systems
  • Fuel gas systems, including pressure regulation, conditioning, metering, and custody transfer
  • Thermal management and heat rejection systems, including air-cooled and water-cooled equipment, heat exchangers, and balance-of-plant auxiliaries
  • High-pressure gas, steam, condensate, and process piping systems
  • Auxiliary systems including fire protection interfaces, compressed air, drains, vents, and mechanical support systems
  • Mechanical inputs to plant control systems, including startup and shutdown sequences, interlocks, trip logic, and PLC/DCS integration requirements
• Perform site assessments, engineering calculations, equipment sizing and selection, and system layouts for proposals and project execution.
• Lead or support mechanical design development from concept through issued-for-construction documentation, including drawings, specifications, datasheets, and technical bid evaluations.
• Coordinate natural gas utility interconnections, including pipeline tie-ins, pressure class assessments, redundancy strategies, and interface management with interstate and intrastate gas providers.
• Evaluate generation system performance, including thermal modeling, cycle analysis, startup characteristics, and operating constraints, to support project development and design optimization.
• Design and evaluate cooling and thermal rejection systems with consideration for site conditions, water availability, environmental constraints, and long-term operability.
• Support permitting and regulatory compliance efforts related to air emissions, noise, thermal discharge, and applicable jurisdictional requirements in coordination with internal teams and external consultants.
• Coordinate with electrical, controls, civil, and structural disciplines to align mechanical system design with interconnection requirements, constructability, and commissioning objectives.
• Develop sequence of operations, compliance matrices, testing procedures, and turnover documentation to support construction, startup, and client handover.
• Provide construction-phase engineering support, including responses to RFIs, submittal reviews, field issue resolution, QA/QC coordination, and performance testing support.
• Participate in equipment setting and alignment reviews, piping walkdowns, flushing and cleaning procedures, startup readiness activities, and commissioning of generation systems.
• Represent M.C. Dean in interactions with clients, OEMs, contractors, utilities, regulators, and other project stakeholders.
• Support project planning by helping define engineering scope, deliverables, schedule priorities, and budget assumptions, and execute assigned work within those parameters.
• Perform quality reviews of your work product and provide technical review of deliverables prepared by others.
• Mentor junior engineers and designers and help coordinate delegated tasks across the project team.
• Actively participate in client, owner, architect/engineer, contractor, and internal coordination meetings as required.
• Travel to project sites as required, including potential short-term assignments in support of construction and commissioning.
• Manage priorities effectively across multiple concurrent projects and keep project leadership informed of key technical decisions, risks, and client-facing issues.
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and professional development in power generation, utility infrastructure, and applicable codes and standards.

Qualifications

Required Education, Experience, & Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline required.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in the design, detailed engineering, field engineering, startup, or commissioning of power generation, utility infrastructure, industrial energy, or comparable process-mechanical systems.
• Working knowledge of applicable codes, standards, and good engineering practices relevant to mechanical systems in power and utility environments.
• Experience coordinating across multidisciplinary project teams in an EPC, design-build, consulting engineering, utility, or industrial project environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills.

Preferred Experience & Skills:

• Engineer in Training (EIT) certification, successful completion of the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, or Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Experience with reciprocating engines, combustion turbines, HRSGs, combined-cycle systems, or related balance-of-plant mechanical systems.
• Experience supporting utility interconnections, fuel gas systems, commissioning, or startup planning for generation assets.
• Proficiency with current engineering and design tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, BIM, and equipment/vendor documentation workflows.
• Relevant industry certifications such as CEM, DBIA, or other power/energy project delivery credentials.

• Ability to succeed in a fast-paced EPC/design-build environment with competing priorities and evolving project needs.
• Ability to review technical information on screen and in written form for extended periods.
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly in meetings, presentations, and written documentation.
• Ability to apply engineering principles and judgment to complex, real-world project challenges.
• Ability to participate in field assignments, site walks, and project meetings at active job sites.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to project sites as required.

Abilities:

• Exposure to computer screens for an extended period of time.
• Sitting for extended periods of time.
• Reach by extending hands or arms in any direction.
• Have finger dexterity in order to manipulate objects with fingers rather than whole hands or arms, for example, using a keyboard.
• Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Identify and understand the speech of another person.

Pay Range

USD $104,240.00 - USD $130,300.00 /Yr.