Lead Mechanical Engineer - Buildings

This Opportunity

Be involved in projects with our Property & Buildings Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our clients' objectives and solves their challenges.

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Lead Mechanical Engineer for our Irvine, CA office. The ideal candidate will bring strong building systems design experience, technical leadership capabilities, and a preference for experience supporting healthcare facilities and other complex building environments.

In this role, you will lead and support the design of HVAC and mechanical building systems, including air distribution, central utility plants, hydronic systems, plumbing, controls, and energy-efficient solutions. You will work closely with architects, engineers, contractors, owners, and other stakeholders throughout design and construction while providing technical guidance and mentorship to junior staff.

Your Impact

• Serve as a lead mechanical engineer for complex Property & Buildings projects, with an emphasis on healthcare and other technically demanding facilities.
• Lead the design of HVAC systems including air distribution, hydronic systems, central plants, automated temperature controls, and energy-efficient building systems.
• Develop and review mechanical drawings, specifications, calculations, equipment selections, schedules, and design documentation.
• Integrate complex mechanical engineering requirements into multidisciplinary facility designs.
• Coordinate mechanical design activities with architectural, structural, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and other disciplines.
• Provide technical oversight and QA/QC reviews of mechanical designs and deliverables.
• Participate in projects from concept and schematic design through design development, construction documents, and construction administration.
• Survey and evaluate existing building conditions and develop recommendations for renovations, upgrades, and new systems.
• Attend client and project meetings and clearly communicate mechanical engineering concepts, recommendations, and design decisions.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, architects, contractors, vendors, and manufacturers.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to junior engineers and designers.
• Support project managers with scopes, schedules, budgets, and coordination of mechanical deliverables.
• Assist with proposals, pursuits, presentations, and other business development activities.
• Remain current with mechanical engineering practices, building codes, sustainability initiatives, and emerging technologies.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources, and conduct, and adhere to WSP's Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Architectural Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• 7+ years of relevant post-education experience in mechanical engineering and building systems design. 
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required, or ability to obtain California PE registration through reciprocity as appropriate.
• Demonstrated experience designing HVAC and mechanical systems for commercial, institutional, healthcare, laboratory, higher education, or other complex building environments.
• Strong knowledge of air distribution, hydronic systems, central plant systems, plumbing, controls, equipment selection, load calculations, and building energy performance.
• Experience leading mechanical design efforts and coordinating work across multidisciplinary project teams.
• Working knowledge of relevant building, mechanical, and energy codes and industry standards.
• Proficiency with Revit and AutoCAD and familiarity with mechanical engineering analysis and load calculation software. 
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with clients, project teams, and non-engineering stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor junior staff and provide technical direction with strong attention to QA/QC.
• Ability to manage priorities and deliver high-quality work across multiple concurrent projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• Healthcare project experience, particularly acute-care hospitals, medical office buildings, ambulatory care, laboratories, or other technically complex healthcare environments.
• Knowledge of healthcare design requirements and standards, including FGI, ASHRAE, and NFPA. 
• Experience with renovation projects in active or occupied healthcare environments.
• Experience managing small to mid-size projects or serving as the mechanical discipline lead on larger multidisciplinary projects. 
• Experience developing and maintaining relationships with healthcare clients, architects, and contractors.
• LEED accreditation or other sustainability credentials.
• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on a providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.  

Compensation: 

Expected Salary (all locations): $122,700 - $182,200 

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.