University of Virginia – Senior Energy & Sustainability Engineer

University of Virginia – Senior Energy & Sustainability Engineer

This is a hands-on engineering + sustainability execution role embedded within the University of Virginia’s Office for Sustainability.

By The Sustainability Grid Desk

Salary $110,000 – $118,000

Setting Hybrid (on-site required; not fully remote)

Location Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

Type Full time

Deadline Open until filled

You will work directly on real buildings, real systems, and measurable emissions reductions
—not just policy or strategy.

The mission is concrete:
Help UVA achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 and become fossil fuel-free by 2050
.

Lead building efficiency projects from concept to completion
Define scope, budgets, timelines, and ROI (energy cost recovery)
Manage contractors, permitting, and stakeholder coordination

Oversee implementation and ensure delivery quality

Conduct energy audits and retro-commissioning
Diagnose HVAC and building system inefficiencies

Design and implement energy conservation measures

Perform airflow, ventilation, and HVAC control calculations

Develop lighting plans and system upgrades

Work with building automation systems (e.g., Metasys, WebCTRL)
Optimize energy use through controls and data analysis

Ensure compliance with green building standards

Act as the technical point of contact for projects
Coordinate with campus stakeholders, occupants, and contractors

Translate engineering insights into actionable decisions

You are a technical problem-solver who likes seeing physical impact
.

Strong candidates:

Have 7+ years of experience in HVAC, energy engineering, or building systems

Hold (or are close to) a Professional Engineer (PE) license

Understand building systems deeply (HVAC, controls, lighting)

Have experience with commissioning, energy audits, or performance contracting

Can manage projects while also doing technical analysis

• PE (strongly preferred)
• LEED Accreditation
• Commissioning certifications (BCxP, CCP)

Experience with:

• Labs or healthcare HVAC systems
• Energy modeling tools
• Building automation systems

Direct, measurable climate impact (buildings, energy savings, emissions)

Ownership over projects affecting dozens of facilities

A strong compensation + benefits package (public sector + university perks)

A role blending engineering, sustainability, and project leadership

22+ days PTO + 13 holidays

Health coverage + wellness incentives

Unlike policy or advisory roles, this position operates at the implementation layer
:

• You reduce emissions by fixing systems
• You save energy through engineering decisions
• You create impact that can be measured in real time

UVA’s Building Efficiency Program has already:

• Upgraded 75+ buildings
• Saved $3.7M in one year alone

You would directly contribute to scaling that impact.