Mechanical Design Engineer

What You Will Do

GFT is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to join our Building and Places Team in Chicago. This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at our Chicago office.

At GFT, the Mechanical team is dedicated to creating efficient, innovative solutions for mechanical systems, ensuring comfort and sustainability in every project. From energy‑efficient power systems to advanced HVAC and plumbing designs, our team contributes to a resilient and sustainable built environment, pushing the boundaries of building system design and optimizing performance while addressing the unique needs of each facility. Explore some of our signature projects.

We are seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer (HVAC) in our Chicago office. The candidate will be responsible for designing heating, ventilation, and air‑conditioning (HVAC) systems; plumbing systems; and may have experience with LiDAR scanning and point‑cloud integration to BIM, REVIT family creation, systems design and applications, economic evaluations, life‑cycle cost analyses, equipment selection, specifications authorship, construction estimating, construction administration, and commissioning of mechanical systems.

Projects involve public works, mass transit, commercial, educational, and federal facilities. Experience with supervising employees and sustainability certifications is a plus.

As a Mechanical Engineer at GFT you will provide technical support on design aspects on assigned projects. The successful candidate must demonstrate creativity, foresight, and mature engineering judgment in anticipating and solving problems.

• Design building HVAC and plumbing systems including calculations, layouts, sizing, equipment selections, specifications, and coordination.
• Lead and participate in meetings with clients, state agencies, city agencies, utility service representatives, and project teams.
• Deliver projects on time and within client budgets.
• Deliver projects in compliance with client and company quality control procedures and engineering guidelines.
• Daily interaction and collaboration on cross‑functional teams across multiple disciplines.
• Document work product in REVIT.
• Provide construction administration services; on‑site construction administration, shop drawing review, request for information response, and client meetings and coordination.
• Perform site visits, surveys/inspections to evaluate existing building mechanical systems.
• Participate in marketing efforts.
• Project and task management.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or architectural engineering with a mechanical focus and five or more years of relevant experience in the design of HVAC and plumbing systems.

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or architectural engineering with mechanical focus.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in the design of HVAC and plumbing systems.
• HVAC design skills including heating and cooling load and equipment performance (pumps, fans, compressors, boilers, chillers) calculation routines, systems documentation, and familiarity with ASHRAE guidelines.
• Plumbing design skills including water supply and drainage systems piping layouts and familiarity with ASPE guidelines.
• Knowledge of applicable codes.
• General knowledge base for building design and building services coordination, mechanical (HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection) systems layout within REVIT, and integration of BIM workflows in mechanical system design.
• Proficiency in the use of Office 365 applications.
• Excellent writing, oral communication, and presentation skills.
• Effective interpersonal communication skills, a team‑oriented disposition and work style, with cooperative work sharing and peer‑to‑peer mentoring as a daily habit.
• Personal inclination to learn and grow via internal training, external training, and senior staff mentorship.

The salary range for this role is $85,000 – $120,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.

• Hybrid (in‑person and remote) work environment.
• Comprehensive benefits package including…