Senior Commissioning Engineer

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

The Engineering Services Department (ES) within Facilities Services provides energy management and engineering support to the UNC Chapel Hill campus, a highly complex campus with a large number of buildings and structures. ES leads energy management and water conservation efforts, supports building commissioning services, provides engineering expertise for the campus on all engineering facets, and supports facilities operation and maintenance teams.

As part of the Energy Management unit, the Senior Commissioning Engineer focuses on commissioning efforts to achieve efficient operation of building systems and subsystems, ensuring reduced energy and water consumption on campus. The incumbent works closely with other engineers in the unit, serves as the University’s steward and advocate for proper commissioning efforts, and is the primary subject matter expert in commissioning for new constructions, renovations, repairs and all commissioning activities at existing facilities—including re‑commissioning, retro‑commissioning, and continuous commissioning.

The Senior Commissioning Engineer is responsible for the development of commissioning scope of work on capital building projects, qualification‑based selection of third‑party commissioning agents, contract negotiation, and oversight of the work. Tasks include review of plans from designers, equipment submittals, assistance with development of basis of design documents, coordination of functional testing and system training, and liaison between project team, UNC Facilities, and end users.

The engineer also provides direct commissioning services and retro‑commissioning services for smaller capital building projects, including control schematic development, BAS functional testing, troubleshooting, and training. Responsibilities include interface with complex mechanical and control systems supporting research lab space, including high‑containment (BSL‑3) labs and lab animal vivaria. The incumbent implements and manages a robust continuous commissioning program using building automation systems and fault detection and diagnostic (FDD) systems campus‑wide, creating rules, identifying control points, integrating control points with FDD software (e.g., Skyspark), and reviewing program effectiveness semi‑annually.

The engineer identifies and analyzes new energy and water conservation projects, performs scoping and life‑cycle cost analysis, conducts building audits and drawing reviews to develop fundable projects with cost estimations and savings calculations. Familiarity with building energy modeling software (Trane Trace, BIN calculations) is a plus. The engineer partners with Engineering and other units within UNC Facilities Services during implementation of energy conservation measures, optimizes HVAC systems, ensures projects are completed under budget and on schedule, tracks issues in an issues log, and records and shares lessons learned.

The engineer also provides technical support to building control technicians and EMCS system operators and acts as a mentor/resource to lower‑level employees.

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline related to the assignment or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Some positions may require licensure by the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors. All degrees must be from appropriately accredited institutions.

Substantial knowledge of professional engineering theory, techniques, practices, procedures, building codes and laws, and skills in applying these for problem‑solving, system design, and identification of energy conservation opportunities. Thorough knowledge and understanding of concepts, practices, and theories used in the engineering specialty area, with the ability to use them in practice. Ability to evaluate and approve moderately complex program/project specifications for compliance with engineering principles, standards, codes and design needs.

Ability to manage moderately complex programs/projects, troubleshoot…