Mechanical Engineer – Energy & Utility

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.

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 this role of Mechanical Engineer 3 – Energy and Utility
, as part of a multidisciplinary engineering and construction team, you will develop and integrate behind‑the‑meter and grid‑connected natural gas‑fired generation systems and associated infrastructure for mission‑critical and industrial facilities. This role supports the delivery of integrated energy systems, bridging power generation, fuel infrastructure, and mission‑critical facility requirements. Documents include drawings, specifications, product selection, installation sequence planning, and commissioning testing/commissioning scripts.

• Maintain design standards, specifications, and criteria for projects, including power generation systems such as RICE, combustion turbines, and combined cycle systems
• Fuel gas – pressure regulation, gas conditioning, metering and custody transfer
• Cooling systems – air and water cooled, heat exchangers
• Piping systems – high pressure gas, steam, and condensate
• Auxiliary systems including fire protection, compressed air, drain, and vent
• Define and support implementation of mechanical system inputs to plant control systems, including startup/shutdown sequencing, trip logic, interlocks, and integration with PLC/DCS‑based control architectures
• Lead and coordinate natural gas utility interconnections, including pipeline tie‑ins, pressure class evaluation, redundancy strategies, and coordination with interstate and intrastate gas providers
• Design and evaluate thermal rejection systems, including cooling towers, air‑cooled condensers, and water treatment systems, with consideration for site constraints and sustainability requirements
• Support environmental permitting efforts, including air emissions, thermal discharge, and noise considerations, in coordination with environmental consultants and regulatory agencies
• Coordinate with electrical engineering teams to align mechanical system performance (ramp rates, startup times, thermal constraints) with grid interconnection and dispatch requirements
• Support construction and commissioning activities, including equipment setting and alignment, piping system QA/QC, system turnover, flushing and cleaning procedures, and performance testing of generation systems
• Represent the Company in interactions with customers, contractors, suppliers, and collaborate with other project team members
• Perform site survey, calculations, evaluations, equipment selection, equipment specification, system design, and system layout for project proposal and contract execution
• Thermal modeling and cycle analysis
• Develop sustainable designs for high performance systems for power generation, including RICE and combustion turbines, combined cycle systems, and balance of plant to support generation
• Produce construction contract drawings and specifications consistent with contract requirements and applicable industry codes and standards
• Address mechanical design, fabrication, construction, and commissioning issues
• Develop system sequence of operations, compliance matrices and other project support documentation
• Provide support for construction activities, including responses to requests for information, review of project equipment…