Senior Mechanical Engineer - HVAC

At Salas O’Brien we tell our clients that we’re engineered for impact. This passion for making a difference applies just as much to our team as it does to our projects. That’s why we’re committed to living our values every day: inspiring, achieving, and connecting as shared owners of our success with a focus on a sustainable future.

Building for the long-term means that all of our team members can expect to work on amazing projects with a people-first approach to problem solving. It also means that each member of our team has truly limitless potential to build a unique, meaningful, and high-impact career—and they’ll receive great total rewards along the way.

About Us:

Founded in 1975, Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and professional services firm focused on achieving impact for our clients, our team, and the world. We know that tomorrow’s requirements are today’s opportunities, and we are here to design lasting solutions for pressing challenges.

We work across a variety of industries providing integrated engineering and consulting services. Our specialized experience includes design for data centers, healthcare, science and technology, high-rise buildings, clean energy, education, and other building types as well as structural and building sciences, infrastructure asset management, advanced robotics, and more.

Our technical expertise is paired with an exceptional team of business development, human resources, finance and accounting, information technology, and marketing professionals, all of whom play a key role in bringing our commitments to life every day.

Job Summary: Salas O'Brien's Plymouth, Michigan office is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to join a multi-discipline design team in a technical leadership role, focused on the design of HVAC, plumbing, and mechanical systems for new facilities, additions, and renovation projects. The Senior Mechanical Engineer will provide technical leadership in the creation of construction drawings and specifications, existing system studies, and master planning efforts, while mentoring less experienced engineers and supporting departmental QA/QC.

Qualified candidates will meet with clients, project teams, code officials, contractors, and others to address mechanical issues, develop effective working relationships, and represent Salas O'Brien as a subject matter expert. The project clientele includes higher education, healthcare, commercial, automotive and advanced manufacturing, science and technology, and municipal and institutional facilities.

Responsibilities:

• Develop designs for mechanical systems on assigned projects, exercising independent professional judgment and sealing construction documents.
• Lead the design of HVAC systems including air handling, energy recovery, hydronic heating and cooling, chilled water, hot water and steam distribution, and air-side and water-side equipment.
• Direct system design calculations, equipment selections, and schematic layouts for building HVAC and plumbing systems.
• Review and approve detailed design documents, engineering reports, specifications, and technical studies prepared by project team members.
• Perform HVAC load calculations and oversee load calculations performed by others, using industry-standard tools (e.g., Trane TRACE 3D Plus, Carrier HAP, IESVE).
• Lead field investigations, existing-building surveys, and documentation of existing HVAC and plumbing systems on complex or critical-facility projects.
• Establish HVAC and utility design parameters based on industry standards, client standards, and specific project requirements.

Coordination & Compliance

• Lead coordination of mechanical system design with other engineering disciplines, architects, and project stakeholders.
• Serve as a technical…