Mechanical Engineering Department Leader

About Us

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $7.6 billion in revenue for 2024, Clayco specializes in the "art and science of building," providing fast track, efficient solutions for industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential related building projects.

Clayco Design and Engineering (CDE) was created to diversify and grow Clayco’s industrial business unit’s capabilities with a focus on efficiently delivering robust design-build architectural and engineering solutions. The Clayco Design and Engineering team brings a tremendous amount of engineering expertise to the Clayco enterprise from a wide array of industrial segments such as food & beverage, consumer products, manufacturing, and life-science products.

The Mechanical Engineering Department Leader will work directly with other leaders and a variety of team members, including principals and project leaders, to ensure the mechanical engineering team produces the highest quality work deliverables. This position will require high levels of energy and drive, possess the skill to execute complex projects and a desire to deliver outstanding work product to clients.

This person will lead a team of engineers and designers in the development of mechanical design documents and deliverables for all project phases (conceptual and detailed design, and construction documentation). The Mechanical Engineering Department Leader may execute work on multiple projects simultaneously as directed by project leaders.

• Work closely and coordinate with Industrial Process Engineering Management, Industrial Structural Engineering Management, and other Building Services Discipline Leads.
• Develop, Manage, and Support Building Systems Mechanical HVAC Engineers and Designers.
• Review of all mechanical HVAC and Controls Systems building design engineering work.
• Provide Mechanical Engineering leadership, review all mechanical engineering work and assure our team produces the highest quality work deliverables.
• Develop strong relationships within the Industrial Business Unit.
• Design building mechanical systems including water, chilled water, wastewater, HVAC, cooling towers/condensers, boiler/steam or hot water systems, compressed air, and other plumbing systems for custom, industrial applications.
• Completion of engineering calculations and oversight of mechanical design using Revit.
• Interface with vendors to accomplish equipment sizing, hydronic piping system design and selection of mechanical equipment.
• Develop specifications, interface with on-site project teams and inspect installations.

• BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET institution required.
• 10+ years of experience in Mechanical Engineering with proven experience leading and developing a team of engineers.
• Holding a P.E. Licensure in good standing is required. The ability to obtain and hold multi-state P.E. licensure is required. Current multi-state P.E. Licensure in good standing is a plus.
• Experience in the mechanical design elements of cGMP for manufacturing and distribution facilities for Food, Beverage, and Consumer Products. Knowledge/experience in Clean Rooms, Laboratories, Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Biotech, and Nutraceuticals is a plus.
• Knowledge/experience in refrigeration system design is a plus.
• Knowledge of proposals, construction contracts, AIA forms, and purchase orders.
• Strong leadership, effective communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Competitive nature/drive, looking to tackle extremely difficult challenges and find a way to succeed through any circumstance.

• No other builder can offer the collaborative design-build approach that Clayco does.
• We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile jobs.
• The pace is fast!

• 2024 Best Places to Work – Crain’s Chicago Business, St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
• 2024 ENR…