Lead Mechanical Project and Design Engineer

Lead Mechanical Project & Design Engineer Confidential Client | Hybrid - project sites & central New Jersey | Full-time, direct hire Salary: $125,000 - $175,000 About the Company Our client is a growing engineering, design, and project management firm serving Fortune 50 corporations. The firm specializes in the holistic management of mechanical and electrical infrastructure projects, drawing on decades of hands-on experience within major corporate environments.

Its team of expert engineering professionals is known for solving complex challenges with innovative, practical solutions. As the firm scales to meet growing client demand, it is expanding its team with capable, driven, and client-focused individuals, and fosters a culture of empowerment, growth, collaboration, and diversity. The firm"s hybrid work model combines remote flexibility with in-person collaboration at project sites and periodic team gatherings, typically in central New Jersey.

Position Overview

This role offers an experienced mechanical engineering professional the opportunity to take a hands-on role in project design and execution while helping strengthen and expand the firm"s in-house engineering capabilities. The Lead Mechanical Project & Design Engineer will lead mechanical design efforts, coordinate with other MEP disciplines, review drawings and specifications, maintain quality control across deliverables, and provide technical guidance to project managers and internal teams.

The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in mechanical engineering, construction, and field coordination, along with a proactive and collaborative approach to evolving project needs. This individual will remain actively involved in projects while helping establish the standards, processes, client relationships, and technical capabilities needed to grow the firm"s engineering services. We are looking for a senior, hands-on engineer who is comfortable working across both technical design and project execution - not someone who has focused only on design, nor someone who has moved entirely away from technical work.

Key Responsibilities Including, but not limited to:
* Lead mechanical design efforts for HVAC, plumbing, fire-protection, building-automation, and related systems.
* Prepare and review drawings, specifications, calculations, equipment selections, and other technical deliverables.
* Ensure deliverables meet project requirements, applicable codes, quality standards, and constructability expectations.
* Provide technical guidance to project managers, internal teams, clients, contractors, and consultants.
* Conduct site surveys, field investigations, system assessments, and construction-phase reviews.
* Support system troubleshooting, commissioning, functional testing, and project closeout.
* Assist with project scopes, budgets, proposals, schedules, estimates, and technical recommendations.
* Coordinate mechanical designs with electrical and other MEP disciplines throughout project execution.
* Help establish engineering standards, quality-control procedures, templates, and workflows.
* Mentor junior technical staff and support the continued growth of the firm"s engineering services. Qualifications
* Bachelor"s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
* Professional Engineer license strongly preferred; ability to obtain licensure in applicable jurisdictions may be considered.
* At least 10 years of progressively responsible mechanical engineering experience, including technical leadership responsibilities.
* Experience with HVAC, plumbing, or mechanical systems in construction and an understanding of how they interact with electrical, high-voltage, and low-voltage systems, including:
* MEP system design for mission-critical, commercial, residential, building-automation, or similarly complex projects.
* Mechanical systems commissioning processes, procedures, and testing scripts.
* Ability to prepare and review engineering drawings, specifications, calculations, equipment selections, and technical documentation.
* Experience supporting construction, project management, estimating, budgeting, and client-facing technical discussions.
* Working knowledge of applicable mechanical, building, energy, fire-protection, and life-safety codes and standards.
* Strong leadership, communication, collaboration, project-management, and problem-solving skills.
* Ability to manage evolving project needs in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
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