Principal Engineer - Building Physics - HRCB, REC

Ramboll; Chennai District; On-site; INR 4,500,000 - 6,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Development investment

Leadership guidance

Inclusive culture

Job summary

Ramboll in Chennai seeks a senior Building Physics specialist to lead energy performance and sustainability across projects. You will drive passive design, daylight and thermal comfort analyses, using IES VE and Rhino/Grasshopper for evidence-based design inputs.

You will develop energy strategies, support planning approvals, and contribute to LEED/WELL/BREEAM documentation while mentoring junior engineers and coordinating with clients and design teams.

Qualifications

• Masters/Bachelors in Engineering, Architecture or Built Environment with practical experience in building physics and energy performance.
• Experience in sustainability across projects including thermal comfort, passive design, compliance modelling and energy assessments.
• Proficiency with Rhino and Grasshopper for parametric sustainability studies and design optioneering.
• Experience with building performance modelling from concept to completion using IES VE or similar tools.
• Experience with life cycle assessment using One Click LCA or equivalent tools and sustainability certification schemes (LEED, WELL, BREEAM).
• Strong communication skills and client-facing abilities.
• Experience with energy strategies and early-stage sustainability interventions.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day running of projects including workload planning and technical input.
• Produce energy strategies for planning applications and Part L compliance assessments using IES VE.
• Deliver thermal comfort assessments to UK standards (ASHRAE, CIBSE TM52/59) and passive design reports.
• Contribute to sustainability certification strategies (LEED, WELL, BREEAM, Estidama, Barjeel, Mostadam).
• Support concept/competition design decisions with energy simulations and evidence-based inputs.
• Check and quality assure building performance modelling work and mentor junior engineers.

Skills

Building physics

Thermal comfort analysis

Rhino & Grasshopper

IES VE energy modelling

Life cycle assessment

LEED/WELL/BREEAM knowledge

Client communication

Education

Master’s/Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering/Sustainable Architecture/Building Performance

Tools

IES VE

One Click LCA

SAP

Job description

• Be Educated to Masters/ bachelor’s level in Engineering, Architecture or Built Environment and having gained relevant practical experience in a similar role, you have demonstrable knowledge and experience of building physics, particularly in relation to heat transfer, energy, comfort criteria, ASHRAE Guidance and other industry standards (CIBSE beneficial).
• Have demonstrable knowledge and experience of multiple-asset project sustainability and building physics, particularly in relation to thermal comfort, passive design, compliance modelling and real operational energy assessments.
• Support early-stage passive design analysis for concept, feasibility and competition projects, including orientation, massing, shading, faade optimisation, daylight access, thermal comfort and low-energy design strategies.
• Use Rhino and Grasshopper to support parametric sustainability studies, rapid design optioneering, visualisation of performance outcomes and evidence-based design inputs for architects and wider project teams.
• Have in depth-knowledge of dynamic simulation software’s including an understanding of climate-based daylighting analysis, operational energy calculation and life cycle analysis and life cycle costing is highly desirable.
• Undertake life cycle assessment studies covering embodied and operational carbon, preferably using One Click LCA, and prepare clear carbon reduction recommendations, benchmarking outputs and client-facing summaries.
• Given the collaborative and client focused nature of this role, effective communication skills and some experience of using your initiative to overcome challenges are essential.
• Proven experience, or a strong interest, in delivering overall sustainability scope across projects, including sustainability strategies, energy strategies, IES VE energy modelling and assessment support.
• Check and quality assure the work of others in all technical aspects of building performance modelling in IES VE
• Be responsible for the day-to-day running of projects, workload planning and delivery, and providing technical input as required.
• Produce energy strategies for planning applications, carrying out both Domestic and Non-Domestic Building Regulations like Part L compliance assessments using IES VE
• Complete thermal comfort assessments to UK technical standards e.g. ASHRAE, CIBSE TM52, CIBSE TM59 and UK Buildings Regulations Part O
• Produce Passive Design and Low and Zero Carbon Reports to meet BREEAM Ene 04 credit requirements.
• Contribute to sustainability certification strategies and documentation for schemes including LEED, WELL, BREEAM, Estidama, Barjeel and Mostadam.
• Carry out Operational Energy assessments using IES VE, industry standards e.g. CIBSE TM54 etc.

Qualification

• A Master’s/Bachelor’s degree qualification in an Mechanical Engineering/Sustainable Architecture/ Building Performance or allied subjects
• 10+ years’ experience working within the Building Physics / Sustainability sector, preferably within a consulting environment.
• Experience in energy, passive design and parametric modelling, including the use of Rhino and Grasshopper to support early-stage design analysis and competition submissions.
• Working knowledge of building performance modelling from concept to completion using IES VE or similar tools, including daylight, thermal comfort, operational energy and passive design assessments.
• Technical background in sustainable building design with a forward-thinking approach to passive design, operational energy, embodied carbon and whole-life carbon, supported by life cycle assessment experience using One Click LCA or equivalent platforms.
• Experience of sustainability certification schemes such as LEED, WELL, BREEAM, Estidama, Barjeel and Mostadam, including early-stage credit advice, gap analysis and documentation support.
• Experience in consulting, delivery and implementation of carbon and project sustainability strategies.
• Interest in supporting the broader sustainability scope of projects, with the ability to contribute through energy simulation, design analysis and practical technical inputs.
• Self-motivated, dedicated, and proactive with a passion for detail.
• Demonstrated excellence in providing high-quality client service.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to organise and prioritise workflow.
• Ability to generate new work from new and existing clients.

Your starting point for constant growth

From the moment you join Ramboll, we will support your personal and professional development so that you grow with the company. For this role, we believe your starting point is:

• Being a qualified Engineer having a proven and demonstrable track record in their discipline
• Proven experience in all aspects of building physics, including building energy modelling and compliance analysis using IES or SAP
• Have good knowledge of passive design, LZC technologies, net zero design principles, operational energy, embodied carbon and early-stage sustainability interventions, and use this knowledge to influence concept and competition-stage design decisions.
• Demonstrate good attention to detail and show pride in the work produced.
• Have an ability to manage and educate more junior engineers on modelling best practices as well as industry best practices.

Additional Information

What we can offer you

• Investment in your development
• Leaders you can count on, guided by our Leadership Principles
• Be valued for the unique person you are.
• Never be short of inspiration from colleagues, clients, and projects.
• The long-term thinking of a foundation-owned company

We offer:

• A challenging and interesting workday characterized by continuous learning, in an environment where you have many to spar with and learn from.
• Opportunity to work with varied work tasks, across the organization.
• Opportunity to develop and influence your own area of responsibility.

Work at the heart of sustainable change

Ramboll is a global architecture, engineering, and consultancy company. We believe that the purpose of sustainable change is to create a thriving world for both nature and people. So, that’s where we start – and how we work. At Ramboll, our core strength is our people, and our history is rooted in a clear vision of how a responsible company should act. Being open and curious is a cornerstone of our culture. We embrace an inclusive mindset that looks for fresh, diverse, and innovative perspectives. We respect, embrace, and invite diversity in all forms to actively cultivate an environment where everyone can flourish and realize their full potential.