Area Mechanical Business Class Lead

HDR; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 162,855 - 232,650; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee ownership

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Retirement savings plan with employer

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time away

Paid holidays

Job summary

HDR is seeking an Area Mechanical Business Class Lead for the Building Engineering Services Group in downtown Chicago. You will lead the mechanical engineering team for the Nebraska/Iowa region, guiding technical excellence and growth across a diverse set of market sectors.

Responsibilities include leading the team, recruiting and staff development, collaborating with market sector leadership, engaging with clients and stakeholders, and participating in marketing, planning, proposals and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a Professional, Architecture, Engineering, or closely related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience.
• Professional registration and related technical experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for the Nebraska/Iowa Building Engineering Services mechanical engineering team with focus on technical excellence, quality, recruiting, and staff development.
• Identify and collaborate with market sector leadership to ensure technical excellence in key markets.
• Engage with clients and community stakeholders.
• Participate in marketing, planning, proposals, and interviews in key markets.
• Promote HDR and our Mechanical Engineering practice within the engineering community.
• Act as design lead or engineering project manager for key projects.
• Assist operations of the mechanical work group, including staff development, profitability, morale, and quality control.
• Ensure all work is planned, organized, controlled, checked, and evaluated through proactive project management.

Skills

Team leadership

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Master’s degree in mechanical/architectural engineering (preferred)

Job description

We are searching for an Area Mechanical Business Class Lead for the Building Engineering Services Group at our downtown Chicago office. The role involves leading the mechanical engineering team for the Nebraska/Iowa region, supporting technical excellence and growth across a diverse set of market sectors.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for the Nebraska/Iowa Building Engineering Services mechanical engineering team with a focus on technical excellence, quality, recruiting, and staff development.
• Identify and collaborate with market sector leadership to ensure technical excellence in key markets including commercial, civic, industrial, federal, water, transportation, healthcare, education, laboratories, and mission‑critical facilities.
• Engage with clients and community stakeholders.
• Participate in marketing, planning, proposals, and interviews in key markets.
• Promote HDR and our Mechanical Engineering practice within the engineering and architecture community, including participation in conferences and client events.
• Act as design lead or engineering project manager for key projects.
• Assist in the responsibility for operations of the mechanical work group, including staff development, profitability, morale, and quality control.
• Ensure all work is planned, organized, controlled, checked, and evaluated through proactive project management.
• Implement, monitor, and support company policy.
• Work cooperatively with other business class directors, operations managers, technical directors, and marketing managers on business class efforts.
• Actively participate in work‑sharing and mechanical practice development with a nation‑wide network of HDR mechanical engineers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active participation in professional or industry associations that enhance HDR technical expertise and brand.
• Master’s degree in mechanical engineering or architectural engineering with a mechanical emphasis.
• Preference given to local candidates.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a Professional, Architecture, Engineering, or closely related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience.
• Committed to quality, improvement, and HDR values.
• Maintains a professional or engineering registration and has related technical experience.
• Experience in development and management of diverse teams.
• Works cooperatively with other area business class leaders, operations managers, technical directors, and marketing managers on business class efforts.
• Attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture.

Benefits

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, health, performance, and success. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, short‑ and long‑term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus, and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position is $162,855.00 – $232,650.00. (Stated benefits are for full‑time regular positions; temporary and part‑time roles are eligible for limited benefits.)

Primary Location: United States-Illinois-Chicago

Industry: Building Engineering

Schedule: Full-time

Employee Status: Regular

Business Class: Building Mechanical

Job Posting Date: Jul 14, 2026

Equal Employment Opportunity

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest, and conviction records.