Building Performance Engineer

HGA; Town of Middleton (WI); On-site; USD 53,300 - 72,100; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

401(k) guaranteed contribution

Paid parental leave

Medical, dental, and life insurance

PTO and disability programs

Job summary

A leading architecture and engineering firm is seeking a Building Performance Engineer in Wisconsin. The role focuses on high-performance building design, energy optimization, and sustainable engineering practices. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree in engineering and 3-5 years of relevant experience. Responsibilities include leading commissioning efforts and collaborating on innovative energy solutions within a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• 3 - 5 years' experience in engineering, sustainable design, or energy analysis.
• PE license preferred.
• LEED AP credential and/or ASHRAE credentials preferred.
• Experience with digital building performance analysis tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead commissioning efforts from design through construction for MEP systems.
• Assist design teams with energy performance documentation.
• Perform energy modeling and provide sustainability guidance.

Skills

Sustainable design

Energy analysis

Commissioning

Collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in architectural engineering or mechanical engineering

Tools

EnergyPlus

OpenStudio

AutoCAD

Revit

Job description

Building Performance Engineer

Bring Your Engineering Passion, Collaboration, and Expertise to HGA!

Join Us as a Building Performance Specialist/Engineer

Are you passionate about high-performance buildings and sustainable design? HGA is seeking a Building Performance Specialist/Engineer to support our offices and diverse market sectors across the country.

In this role, you'll collaborate with project teams to address a range of building performance and energy optimization goals throughout all phases of design, construction, and operation. Your contributions will directly support and elevate HGA's commitment to industry-leading sustainable design.

As part of HGA's Building Performance Group, you'll engage in a variety of meaningful services, including:

• Leading commissioning efforts from design through construction for MEP systems
• Leading retrocommissioning projects to enhance performance and reduce energy costs in existing buildings
• Designing renewable energy systems, including solar PV and battery storage
• Leading decarbonization planning for new and existing facilities
• Performing energy modeling and analysis to provide strategic sustainability guidance to design teams
• Applying knowledge of HVAC and electrical systems to design high-performance solutions, including heat pumps and geothermal systems
• Helping to develop effective training tools for architects and engineers to advance building performance

This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on sustainable architecture, engineering, and integrated design. If you're ready to shape the future of building performance—we'd love to hear from you!

In this role you will:

1. Identify and document high performance opportunities for existing and new construction buildings through commissioning and retrocommissioning;
2. Assist design teams to increase design projects' energy performance;
3. Assist design teams with strategy and compliance with energy-related documentation such as code, LEED, and region-specific programs such as Minnesota B3 and California Title 24;
4. Collaboratively identify opportunities and develop appropriate and effective performance studies;
5. Execute a wide range of simulation workflows including climate analysis, energy benchmarking, occupant comfort criteria (thermal, daylighting and glare), facade and envelope optimization and conceptual energy modeling;
6. Clearly communicate the findings/results to project teams through effective documentation and visualizations;
7. Assist with planning study projects;
8. Interact and communicate effectively and professionally with other team members;
9. Show flexibility and adaptability to change within a fast‑paced, team environment, often with tight deadline; and
10. Support an internal network charged with advancing HGA's sustainability practice by:
    • Researching emerging tools and assisting in the development of new workflows;
    • Assisting in ongoing office-wide training efforts to elevate our internal knowledge and support a network of experts in all HGA offices; and
    • Collaborating with an internal team of building performance practitioners.

You will need to have:

• Minimum Bachelor's degree in architectural engineering or mechanical engineering
• PE license preferred
• 3 - 5 years' experience in engineering, sustainable design, energy analysis, or commissioning
• LEED AP credential and/or ASHRAE credentials and/or CABEC Certified Energy Analyst (CEA) preferred
• Familiarity or experience with the new and existing building energy performance services such as commissioning & retro-commissioning
• Experience with digital building performance analysis tools such as OpenStudio, Trane Trace, eQuest, EnergyPlus, IES, DesignBuilder, TRNSYS, Climate Consultant, Ladybug and Honeybee for Grasshopper, DIVA for Rhino, COMFEN, WUFI, Therm, etc.
• Knowledgeable in building certification programs (LEED, LBC, WELL), building energy codes, and ASHRAE Standards such as 55, 62.1, 90.1 and 209.
• Knowledge and experience with economic grants and incentive programs preferred
• Working knowledge of architectural production software: AutoCAD, Revit, Sketch‑Up, Rhino and/or related software
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time

Salary Information:

The pay range listed aligns to the geography of the office for which this position is posted. Actual compensation will be based upon work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer. Individuals in this role working more than 24 hours a week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in HGA's robust benefit programs which include an annual bonus and success sharing bonus program, 401(k) guaranteed contribution, paid parental leave, medical, dental and life insurance plans as well as PTO and short- and long-term disability programs. Salary Range: $53,300 - $72,100.

Additional Information:

HGA is a place where you can do your best work. We believe that enduring, impactful design results from deep insight into the people and passions that animate each unique environment. We value empathy, are fueled by curiosity, and embrace the hard work that leads to innovation. Equally important is our commitment to creating a culture of inclusivity and diversity where we encourage your originality, respect the need for flexibility and work‑life balance, and empower your desired career growth. HGA is a national award‑winning interdisciplinary design firm rooted in architecture and engineering. Learn more about us here.

Equity

Equity is a living, breathing part of who we are and what we do at HGA. Our goal is to ensure that every employee brings their authentic self to work, feels a sense of belonging and works collaboratively to support each other.

Sustainability

We are committed to meeting our clients' sustainability goals as well as challenging our industry. We aim to develop the expertise and research to push beyond net zero energy to net positive energy; from a neutral effect on health, safety, and resources to a positive one. As the need and desire for sustainability environments grow, so does the focus on high-performance buildings with sound data that we can share back with clients and our design teams.

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Location: Milwaukee, WI