Commissioning Engineer - Senior

Steven Winter Associates, Inc; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) plan with employer match

Paid time off / holidays

Professional development

Job summary

Steven Winter Associates, Inc. is seeking a Senior HVAC Commissioning Engineer to lead commissioning, retro‑commissioning, and decarbonization assessments across multifamily, commercial, and institutional buildings.

You will evaluate construction documents, develop test plans, and create technical reports while mentoring junior staff and collaborating with owners, designers, contractors, and operators to improve energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, industrial, environmental or equivalent engineering field.
• 5–10 years of relevant HVAC experience in large multi‑family or commercial buildings.
• Experience with commissioning, retro‑commissioning, and decarbonization preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead commissioning and retro‑commissioning projects for multifamily, commercial, and institutional buildings.
• Evaluate documents, submittals, and plant conditions to improve energy efficiency and IAQ.
• Develop commissioning plans and testing procedures; produce technical reports and presentations.
• Mentor junior staff and collaborate with owners, designers, engineers, contractors, and operators.
• Support electrification, decarbonization, resilience, and long‑term building performance goals.

Skills

HVAC systems

Controls

Building operations

Excel

MS Office

Decarbonization

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical/related engineering

Job description

For over 50 years, we’ve been on a mission to make buildings and communities more sustainable, accessible, healthy, and resilient. It’s what drives us day in and day out. Through our five company principles, we empower our people to go beyond industry standards, confront new challenges, and continue to transform the built environment.

Be Visionary

Lead the industry forward.

Take Ownership

Pursue opportunities for building lasting success.

Think Holistically

Collaborate to optimize whole building and community solutions.

Foster Comradery

Engage with one another to build community.

Improve the Built Environment

Impact the world in positive and meaningful ways.

We offer guidance, advocacy, and hands‑on support to help contractors, developers, designers, and beyond champion sustainability, accessibility, and inclusivity in their work.

Our research projects shape the policies, energy codes, standards, building certification programs, and best practices used industry-wide.

Our greatest strength is our people. At SWA, we value openness, collaboration, and respect at every level of our organization so that all voices are heard.

We come together to help our partners design buildings today that will withstand the challenges of tomorrow.

Advocate

SWA consultants are the voices for communities and the planet. We champion what is best for building occupants and neighborhoods, and we advocate for practices that are less energy‑and carbon‑intensive.

The end result is a built environment that is resilient against climate change, keeps people healthy and safe, and is accessible to all.

Lead

We are a leading voice in the built environment, proactively collaborating with government, industry, and private sectors on high‑impact projects.

As an employee‑owned company, we have the autonomy to prioritize our clients, shape our future, and make a meaningful impact on some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Hiring Process

Your Journey Starts Here

Connect & Explore

If we think there’s a potential match, we’ll invite you to connect with our team. It’ll start with a chat with someone from our talent acquisition team who will guide you through the rest of the process. It’s all about getting to know each other and finding the right fit.

Welcome Aboard

Once we’ve found our match, we’ll take care of the rest. You’ll receive an official offer to join our team which will prompt your onboarding journey.

Setting You Up for Success

To ensure you’re prepared, we’ll have everything ready for you on Day 1—from your laptop and login credentials to SWA garb, if needed for field work. Expect some training invites to dive deeper into our company. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

Grow with us

Internships

SWA periodically hires interns for the summer, and at various stages throughout the year, if there is an opportunity. Want to spend your summer working on projects that make a difference? Here, you’ll dive into actual projects, and work with real challenges. Every project we do has one goal: to create a more sustainable future.

What We Look For: Undergraduate interns must be currently enrolled in a college or university and be graduating in the Spring/Summer semester of the current year. Our internships are also open to graduate applicants.

Your journey with us starts wherever you are. Starting out? We’ll help you build core skills and find your strengths. As you advance to more mid‑level and senior roles, we’ll work together to shape your path. Think of it as a partnership: you bring your ambitions and interests; we provide the opportunities and support to help you succeed at every level.

Training

We developed a comprehensive onboarding training for new hires, we provide practical, technical, and position‑based training that includes project management training, supervisor training, and company process training. All employees have access to online learning paths, courses, and videos to supplement their skills in the areas of business, technology, and creativity.

Employee Stories

Sustainability Consultant

Alex shares insights about his work, his goals, and his vision for the future of his role.

Principal Mechanical Engineer

Gayathri shares how her work at SWA has enabled her to influence code requirements, leading to more energy‑efficient buildings.

Senior Accessibility Consultant

Jennifer shares how she got started in her role and how the building industry is changing to prioritize accessibility and inclusivity starting in the planning and design phases.

What’s it really like to work in the sustainability and accessibility fields and consult on some of the biggest projects in the world? Our Buildings + Beyond podcast team caught up with SWA employees to hear about their career paths and their day‑to‑day jobs.

Our company policies and benefits are designed to meet the diverse needs of our team.

Health and Wellness Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Company paid short‑and long‑term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare and dependent care
• Paid time off / holidays
• Paid family leave
• Employee assistance program
• Monthly points for employee well‑being and lifestyle benefits
• Competitive salary and pay equity program
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• Professional development for career advancement
• Commuter benefits for transit and parking

Work Authorization: Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis. Steven Winter Associates (SWA) does not sponsor employment‑based visas (e.g., H‑1B, OPT, etc.) for this position, now or in the future.

Why Steven Winter Associates? At SWA, you’re not just joining a company, you’re joining an employee‑owned team committed to making buildings healthier, more sustainable, and lower‑carbon.

• Be part of a collaborative and supportive environment where your ideas matter.
• Work on real projects, seeing the impact of your work in the field and in communities.
• Learn from experienced building science professionals.

Join us and be part of a company where your work shapes a better future, and your voice matters. Learn more at www.swinter.com .

Why This Role Matters: The mission of this role is to improve how buildings perform for the people who occupy, operate, and rely on them every day. Through commissioning, retro‑commissioning, and decarbonization assessments, this senior‑level role helps deliver buildings that are energy‑efficient, reliable, comfortable, healthy, and resilient over the long term.

By leading commissioning and supporting decarbonization efforts across multifamily, commercial, institutional, cultural, and community‑focused projects, this role helps identify and resolve operational and performance challenges in both new and existing buildings. Working closely with owners, developers, design teams, contractors, and building operators, this position helps bridge the gap between design intent and real‑world performance while improving energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, system maintainability, and long‑term operational success. Through technical expertise, collaboration, and a holistic approach to building performance, this role advances SWA’s leadership in sustainable, high‑performing buildings and decarbonization‑focused building operations.

The proposed annual salary range for this position is $90,000 - $130,000 based on a 40‑hour work schedule. The final salary may vary depending on job‑related skills and experience. Exceptional candidates may be considered for compensation above the listed range.

Responsibilities: Reasonable accommodation will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Lead commissioning and retro‑commissioning projects and decarbonization assessments for multifamily, mixed‑use, commercial, institutional, cultural/art center, and community buildings.
• Evaluate construction documents, submittals, and existing building conditions to provide recommendations that improve indoor air quality, energy efficiency, constructability, maintainability, and operational effectiveness.
• Develop commissioning plans and testing procedures, create technical reports and presentations for both new and existing buildings.
• Perform functional testing of central plant equipment, controls, terminal units, and other energy‑related building systems to verify operational performance and identify opportunities for optimization.
• Identify operational deficiencies and provide innovative, technically sound solutions that support electrification, decarbonization, resilience, and long‑term building performance goals.
• Collaborate closely with building owners, developers, architects, engineers, contractors, operators, and internal multidisciplinary teams to support successful project outcomes.
• Assume primary responsibility for the execution of medium‑and large‑sized projects, including project management, financial performance, client communication, scheduling, and deliverable coordination.
• Develop scopes of work, proposals, budgets, and project timelines for commissioning and existing building performance services.
• Support the growth and technical development of junior staff through mentorship, training, and collaborative project work.
• Represent SWA through participation in industry groups, technical committees, professional associations, and external training or educational initiatives.

Who You Are:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, industrial, environmental or other relevant engineering field or equivalent work experience.
• 5‑10 years of relevant experience working with HVAC systems in large multi‑family or commercial buildings.
• Experience with commissioning, retro‑commissioning,
• Additional experience with decarbonization plans and energy audits preferred.

What You Bring:

• Strong understanding of HVAC systems, controls, and building operations
• Ability to execute comprehensive energy assessments, feasibility studies, retro‑commissioning evaluations and analyses to identify efficiency opportunities and sustainable improvement strategies.
• Success leading and delivering multiple medium‑sized including budget, management, team coordination and technical execution to ensure successful outcomes.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and MS Office Suite.

Other duties: Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without prior notice.

Application Process:

A cover letter is requested for consideration outlining interest.

Resumes will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Qualified candidates will be invited to a 30-45 minute phone interview. The next step would be to complete 30‑minute technical assessment followed by a 1st round interview to evaluate their technical skills. Based on the results, selected candidates will proceed to up to 2‑3 rounds of interviews.

If you meet at least 75% of the qualifications, we encourage you to apply.

SWA is committed to inclusion and will provide reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities.

PHYSICAL REQUIRMENTS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, use hands to type, reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear. The employee frequently is required to climb stairs, use elevators and exterior construction hoists, and may be exposed to cold and hot interior and exterior temperatures for extended periods of time (when in the field).

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: Occasional overnight travel may be required (Less than 10%). Frequent local field visits in the Metro area will be necessary (estimated at 40‑50%). A valid and clean driving license is required.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Recent hires may be required to work in‑office five days per week during onboarding, with potential for a flexible schedule after necessary training and supervisor approval; all team members are generally expected in the office at least three days per week, with flexibility based on job duties and site work.

EEO AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI)

SWA is an Equal Opportunity Employer – all qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, or marital status.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): SWA is a workplace where we are aware of and welcoming of the ways in which we are all diverse as evidenced by a culture of listenIng and understanding. We endeavor to create a workplace where people feel empowered to act; a safe place where people are open to discussing different views; ongoing education opportunities around diversity, equity, and inclusion; and to build a culture of belonging and accountability.

What to Know: Steven Winter Associates, Inc. (SWA) is a proud employee‑owned firm that’s been transforming the built environment for over 50 years. Our mission is to make buildings more sustainable, energy‑efficient, accessible, healthy, and resilient, not just with better structures, but to the communities they serve. Working with architects, engineers, developers, owners, and project teams, our team of consultants is always pushing boundaries, collaborating, and problem‑solving to deliver solutions that benefit people and the planet.

Join us and become part of a company where your work helps shape a better built environment and where your voice matters. For further information on Steven Winter Associates, please visit http://www.swinter.com.

Notice to External Search Firms: Steven Winter Associates, Inc. is not currently partnering with external search firms. Please do not send resumes to our company or any of our employees without prior approval. Unsolicited resumes will not be accepted or acknowledged.

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