Energy/Mechanical Engineer

Halian | Managed Services, Recruitment Agency & Contract Staffing; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Infrastructure Design is seeking an Energy / Mechanical Engineer to advance energy performance in next‑generation research and manufacturing facilities. You will translate concepts into practical HVAC and mechanical systems, collaborating with architecture, electrical, controls, and BIM teams to optimize energy use and carbon emissions.

Join a Bay Area team focused on decarbonization, lifecycle cost assessments, and ASHRAE/Title 24 compliance, delivering robust energy solutions for advanced labs

Qualifications

• Master's degree in mechanical engineering or related field; 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Preferred: PE license, CEM, or LEED AP certification.
• Experience with decarbonization initiatives and carbon emissions studies.
• Proficiency in energy modeling and load calculation software (EnergyPlus, IESVE, OpenStudio, etc.).
• Strong knowledge of building energy codes (ASHRAE, Title 24).

Responsibilities

• Perform energy modeling and simulations to optimize building performance.
• Research incentives and credits supporting energy efficiency.
• Conceptualize HVAC, CUP, and hydronic systems for large-scale labs and manufacturing.
• Conduct heating and cooling load calculations to size equipment.
• Specify mechanical equipment (chillers, boilers, AHUs, pumps, fans).
• Collaborate with controls to develop sequences of operation for efficiency.
• Evaluate life cycle costs of mechanical architectures.
• Ensure designs comply with codes and energy standards.

Skills

Energy modeling

HVAC design

Decarbonization experience

Cross-functional teamwork

Thermodynamics/heat transfer

P&IDs reading

Education

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related

Tools

EnergyPlus

IESVE

Trane TRACE

Carrier HAP

OpenStudio

Revit

AutoCAD

Job description

Welcome to Infrastructure Design, a specialized high-octane technical engineering team focused on developing next-generation infrastructure for advanced R&D laboratories and large-scale manufacturing facilities.

The team is focused on designing innovative infrastructure that supports evolving research and manufacturing needs, with an emphasis on advanced energy systems, decarbonization, and high-performance mechanical design. The work spans new facility development, energy optimization, and complex engineering challenges across the Bay Area and beyond.

As an Energy / Mechanical Engineer, you will help drive facility energy performance through energy efficiency initiatives, decarbonization studies, and detailed life cycle cost assessments. You will translate conceptual designs into practical mechanical systems, collaborating across architecture, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and controls to evaluate design options and optimize energy consumption, cost, and carbon emissions.

This is an opportunity to contribute to the design of sophisticated energy and mechanical systems supporting advanced manufacturing and research environments.

What You’ll Do

• Perform comprehensive energy modeling and simulations to optimize building performance, evaluate Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs), and calculate operational carbon emissions (CO₂e).
• Research local initiatives, incentives, and credits that support energy efficiency improvements.
• Conceptualize complex mechanical HVAC, central utility plant (CUP), and hydronic distribution systems for large-scale R&D and manufacturing environments.
• Conduct detailed heating and cooling load calculations using industry-standard software to accurately size mechanical equipment.
• Select and specify mechanical equipment, including chillers, boilers, cooling towers, air handling units (AHUs), pumps, and fans.
• Collaborate with Controls Engineering to develop sequences of operation that maximize mechanical system efficiency.
• Evaluate the life cycle costs of different mechanical system architectures to inform design decisions.
• Ensure designs comply with applicable building codes, mechanical codes, and energy standards, including ASHRAE and California Title 24.
• Manage and prioritize design requests for new construction, existing facility support, and facility improvement projects.
• Research emerging technologies and evaluate performance claims, technology readiness levels (TRL), reliability data, safety and code implications, maintainability, and vendor viability.

What You’ll Bring:

• Master’s degree in mechanical engineering, Architectural Engineering, or a related field, with 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Preferred: Professional Engineer (PE) license, Certified Energy Manager (CEM), or LEED AP certification.
• Experience with decarbonization initiatives and carbon emissions studies.
• Proficiency in energy modeling and load calculation software, such as EnergyPlus, IESVE, Trane TRACE, Carrier HAP, or OpenStudio.
• Strong understanding of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, psychometrics, and heat transfer.
• Proven experience designing custom airside and waterside systems, including variable-flow hydronics and specialized exhaust systems.
• Familiarity with building information modeling (BIM) software, particularly Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD.
• Strong knowledge of sustainable building practices and energy-efficient system design.
• Ability to read, interpret, and produce detailed mechanical schematics, P&IDs, and construction documents.
• Excellent cross-functional communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across electrical, controls, and architectural disciplines.