Lead Mechanical Designer - Utilities & Central Energy

KFI Engineers; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 119,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

KFI Engineers in Saint Paul, MN seeks a Lead Designer (Mechanical) to drive mechanical design deliverables using AutoCAD, Plant3D, and Revit, while mentoring junior designers and coordinating with engineers to ensure high-quality construction documents.

The role requires leadership across project teams, staff development, and collaboration with Project Managers to balance priorities. Occasional field observations are expected, with travel up to 10%.

Qualifications

• AAS degree in design/drafting or equivalent.
• 10+ years of design experience.
• Expertise in 3D design, mechanical general arrangements, piping systems, and P&IDs.
• Experience reviewing mechanical equipment drawings.
• Strong leadership and ability to guide junior designers.

Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, and develop design staff with coaching and performance reviews.
• Provide design leadership and on‑the‑job training for team members.
• Support staffing and recruiting to meet project demands.
• Manage design resources and coordinate with Project Managers.
• Lead projects from inception to completion and contribute to budgets and schedules.
• Estimate hours and participate in design reviews and drawing preparation.
• Coordinate with stakeholders and manage client relationships.
• Develop complete system drawings (GA, P&IDs, 3D models, piping and isometrics).
• Conduct site visits and field data gathering as needed.
• Maintain drawing and plant design standards and support cross‑department initiatives.

Skills

3D design

Mechanical layouts

Project management

Leadership

Client relations

Communication

Staff mentoring

Design coordination

Education

AAS in design/drafting

Tools

AutoCAD

Plant3D

Revit

Job description

KFI Engineers in Saint Paul, MN seeks a Lead Designer (Mechanical) to drive mechanical design deliverables using AutoCAD, Plant3D, and Revit, while mentoring junior designers and coordinating with engineers to ensure high-quality construction documents.

The role requires leadership across project teams, staff development, and collaboration with Project Managers to balance priorities. Occasional field observations are expected, with travel up to 10%.