Lead Mechanical Engineer- Building Systems

WSP in the U.S.; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 115,000 - 171,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Retirement savings

Paid time off

Job summary

WSP USA is seeking a Lead Mechanical Engineer- Building Systems in Columbia, MD to oversee HVAC and related systems for complex facilities. You will guide design through construction and manage project teams to ensure high-quality outcomes.

You will mentor staff, coordinate with owners and disciplines, and maintain compliance with codes while applying advanced engineering techniques. This role targets healthcare, higher education, labs, and mission-critical campuses.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field.
• 7–10 years of post-education engineering experience with mechanical design.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license; multi-state preferred.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical design, building systems, and code compliance.
• Experience with complex facilities and project management.

Responsibilities

• Lead design development and construction oversight for HVAC and associated systems.
• Manage mechanical design across facilities in healthcare, education, labs, and mission-critical sectors.
• Coordinate with owners, disciplines, sub-consultants, and clients on installation plans and safety.
• Develop budgets, track hours/expenses, and supervise subcontractors and staff.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and QA/QC throughout projects.
• Stay current with engineering practices and building codes; communicate findings clearly.

Skills

Mechanical Engineering

PE License

Building Systems

Project Management

AutoCAD

CAD/CAM

Education

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

CAM

Job description

This Opportunity

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Lead Mechanical Engineer- Building Systems for our Columbia, MD office. Be involved in projects with our Property & Buildings Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our client’s objectives and solves their challenges.

Job Description

Provides subject matter technical support and leadership for the design development and construction oversight of HVAC and related mechanical systems for building construction projects in the public and private sector. Responsibilities include the lead design role and project management for mechanical systems including HVAC, plumbing, fire protection, central energy plants, medical gas systems, sustainability design, and building automation systems. Project types consist of primarily complex facilities in industries such as healthcare, higher education, laboratories, research and manufacturing, mission critical, and other institutional type buildings in both new construction and renovation applications. Provides leadership with ensuring that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards for design, safety, and functionality.

Your Impact

• Provide oversight with collecting, compiling, and analyzing data from the physical work site, surveys, blueprints, schematics, data, technical drawings, computer-generated reports, and other matrices for project development, design, and construction.
• Apply high-level mechanical engineering techniques and processes to identify improvements involving more complex building and infrastructure engineering work including concept development, preliminary design, final design, procurement, construction, and operation.
• Perform professional mechanical engineering work and conduct more complex/comprehensive investigations and inspections of proposed and existing site conditions, equipment, resources, facilities, building, infrastructure, usage, and mechanical systems to determine conformance with applicable rules, standards, and construction or operating permits.
• Develop construction and installation plans and specifications, preparing construction safety and phasing plans and updating infrastructure layout plans that require coordination with owners, other disciplines, sub-consultants, and clients.
• Involved from project inception to completion in the management of mechanical design and construction of building and infrastructure projects, including rehabilitation and reconstruction, new builds, operating specifications, building materials, phasing, and construction safety plans.
• Oversees the development and implementation of advanced technologies, monitoring devices, building materials, modeling techniques, design requirements, load calculations, and operating strategies to account for the proper installation and functioning of equipment and systems; implementing future-ready solutions with mechanical engineering design standards.
• Provide high-level technical assistance on various engineering, design, and construction issues relating to automatic temperature control systems and specifications, air distribution (supply, return, exhaust), hydronic systems (chilled water, heating water, etc.) and plumbing systems (domestic water, waste, vent, storm, etc.).
• Lead larger-scale mechanical engineering projects ensuring contributors know what they are required to do and by when, preparing and overseeing relevant project budgets, monitoring external events, tracking hours and expenses, ensuring satisfactory performance, and supervising subcontractors, contract work, and employees.
• Meet with various public or private entities or individuals to discuss issues relating to a variety of engineering/construction challenges and programs.
• Ensure technical reports and presentations explain research, findings, and recommendations to prevent, control, restore, or address engineering, design, and/or construction issues or opportunities.
• Develop a client base for providing high level mechanical engineering services including identifying additional business development opportunities.
• Mentor staff to support their growth and professional development.
• Remain current in latest mechanical engineering techniques and practices.
• Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines, other engineers, planners, building, and infrastructure authorities on Federal, State, regional, and locally funded improvement and development projects, as well as proposal and business development opportunities.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, or closely related discipline.
• 7-10 years of relevant post education experience in engineering discipline and prior mechanical design experience.
• Professional Engineer(P.E) license required (multi-state preferred).
• Highly proficient with mechanical engineering principles, practices, process, design/build, and the application to permitting and project work-related issues.
• Highly proficient with building and infrastructure design.
• Experience with building and infrastructure planning, design, and program/construction management; including project involvement in a variety of rehabilitation and reconstruction, new design, and construction projects.
• Strong knowledge of relevant mechanical engineering and construction laws, codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements.
• Highly proficient with making technical computations and calculations involving the application of engineering principles, understanding plans and specifications, and making factual comparisons to the appropriate regulations.
• Experience with planning and conducting inspections and investigations on various aspects of the construction and design of facilities, structures and systems, applying applicable regulations and policies.
• Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing intricate ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience.
• Strong self-leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with clients, regulators, project managers, and employees at all levels of the organization.
• Works independently to provide guidance and leadership to mid-level to senior level team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.
• Proficiency with technical writing, office automation, load calculations, discipline-specific design software (i.e., AutoCAD, CAM), technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.
• Experienced with providing critical review for documents and preparing technical deliverables and plans with a high degree of complexity.
• Well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to apply technical knowledge to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, load calculations, computations, statistical analysis and arriving at the most effective, economical, and logical solution.
• Demonstrated effectiveness at coordinating and assertively directing subcontractors and others to consistently complete tasks safely and efficiently.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Must be flexible to a variety of schedules to meet business needs and able to prioritize responsibilities and quickly adapt to change in a pressure work environment.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• LEED certification desired.
• HFDP certification desired.
• 40-Hour OSHA Health & Safety Training (HAZWOPER) (29 CFR 1910.120) preferred.

WSP Benefits

• coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life
• retirement savings
• paid sick leave
• paid vacation (or other personal time)
• paid parental leave
• paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings

Compensation

Expected Salary (all locations): $115,20-171,000

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

About WSP

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.

www.wsp.com

WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.

The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.

Notice To Third Party Agencies

WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.