Lead Mechanical Engineer - Buildings

WSP in the U.S.

Chicago (IL)

On-site

USD 115,000 - 171,000

Full time

40 hours ago
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Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits
Equal Opportunity Employer

Job summary

WSP is seeking a Lead Mechanical Engineer with deep experience in healthcare facilities to support complex acute-care, outpatient, and specialty medical projects. This role focuses on delivering high-quality mechanical solutions for hospitals, cancer centers, and regulated clinical environments.

You will lead HVAC, hydronic, medical gas, plumbing and building automation systems, guiding projects through all phases with emphasis on reliability, infection control and safety.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Architectural Engineering.
  • 7–10 years of experience in healthcare facilities design and delivery.
  • P.E. license is required.
  • Strong knowledge of healthcare HVAC, hydronic, and building automation sequences.
  • Familiarity with healthcare guidelines (FGI, NFPA, ASHRAE) and local AHJ.
  • Proficiency with Revit and AutoCAD.
  • Excellent communication with clinical, facilities, and executive stakeholders.
  • Commitment to safety, quality and ethical engineering practice.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and manage mechanical design for healthcare facilities including hospitals and clinics.
  • Serve as mechanical discipline lead and main technical contact for clients and teams.
  • Guide projects through programming, schematic design, DD, CD, construction administration and commissioning support.
  • Provide technical leadership for HVAC, hydronic, medical gas, plumbing and building automation in healthcare environments.
  • Develop and review system concepts focusing on redundancy, resiliency, infection prevention, pressure relationships, safety.
  • Coordinate with electrical, plumbing, fire protection and architectural teams for integrated designs.
  • Oversee construction administration activities including submittals, RFIs, observations and issue resolution.
  • Ensure compliance with codes and standards (FGI, NFPA, ASHRAE, AHJ).
  • Prepare technical reports, calculations, specs, and basis-of-design docs.
  • Support budgets, schedules, scope management and staffing; mentor junior engineers.

Skills

Healthcare HVAC
Hydronic systems
Building automation
Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering
Professional Engineer (P.E.) license
Experience with healthcare facilities

Tools

Revit
AutoCAD

Job description

Job Description
Lead Mechanical Engineer - Healthcare Facilities

WSP is seeking a Lead Mechanical Engineer with deep experience in healthcare facilities to support complex acute-care, outpatient, and specialty medical projects. This role focuses on delivering high-quality mechanical engineering solutions for hospitals, medical office buildings, cancer centers, behavioral health facilities, and highly regulated clinical environments. The position supports projects from early planning and design through construction administration and close-out, with a strong emphasis on reliability, infection control, maintainability, and regulatory compliance.

Job Description
Lead Mechanical Engineer - Healthcare Facilities

WSP is seeking a Lead Mechanical Engineer with deep experience in healthcare facilities to support complex acute-care, outpatient, and specialty medical projects. This role focuses on delivering high-quality mechanical engineering solutions for hospitals, medical office buildings, cancer centers, behavioral health facilities, and highly regulated clinical environments. The position supports projects from early planning and design through construction administration and close-out, with a strong emphasis on reliability, infection control, maintainability, and regulatory compliance.

Your Impact
  • Lead and manage mechanical engineering design for healthcare facilities including hospitals, inpatient towers, surgical suites, imaging departments, and central utility plants.
  • Serve as mechanical discipline lead and primary technical point of contact for healthcare clients, architects, and internal project teams.
  • Guide projects through all phases including programming, schematic design, design development, construction documents, construction administration, and commissioning support.
  • Provide technical leadership for HVAC, hydronic, medical gas, plumbing, and building automation systems specific to healthcare environments.
  • Develop and review system concepts with emphasis on redundancy, resiliency, infection prevention, pressure relationships, and patient/staff safety.
  • Coordinate with electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and architectural teams to ensure fully integrated healthcare designs.
  • Oversee construction administration activities including submittal review, RFIs, site observations, and issue resolution.
  • Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards including FGI Guidelines, NFPA, ASHRAE, local AHJ requirements, and healthcare accreditation standards.
  • Prepare technical reports, calculations, specifications, and basis-of-design documentation.
  • Support project budgets, schedules, scope management, and staffing planning.
  • Mentor junior mechanical engineers and support QA/QC processes.
Healthcare Mechanical Engineering Focus Areas
  • Airborne infection isolation and pressure-control strategies
  • High-reliability HVAC systems for operating rooms and procedural spaces
  • Central plant and utility distribution systems
  • Medical gas systems and coordination
  • Energy efficiency, heat recovery, and decarbonization strategies compatible with healthcare operations
  • System commissioning, functional performance testing, and turnover documentation
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or Architectural Engineering.
  • 7-10 years of progressive mechanical engineering experience with a strong concentration in healthcare facilities.
  • Demonstrated experience delivering hospital or complex healthcare projects from design through construction close‑out.
  • Professional Engineer (P.E.) license required.
  • Strong knowledge of healthcare HVAC systems, hydronic systems, and building automation/control sequences.
  • Working knowledge of FGI Guidelines, NFPA standards, ASHRAE healthcare applications, and local healthcare AHJ requirements.
  • Proficiency with Revit and AutoCAD.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex technical concepts to clinical, facilities, and executive stakeholders.
  • Commitment to safety, quality, and ethical engineering practice.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Direct experience with acute care hospitals, academic medical centers, or specialty healthcare facilities.
  • Experience with commissioning, TAB coordination, and operational readiness for healthcare environments.
  • Familiarity with infection control risk assessments (ICRA) and healthcare phasing strategies.
  • LEED or healthcare‑related sustainability experience.
  • Experience leading multi‑disciplinary design teams on complex projects.
WSP Benefits

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on a providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

Compensation

Expected Salary: $115,200- $171,100

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
ABOUT US

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.

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