Lead Mechanical Engineer - Utilities & Building Systems

LAPORTE L.E.I.; North Carolina; On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Compensatory PTO

Comprehensive benefits

Flexible working environment

Job summary

LAPORTE L.E.I. seeks a Lead Mechanical Engineer to direct a growing team and drive the design and management of mechanical and piping projects in the pharmaceutical and food & beverage sectors.

The candidate will oversee conceptual to detailed designs, drawings, and specifications, with proficiency in AutoCAD and Revit, and a strong emphasis on office collaboration. This on-site role requires at least 3 days in the Raleigh, NC area or other commutable offices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering required.
• 8+ years of design engineering experience, preferably in design consulting.
• Knowledge of HVAC system design and central utilities including steam, chilled water and compressed air systems.
• Familiarity with ASHRAE/ACGIH, ISPE and HACCP requirements.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and Revit.

Responsibilities

• Mentor and grow the mechanical team.
• Manage contracts and clients for MEP projects.
• Oversee deliverables and project execution (about 50% of workload).
• Lead HVAC, hydronic and steam systems design (about 50% of workload).
• Define scope of work with Project Manager and write scope for mechanical or utility design.
• Prepare studies and schematic designs for new systems and analyze operation of existing systems.
• Office presence minimum 3 days per week.

Skills

HVAC systems

Chilled water systems

Heating system

Plumbing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

Job description

Lead Mechanical Engineer

Must be located within a commutable distance of one of the following office locations:

• King of Prussia, PA


• Columbus, OH


• Raleigh, NC


• Rochester, NY

The salary for this position is between $140,000-$170,000, contingent upon the candidate’s experience and demonstrated technical proficiency.

We’re seeking a full‑time mechanical engineer to lead our expanding team and contribute to the design and management of mechanical and piping projects in the pharmaceutical and food & beverage industries.

Reporting directly to the President of Laporte Consultants, this is a newly created role that we are motivated to have in place by the end of April 2026.

LAPORTE is a consulting engineering firm which has been in business for 25 years. Today, the company has 25 offices across North America and Europe, and over 500 employees with a passion for engineering.

Join us for a competitive salary, compensatory PTO, comprehensive benefits, and a supportive work environment that emphasizes professional growth. We believe in a flexible working environment that values work‑life balance while encouraging efficiency and creativity on a daily basis.

The Lead Mechanical Engineer will be driven to lead projects and a team independently and have experience in developing conceptual, preliminary and detailed designs, drawings, and specifications for the following services:

• HVACsystems


• Chilledwatersystems


• Heatingsystem


• Plumbing

Otherresponsibilities:

• Mentorandgrowthemechanicalteam.


• ManagecontractsandclientsforMEPprojects.


• Manageandqualityreviewofdeliverablesandprojectexecution(estimated50%ofworkload).


• MechanicalsuchasHVAC,hydronicandsteamsystemsdesign(estimated50%ofworkload).


• Assesstherequirementsofprojects,breakthemintotasks,andworkwiththeProjectManagerstodeterminethescopeofwork,budget,andstaffing.Writethescopeofworkformechanicalorutilitydesignbasedonpreliminaryreviewandmeetingswiththeclients.


• Prepareengineeringstudiesandschematicdesignsfornewsystemsandanalyzetheoperationofexistingsystems.


• Expectationtobeintheofficeaminimumof3daysperweek.

BasicQualifications

• Bachelor’sdegreeinmechanicalengineering


• Experienceinengineeringconsultingintheagrifood,bioindustrial,F&B,and/orpharmaceuticalindustries.


• 8+yearsofdesignengineeringexperience,preferablywithinthedesignconsultingspace.


• KnowledgeofHVACsystemdesignandexperiencewithcentralutilitiesincludingsteam,chilledwaterandcompressedairsystems.


• SolidknowledgeofmechanicalcodesandstandardsincludingASHRAE&ACGIH


• FamiliaritywithISPEandHACCPrequirements


• ProficiencyinusingAutoCAD&Revit