Lead Project Engineer- Building Mechanical Systems

Kelly Science, Engineering, Technology & Telecom; Richmond (VA); Hybrid; USD 114,000 - 162,000; Full time

Job summary

Kelly Science, Engineering, Technology & Telecom in Richmond, VA seeks a Building Mechanical Lead responsible for HVAC, air-handling units, piping and fire protection design through design, construction, commissioning, qualification, startup and turnover.

You will coordinate with engineering, quality, manufacturing, facilities and contractors, review drawings and calculations, and manage scope, schedule, budget while guiding interfaces between systems.

Qualifications

• Designed to lead mechanical workstreams in building projects.
• Experience with HVAC, air handling units, piping, plumbing, and fire protection.
• Ability to manage project lifecycle from design to turnover.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary stakeholders and vendors.

Responsibilities

• Lead assigned building-mechanical workstreams focusing on HVAC, AHUs, piping, plumbing, and fire protection.
• Own portions of the mechanical systems and coordinate interfaces between systems and work packages.
• Drive systems through design, construction, commissioning, qualification, startup, and turnover.
• Coordinate engineering firms, CM teams, contractors, vendors, and project reps.
• Review designs, drawings, specs, calculations, and related docs.
• Manage scope, schedules, budgets, risks, changes, and vendor coordination; report status and resolve issues.
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Facilities, and EHS to ensure safe project delivery.
• Support URS, design-basis docs, commissioning materials, and turnover docs as needed.

Skills

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Eng

HVAC systems

Piping & plumbing

Fire protection

Vendor coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field

Job description

• Work arrangement: Hybrid flexibility Q1 2027 but will be required to be onsite full time as the project progresses
• Multiyear project: 1-5 years based on performance, funding, and project needs
• Pay up to $100 per hour based on experience plus per diem for candidates outside of the area

What you’ll do

• Lead assigned building-mechanical workstreams, with focus on HVAC, air-handling units, mechanical piping, plumbing, and fire protection.
• Own defined portions of the building’s mechanical systems—not the entire building—and coordinate interfaces between systems and work packages.
• Drive assigned systems through design, construction, commissioning, qualification, startup, and turnover.
• Coordinate engineering firms, construction management teams, contractors, vendors, and project representatives.
• Review engineering designs and technical deliverables, including drawings, specifications, calculations, and related documentation.
• Manage assigned scope, schedules, budgets, risks, changes, and vendor coordination; communicate status and resolve issues.
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Facilities, and EHS to support safe, compliant project delivery.
• Support preparation or review of User Requirements Specifications (URS), design-basis documents, commissioning and qualification materials, and system turnover documentation as needed.

What you’ll bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Experience with building mechanical systems or capital projects focusing on HVAC, air handling, mechanical piping, plumbing, or fire protection.
• Ability to manage work across the project lifecycle, from design through construction, commissioning/qualification, and turnover.
• Experience coordinating vendors, and multidisciplinary stakeholders.
• Experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, regulated manufacturing preferred but other industries considered
• Must have flexibility to work onsite location at Richmond, VA