Mechanical Business Class Director

HDR; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking a senior Mechanical Engineering leader to drive complex, multi-discipline building projects across North America. The role focuses on design excellence, strategic growth, and mentoring a broad team of engineers.

The position supports HDR's Building Mechanical practice, offering opportunities to influence major facilities and data centers with a focus on innovation and sustainability. Based in the Phoenix area, remote options not specified.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in related field.
• Registered Professional Engineer (NA) or Chartered Engineer (EMEA/APAC).
• Aspirations towards Principal Professional Associate level.

Responsibilities

• Drive the community of practice and establish capabilities across HDR.
• Lead stakeholder engagement to identify technical experts for projects.
• Ensure high quality delivery and implement design oversight on complex projects.
• Mentor staff and develop succession strategies in the discipline.
• Advise on strategy, growth, and market leadership for the mechanical practice.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic planning

Project management

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

PE License (US)

Master's or PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

About Us

At HDR, we specialize in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. While we are most well-known for adding beauty and structure to communities through high-performance buildings and smart infrastructure, we provide much more than that. We create an unshakable foundation for progress because our multidisciplinary teams also include scientists, economists, builders, analysts and artists. That's why we believe diversity is our greatest strength. HDR is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer.

About Us

At HDR, we specialize in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. While we are most well-known for adding beauty and structure to communities through high-performance buildings and smart infrastructure, we provide much more than that. We create an unshakable foundation for progress because our multidisciplinary teams also include scientists, economists, builders, analysts and artists. That's why we believe diversity is our greatest strength. HDR is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer.

Watch Our Story: ' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'

We believe that the way we work can add meaning and value to the world. That ideas inspire positive change. That coloring outside the lines can illuminate fresh perspectives. And that small details yield important realizations. Above all, we believe that collaboration is the best way forward.

We believe building engineering is more than systems and structures, it’s about powering progress and enabling innovation. As part of HDR’s Building Engineering Services Group, you’ll help design the critical infrastructure that supports the digital age and shapes the spaces where people work, connect, and thrive. From high-performance data centers driving the future of AI to dynamic commercial environments, your work will directly support technological advancement, sustainability, and human experience. We bring together mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil engineering experts to solve complex design challenges with precision, creativity, and collaboration. Whether you're optimizing energy efficiency, integrating resilient systems, or engineering the backbone of next-generation facilities, your contributions will help define the future of the built environment. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to lead innovation, engineer impact, and build a legacy of excellence.

Primary Responsibilities

• Drive the community of practice
• Partner with key stakeholders to identify and develop a network of Technical Experts/Subject Matter Experts as needed to support the HDR enterprise spanning all business groups.
• Drive a service minded culture – be a key leader in establishing capabilities that support the enterprise spanning all business groups in exceptional project execution
• Develop and implement a mentoring and succession strategy for technical expertise.
• Develop and implement communication strategies to tie the North American and global community of professionals together for knowledge sharing.
• Create communities of practice like “practice groups” around special skills and/or emerging services.
• Technical excellence
• Implement strategy for development and maintenance of project delivery tools, standards, recommended practices, and workflows.
• Partner with Digital Delivery on digital content and workflows.
• Drive quality throughout the program, perform design quality control reviews, and lead quality initiatives, in support of a strong quality-oriented culture.
• Assist in ensuring project teams are leveraging subject matter experts to optimize project delivery – including providing design oversight and leading teams of experts on the most complex and challenging projects.
• Thought leadership and elevating the practice
• Foster a culture of innovation and advance innovation within the practice.
• Provide critical/strategic pursuit and interview support related to respective discipline as needed, and/or identify other qualified staff within discipline including key client engagement and development of technical scope and fee.
• Recruit and retain the best talent.
• Establish HDR as the recognized market leader in the mechanical discipline among clients and competitors.
• Strengthen HDR’s technical profile through industry awards, publications, speaking engagements, and leadership roles in professional societies and technical organizations.
• Strategy and growth
• Lead development of a comprehensive vision and strategy for respective discipline with the mission of establishing the practice as the best in the world in the next year, 3, 5, and 10 years.
• Identify, prioritize, and implement strategies for greatest opportunities to influence growth across the business.
• Facilitate alignment amongst key stakeholders around strategy

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering
• Minimum10 years of experience in related field
• Registered Professional Engineer (NA) or Chartered Engineer (EMEA/APAC)
• Should be aligned with Associates track for professional growth. Aspirations towards Principal Professional Associate level
• Significant design experience related to large, multi-discipline, complex buildings
• History of exceptional leadership performance and performance on project delivery
• Recognized technical expert within the local, national, global industry
• Known throughout HDR, by competitors, by clients, by industry talent
• History of receiving technical industry awards, technical publishing, presenting, and/or leadership opportunities with societies and technical organizations
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Why HDR

At HDR, we know work isn't only about who you work for it's also about what you do and how you do it. Led by the strength of our values and a culture shaped by employee ownership, we network with each other, build on each other's contributions, and collaborate together to make great things possible. When you join HDR, we give you license to do the same. We help you take charge of your career, giving you multiple growth opportunities along the way.

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success; which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time off and parental leave, paid holidays, 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonuses and tuition reimbursement. Typical starting pay range for this position is $150,000 - $220,000 annually depending upon skills, experience, education and geographical location.

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.) {Pay Transparency Location1}: $180,000 - $230,000

Primary Location: United States-Nebraska-Omaha

Other Locations: United States-Arizona-Phoenix, United States-North Carolina-Charlotte, United States-Texas-Austin, United States-Washington-Bellevue, United States-Missouri-Kansas City, United States-Colorado-Denver, United States-California-Folsom, United States-New Jersey-Pennington, United States-Florida-Orlando, United States-Illinois-Chicago, United States-California-Los Angeles, United States-New York-New York, United States-Minnesota-Minneapolis, United States-Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh, United States-Utah-Salt Lake City, United States-Texas-San Antonio, United States-Texas-Dallas, United States-Texas-Houston, United States-Virginia-Arlington, United States-California-Irvine, United States-Ohio-Columbus

Industry: Building Engineering

Schedule: Full-time

Employee Status: Regular

BusinessClass: Building Mechanical

Job Posting: Sep 10, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Aff… (https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.