Mechanical Design Engineer

GFT; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Benefits package

401(k)

PTO

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development

Incentive compensation

Job summary

GFT in Chicago is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer (HVAC) to design building HVAC and plumbing systems, and to coordinate across teams for on-time, on-budget delivery.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in mechanical or architectural engineering with a mechanical focus and 5+ years of relevant HVAC/plumbing design experience. Proficiency in REVIT/BIM and Office 365 is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or architectural engineering with a mechanical focus.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in HVAC and plumbing systems design.
• HVAC design includes load calculations, equipment performance, documentation and ASHRAE familiarity.
• Plumbing design includes water supply and drainage layouts and ASPE guidelines.
• Knowledge of applicable codes and BIM workflows (REVIT).
• Office 365 proficiency; strong writing, speaking and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Design building HVAC and plumbing systems, including calculations, layouts, sizing, equipment selections, specifications, and coordination.
• Lead and participate in client, agency, and project team meetings.
• Deliver projects on time and within client budgets and in accordance with quality procedures.
• Document work in REVIT and coordinate BIM workflows across disciplines.
• Provide construction administration and site visits; respond to RFIs and review shop drawings.
• Support marketing efforts and manage project tasks.

Skills

HVAC design

Load calculations

Equipment performance

Plumbing design

Water supply

Drainage layouts

ASPE guidelines

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or architectural engineering

Tools

REVIT

Job description

What You Will Do

GFT is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to join our Building and Places Team in Chicago. This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at our Chicago office.

At GFT, the Mechanical team is dedicated to creating efficient, innovative solutions for mechanical systems, ensuring comfort and sustainability in every project. From energy‑efficient power systems to advanced HVAC and plumbing designs, our team contributes to a resilient and sustainable built environment, pushing the boundaries of building system design and optimizing performance while addressing the unique needs of each facility. Explore some of our signature projects.

What You’ll Be Challenged To Do

We are seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer (HVAC) in our Chicago office. The candidate will be responsible for designing heating, ventilation, and air‑conditioning (HVAC) systems; plumbing systems; and may have experience with LiDAR scanning and point‑cloud integration to BIM, REVIT family creation, systems design and applications, economic evaluations, life‑cycle cost analyses, equipment selection, specifications authorship, construction estimating, construction administration, and commissioning of mechanical systems. Projects involve public works, mass transit, commercial, educational, and federal facilities. Experience with supervising employees and sustainability certifications is a plus.

As a Mechanical Engineer at GFT you will provide technical support on design aspects on assigned projects. The successful candidate must demonstrate creativity, foresight, and mature engineering judgment in anticipating and solving problems.

Responsibilities

• Design building HVAC and plumbing systems including calculations, layouts, sizing, equipment selections, specifications, and coordination.
• Lead and participate in meetings with clients, state agencies, city agencies, utility service representatives, and project teams.
• Deliver projects on time and within client budgets.
• Deliver projects in compliance with client and company quality control procedures and engineering guidelines.
• Daily interaction and collaboration on cross‑functional teams across multiple disciplines.
• Document work product in REVIT.
• Provide construction administration services; on‑site construction administration, shop drawing review, request for information response, and client meetings and coordination.
• Perform site visits, surveys/inspections to evaluate existing building mechanical systems.
• Participate in marketing efforts.
• Project and task management.

Education | Experience

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or architectural engineering with a mechanical focus and five or more years of relevant experience in the design of HVAC and plumbing systems.

What You Will Bring To Our Firm

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or architectural engineering with mechanical focus.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in the design of HVAC and plumbing systems.
• HVAC design skills including heating and cooling load and equipment performance (pumps, fans, compressors, boilers, chillers) calculation routines, systems documentation, and familiarity with ASHRAE guidelines.
• Plumbing design skills including water supply and drainage systems piping layouts and familiarity with ASPE guidelines.
• Knowledge of applicable codes.
• General knowledge base for building design and building services coordination, mechanical (HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection) systems layout within REVIT, and integration of BIM workflows in mechanical system design.
• Proficiency in the use of Office 365 applications.
• Excellent writing, oral communication, and presentation skills.
• Effective interpersonal communication skills, a team‑oriented disposition and work style, with cooperative work sharing and peer‑to‑peer mentoring as a daily habit.
• Personal inclination to learn and grow via internal training, external training, and senior staff mentorship.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $85,000 – $120,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.

Featured Benefits

• Hybrid (in‑person and remote) work environment.
• Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Tax‑deferred 401(k) savings plan.
• Competitive paid‑time‑off (PTO) accrual.
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
• Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations.
• Incentive compensation for eligible positions.

Company Overview

At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – that’s why we’re the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industry’s brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more.

Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century’s experience, together we’re building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives.

GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives™ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status or other characteristics protected by law.

GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.

Location

Chicago, IL

Core Business Hours

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Employment Status

Full‑Time

Salary Range

$85,000 – $120,000

Salary dependent upon experience and geographic location.

Fair Chance Statements

Applicants in the County of Los Angeles – Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Applicants in the City of San Francisco – Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Applicants in the State of California – Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act.