Mechanical Designer

Ghafari Associates, LLC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

Short-Term & Long-Term Disability

401(k) match

Flexible Spending Accounts

Health Savings Accounts

Teladoc

Employee Assistance Program

Professional License Reimbursement

Educational Assistance

Voluntary Pet Insurance

Parental Leave

Paid Time Off

8 Paid Holidays

Job summary

Ghafari Associates, LLC in Chicago, IL seeks a Senior Mechanical Designer to develop construction drawings and specifications for new construction or renovations, under supervision. The role focuses on HVAC, piping, plumbing, and fire protection within building codes, with independence on smaller projects.

You will review scope and budgets with Project Manager, perform energy calculations, create CAD/BIM documents, coordinate with other disciplines, and ensure compliance and quality across

Qualifications

• Degree in architectural or mechanical engineering preferred.
• LEED credential preferred.
• 10+ years in mechanical engineering (HVAC/building systems).
• Proficient with Revit/AutoCAD; energy calculations experience.
• Strong communication and attention to detail.
• Experience producing construction drawings and specs.

Responsibilities

• Review project scope, budgets, constraints, and design approach with PM/clients.
• Perform calculations and energy models; design HVAC, piping, plumbing, fire protection.
• Create CAD/BIM documents using Revit/AutoCAD with support as needed.
• Edit or draft project specifications and conduct field measurements.
• Coordinate with other disciplines and communicate scope changes.

Skills

Excellent communication

Attention to detail

Project collaboration

Energy modeling

Education

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering

LEED Accredited professional

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

Trane Trace 700

Bluebeam

BIM 360

Carrier HAP

Job description

Job Description

General Summary: The Senior Mechanical Designer, with some supervision from the Manager of Mechanical Engineering, will provide or extend mechanical systems design for new construction and/or renovation of industrial, commercial and institutional facilities as requested by the client. The Senior Mechanical Designer will develop construction drawings and specifications, which address the installation, integration, interconnection and control of mechanical components within the standard building codes and will work independently on smaller, less complex projects.

Essential Job Functions

• With some assistance, review and/or establish project scope, mechanical budget, necessary constraints and design approach with Project Manager and/or client
• With assistance, perform calculations and energy models; formulate design and layout of mechanical systems including HVAC, piping, plumbing, and fire protection
• Create engineering documents using computer aided design (CAD) technology utilizing Autodesk (Revit and AutoCAD) or manually with support from more junior staff
• Edit or draft project specifications
• Conduct field measuring and checking at the construction site
• Maintain working knowledge of latest building codes and standards used in the industry
• Review drawings for omissions, errors, overall quality, content accuracy, compliance with standards and codes
• Review product submittals for design content, specify action to be taken to reach specification compliance
• Maintain organized project file containing project calculations, correspondence, appropriate reference materials, etc.
• Prepare project file updates, transmittals, letters, reports, requests for reproduction services
• With assistance, select and source equipment
• Coordinate project with other disciplines
• Communicate scope changes to Manager of Mechanical Engineering and Project Manager
• Perform related duties as assigned

Employment Qualifications

Education: Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field preferred

LEED Accredited professional preferred

Experience: 10+ years of related experience in mechanical engineering field (HVAC/building systems)

Skills/Competencies: Proficiency with Revit, AutoCAD, Trane Trace 700 or other building energy calculation software, and Bluebeam Knowledge in BIM 360 and Carrier HAP a bonus

Excellent written and verbal communication

Strong attention to detail

Benefits

The annual base salary range for this position is $75,000.00 to $115,000.00. Individual pay is based on factors such as relevant experience, job-related skills, education, and training.

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• 401(k) match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts
• Teladoc
• Employee Assistance Program
• Professional License Reimbursement
• Educational Assistance
• Voluntary Pet Insurance
• Parental Leave
• Paid Time Off
• 8 Paid Holidays

About Us

At Ghafari Associates, we don’t just design buildings—we help shape the future of the industries we serve. As a global leader in architecture, engineering, and consulting, we partner with clients to deliver forward-thinking solutions that transform how people work, manufacture, and connect. Our strength lies in our people. We bring together curious minds, technical experts, and creative problem-solvers who thrive on collaboration and innovation. Whether supporting major industrial programs or advancing federal and commercial projects, our teams are empowered to make a meaningful impact—both for our clients and within our communities. We are committed to investing in our employees’ financial, physical, and emotional well-being, as well as their professional growth. Through robust training, licensure support, internships, mentorships, and tuition reimbursement, we provide the resources our people need to build rewarding careers while making a lasting difference in the communities we are proud to call home.

Equal Opportunity and Diversity

Ghafari Associates is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. As a federal contractor, Ghafari Associates maintains affirmative action programs for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in accordance with applicable laws.

Pay Transparency

Ghafari Associates will not disclose or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Ghafari is a community where talent thrives. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to deepen your skills, collaborate with industry leaders, and work on transformative projects around the globe.