Mechanical Engineer

HDR, Inc.; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 96,600 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Disability insurance (short/long-term)

Life insurance

Retirement plan with employer match

Tuition reimbursement

Employee referral bonus

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

HDR in Arlington, VA is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to lead design of mechanical systems for commercial and institutional buildings. You will coordinate the design team through design development and contract documents, ensure code compliance, and manage schedule-critical workflows.

The role requires a PE license and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, with preference for candidates in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering required.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• Experience designing mechanical systems for commercial or institutional buildings.
• Experience with MS Office and Trane TRACE or similar software.
• Experience with an architectural/engineering firm.
• Commitment to employee-owned culture.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate mechanical design team from schematic design to contract documents.
• Design mechanical systems across varied building typologies.
• Coordinate the mechanical design team through schematic design development and contract document phase of a project
• Lead code compliance reviews with governing agencies.
• Coordinate workload to keep documents on schedule.
• Conduct site work sessions with Project Manager and other disciplines.
• Review documents for conflicts across disciplines.
• Write and edit mechanical specifications and select equipment.
• Coordinate changes via addenda, RFIs, CPRs and change orders.
• Provide construction contract administration as needed.
• QA/QC on colleagues' work.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Skills

Team coordination

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree in Architectural Engineering (Mechanical emphasis)

Tools

MS Office

Trane TRACE

Manufacturer selection software

Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

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

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.

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

In the role of Mechanical Engineer, we'll count on you to:

• Coordinate the work of the mechanical design team through the schematic design development and contract document phase of a project
• Be responsible for the design of mechanical systems across a variety of building typologies.
• Coordinate the work of the mechanical design team through the schematic design development and contract document phase of a project
• Establish meetings and participate in reviews with various governing agencies for code compliance
• Coordinate workload to complete the document on schedule
• Conduct work sessions at the project site in conjunction with the Project Manager and other disciplines
• Review mechanical documents for areas of conflict with all disciplines
• Write and edit mechanical specifications, selects equipment, mechanical systems and devices
• Coordinate with and assist affected disciplines with addenda, RFIs, CPRs and change orders, and take responsibility to incorporate agreed-upon changes into the project documents
• Provide construction contract administration as needed
• Conduct QA/QC on the work of other Mechanical Project Engineers, Mechanical Project Coordinators or Mechanical CAD Technicians as needed
• Perform other duties as needed

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Architectural Engineering with Mechanical emphasis
• A minimum of 3 years experience in mechanical system design of commercial, institutional, or federal buildings
• Experience with the design of healthcare, laboratory, data center, aerospace, and/or federal/DOD facilities.
• Experience and/or interest in sustainable design/LEED desired but not required.
• Preference given to candidates currently residing in the Mid-Atlantic (VA, MD, DC) Area

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering
• Previous experience in mechanical system design of commercial or institutional buildings
• Requires professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered. Example: Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.
• Experience in commercial or institutional facilities
• Computer experience using MS Office, Trane TRACE or similar software, manufacturer selection software
• Previous experience with an architectural/engineering or engineering consulting firm
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

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.) Arlington, VA: $96,600 - $138,000. Glen Allen, VA: $80,500 - $115,000.

Primary Location: United States-Virginia-Arlington

Other Locations: United States-Virginia-Glen Allen

Industry: Building Engineering

Schedule: Full-time

Employee Status: Regular

BusinessClass: Building Mechanical

Job Posting: Jul 24, 2026