Mechanical HVAC Engineer

Actalent; Florida; On-site; USD 52,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

PTO / Vacation or Sick Leave

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Mechanical HVAC Engineer for a Cocoa, FL contract role focused on large-scale industrial cooling and mission-critical facilities.

The role covers design, construction, commissioning, and startup of HVAC and chilled water plants, with collaboration across design, construction, and operations teams to ensure reliable operation and energy efficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field.
• 25 years of engineering experience in HVAC, facilities, mechanical systems, or chilled water infrastructure.
• Experience with HVAC system design, installation, construction support, or commissioning.
• Familiarity with ASHRAE standards and industry best practices.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced construction/operational environment with multiple projects.
• Experience with VRF/VRV systems in industrial or mission-critical settings.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and/or Revit for mechanical design.
• Active participation in ASHRAE or professional engineering organizations.
• Understanding of energy and thermal management strategies in large-scale facilities.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement industrial HVAC and chilled water systems for mission-critical facilities.
• Support HVAC infrastructure that backs power substations and electrical distribution.
• Collaborate with owners representatives and third-party consultants to align design with goals.
• Develop technical requirements, specifications, and RFPs for construction contractors.
• Participate in contractor selection, design reviews, and project execution.
• Support commissioning of HVAC, chilled water, and mechanical utility systems.
• Coordinate with design, construction, and operations teams throughout the project lifecycle.
• Analyze cooling loads and assist in equipment sizing to meet efficiency targets.
• Assist in startup, troubleshooting, tuning, and balancing of systems.
• Evaluate solutions and recommend improvements for reliability and performance.

Skills

Strong problem-solving

Effective communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Fast-paced construction experience

VRF/VRV experience

Energy/thermal management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

Job description

Job Title: Mechanical HVAC Engineer

Job Title: Mechanical HVAC Engineer Job Description This role offers the opportunity to contribute to a major infrastructure expansion for a highly innovative aerospace-focused environment. As a Mechanical HVAC Engineer, you will play a key role in the design, construction, commissioning, and startup of large-scale HVAC and chilled water systems that support power distribution, substations, mission‑critical facilities, and industrial operations. You will work in a hands‑on capacity, solving complex technical problems, collaborating closely with construction teams, and seeing projects through from initial design to full activation. The position supports multiple facility projects running in parallel, with significant construction activity and ongoing efforts in system activation, startup, tuning, and optimization. You will join a deliberately small, high‑visibility team where motivated engineers have meaningful ownership of systems and solutions.

Responsibilities

• Support the design and implementation of industrial HVAC and chilled water systems for mission‑critical facilities.
• Assist with HVAC infrastructure that supports power substations and electrical distribution equipment.
• Collaborate with third‑party engineering consultants serving as owners representatives to align design and implementation with project goals.
• Help develop technical requirements, specifications, and Requests for Proposal (RFPs) for mechanical construction contractors.
• Participate in contractor selection processes, design reviews, and overall project execution activities.
• Support commissioning efforts for HVAC, chilled water, and mechanical utility systems to ensure reliable and efficient operation.
• Coordinate closely with design, construction, and operations teams throughout the full project lifecycle.
• Analyze facility cooling loads and contribute to equipment sizing activities to meet operational and efficiency requirements.
• Assist in startup, troubleshooting, tuning, balancing, and optimization of installed HVAC and chilled water systems.
• Evaluate engineering solutions and recommend improvements to meet evolving operational, reliability, and efficiency targets.
• Interface directly with internal stakeholders, contractors, and commissioning teams to maintain clear communication and alignment.
• Apply knowledge of chilled water plant design, industrial HVAC systems, central utility plants, air handlers, and large air movement systems.
• Support work related to variable‑speed pumping systems, power distribution facility cooling, building mechanical infrastructure, and controls integration.
• Contribute to energy and thermal management strategies for large‑scale cooling systems, including multiple 100‑ton chilled water systems and high‑capacity power hub cooling approaching 180 tons.
• Assist with systems that include chiller plants utilizing variable‑speed pumping, large industrial air handling units, cooling infrastructure for 4160V and 480V electrical equipment, and VRF/VRV systems.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• 25 years of engineering experience in HVAC, facilities, mechanical systems, or chilled water infrastructure.
• Practical experience with HVAC system design, installation, construction support, or commissioning.
• Solid understanding of chilled water systems, air handlers, pumps, and associated mechanical equipment.
• Familiarity with ASHRAE standards and industry best practices for HVAC and mechanical systems.
• Strong problem‑solving abilities with a high level of engineering curiosity and initiative.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced construction and operational environment with multiple projects running in parallel.
• Experience working with or around VRF and VRV systems in industrial or mission‑critical settings.
• Ability to collaborate with cross‑functional teams including design, construction, operations, and external consultants.
• Effective communication skills for interfacing with stakeholders, contractors, and commissioning teams.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in mission‑critical facilities, industrial facilities, utility infrastructure, manufacturing plants, aerospace, semiconductor, data center, or power generation environments.
• Hands‑on VRF/VRV design experience for complex facilities and cooling applications.
• Experience supporting commissioning, startup, balancing, and system optimization for HVAC and chilled water systems.
• Familiarity with HVAC controls and building automation systems, including integration with central utility plants.
• Experience reviewing contractor submittals, technical specifications, and construction drawings for mechanical systems.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and/or Revit for mechanical and HVAC design and documentation.
• Active participation in ASHRAE or other professional engineering organizations, demonstrating ongoing professional development.
• Exposure to chilled water plant design, central utility plants, large industrial air handling units, and power distribution facility cooling.
• Understanding of energy and thermal management strategies in large‑scale industrial or mission‑critical environments.

Work Environment

The work environment centers on large‑scale industrial and mission‑critical facilities, including power distribution hubs, substations, and advanced aerospace‑related operations. You will work closely with design, construction, and operations teams in a fast‑paced setting that moves from conceptual design through heavy construction, commissioning, startup, and system optimization. The role involves frequent interaction with third‑party engineering consultants, mechanical contractors, and commissioning specialists, and requires comfort with active construction sites and complex mechanical infrastructure. You will work with technologies such as chilled water plants with variable‑speed pumping, industrial HVAC systems, central utility plants, large air handling units, high‑capacity power hub cooling systems, cooling infrastructure for high‑voltage electrical equipment, and VRF/VRV systems, often integrated with sophisticated controls and building automation platforms. The team structure is intentionally small, promoting high visibility, significant ownership of projects, and close collaboration. Standard professional attire is expected in office and meeting settings, with appropriate safety gear required when visiting construction or industrial areas.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Cocoa, FL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 26, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Cocoa,FL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $38.00 - $50.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

Accommodation

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.