Mid-Level Building Mechanical Engineer, Water

Jacobs; Oakland (CA); Hybrid; USD 91,000 - 173,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) plan

Stock purchase plan

Unlimited PPTO

Seven paid holidays

Caregiver leave

Job summary

Jacobs in California seeks a Mid-Level Building Mechanical Engineer to design HVAC, plumbing and fire protection systems for water, wastewater, and building projects. You will perform load calculations, energy analyses, and coordinate with architects and clients while mentoring junior engineers.

Required is a BS in mechanical engineering with 5+ years of experience and a PE license or ability to obtain within a year; strong data analysis and MS Office skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field.
• PE license or ability to obtain within one year.
• Strong data analysis and organizational skills; ability to multitask.

Responsibilities

• Design complete HVAC systems including central plants, using ASHRAE, NFPA and related codes.
• Design plumbing, fire protection, and central utilities systems with vendor coordination.
• Perform HVAC load calculations, energy analyses, and RESCHECK/COMCHECK compliance.
• Prepare drawings, specifications, and design reports; supervise junior engineers.
• Coordinate with architects, engineers, technicians; lead client meetings and manage budgets.

Skills

Data analysis

MS Office

Organizational skills

Multitasking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering

PE license or eligible within 1 year

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

We are looking for a driven Mid-Level Building Mechanical Engineer based out of California, to join our team for some of the most exciting infrastructure projects. You will join a core group of mechanical engineers and designers to deliver innovative solutions to challenging technical problems that our water and wastewater clients face by planning, designing and focusing on HVAC, plumbing, and fire sprinkler systems. These projects typically feature process treatment buildings, administration/operations buildings, laboratories and maintenance buildings, and occasional assignments for other business units, including federal, industrial, and institutional projects.

You will design building mechanical systems in areas of potable and non-potable water distribution, building and roof drainage systems, HVAC systems, fire protection and odor control assets; central hydronic plant design (boilers, chillers, cooling towers); and designing central utilities and process exhaust systems for manufacturing, lab, and office spaces. You will be part of our Infrastructure Design Department to provide the following services

• Design complete HVAC systems, including package type and central plants, using building codes and standards including ASHRAE, NFPA, SMACNA, IBC, IECC, etc.
• Design HVAC control systems with integration to SCADA and building management systems.
• Design plumbing systems, including utility and potable distribution systems, drainage systems, and miscellaneous systems such as compressed air and natural gas.
• Design fire protection systems using a performance system approach.
• Perform calculations for HVAC loads, duct and pipe sizing, lifecycle costs, and energy analyses, including energy compliance using RESCHECK and COMCHECK software.
• Prepare calculations for plumbing systems, including water and drainage flows, water heater sizing and pump sizing and selection.
• Prepare detailed design drawings and specifications, basis of design reports and technical memoranda, including equipment selection and vendor coordination.
• Conduct field evaluations and develop as-built drawings.
• Manage and coordinate work with architects, engineers and technicians, including mentoring junior engineers.
• Lead meetings and communicate with clients, vendors, and other project stakeholders to establish project needs and discuss design issues.
• Manage quality and schedule of work and interface with clients and contractors.
• Manage project budgets, including estimating efforts to complete deliverables.
• Support field staff during construction phase of projects, including performing site work, responding to submittal reviews and requests for information.

Here’s what you’ll need

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressive building mechanical engineering and project delivery experience.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license, or ability to obtain one within one year.
• Motivation, strong data analysis skills, technical problem-solving ability, organizational skills, and the ability to effectively multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficient skills with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $91,400.00 to $172,600.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Job posted on September 01, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.