Mid-Level Plumbing Engineer

Salas O’Brien, Inc.; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Salas O’Brien, Inc. in San Diego, CA, is seeking a Plumbing Engineer to lead plumbing system design for healthcare and complex facilities, manage projects, and direct designers. The role requires coordinating with multidisciplinary teams and contributing to project meetings.

The ideal candidate has 5–10 years of experience in design engineering, California code knowledge, and preferably a P.E. license. On-site work with remote Fridays is available, with up to 30% travel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• 5–10 years of experience engineering and managing plumbing systems projects.
• Client engagement and business development experience.
• Registration as P.E. preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical services and project control direction to clients and mentor other engineers.
• Engineer and design plumbing systems, including medical and laboratory piping and gases.
• Plan and evaluate plumbing systems for healthcare, life sciences, higher education, and data center markets.
• Perform engineering calculations, sizing, and assist with equipment selection.

Skills

Autodesk Revit

Navisworks

Independent worker

Client engagement

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Autodesk Revit

Navisworks

Job description

At Salas O’Brien we tell our clients that we’re engineered for impact. This passion for making a difference applies just as much to our team as it does to our projects. That’s why we’re committed to living our values every day: inspiring, achieving, and connecting as shared owners of our success with a focus on a sustainable future.

Building for the long-term means that all of our team members can expect to work on amazing projects with a people-first approach to problem solving. It also means that each member of our team has truly limitless potential to build a unique, meaningful, and high-impact career—and they’ll receive great total rewards along the way.

About Us

Founded in 1975, Salas O’Brien is an employee‑owned engineering and professional services firm focused on achieving impact for our clients, our team, and the world. We know that tomorrow’s requirements are today’s opportunities, and we are here to design lasting solutions for pressing challenges.

We work across a variety of industries providing integrated engineering and consulting services. Our specialized experience includes design for data centers, healthcare, science and technology, high‑rise buildings, clean energy, education, and other building types as well as structural and building sciences, infrastructure asset management, advanced robotics, and more.

Our technical expertise is paired with an exceptional team of business development, human resources, finance and accounting, information technology, and marketing professionals, all of whom play a key role in bringing our commitments to life every day.

Job Summary

The Plumbing Engineer will focus on engineering and delivery of plumbing system design for healthcare and other complex facilities. The role will entail managing engineering projects, directing designers & other disciplines, as well as personally performing engineering activities and engaging in project meetings.

Responsibilities

• Provide a superior level of technical services to our clients for their projects and technical support requirements, providing technical and project control direction, and mentoring other engineers and designers.
• Engineer and design plumbing systems, including medical and laboratory piping, medical gases, and specialized healthcare infrastructure.
• Provide engineering design, evaluation, and planning of plumbing systems for healthcare, life sciences, higher education, and data center market types.
• Perform engineering calculations, system sizing, and assist with equipment selection.
• Identify, formulate,and initiate solutions to complex problems requiring multiple-discipline involvement, along with discipline-specific analytical tools.
• Perform work activities on an individual basis or within a project team with limited need for supervision.
• Coordinate work activities that affect the quality of project control, scope development, proposals, engineering & design, document control, inspection & testing, and commissioning.
• Identify and resolve routine problems that involve the use of conflicting or incomplete information.
• Data gathering and site assessments at customer’s facilities.
• Review and editing of project specifications with minor assistance.
• Proficient knowledge of California code requirements, including California Building Code (CBC) and HCAI specific requirements.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to support project delivery across design and construction phases.
• Develop bidding documents for process equipment, fabrication, and construction.
• Ability to review Revit production models and work interactively with support staff in development of project deliverables.
• Support client interactions and participate in project meetings as needed.
• Assist with QA/QC reviews to ensure accuracy, quality, and compliance with applicable codes and standards.

Skills

• Advanced expertise with Autodesk software (Revit, Navisworks).
• Ability to comprehend, contribute to, and carry out strategies to manage our relationships with customers, suppliers, and alliance team members
• Experience at a design engineering firm required.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and take initiative to drive projects forward.

Team Contribution & Development

• Collaborate with senior engineers and project managers to deliver projects on schedule and within scope.
• Support proposal development and technical input for projects as needed.
• Participate in knowledge sharing and continuous improvement of design standards and best practices.
• Contribute to a positive team environment through effective communication and collaboration.
• Continue to build technical expertise in specialized plumbing systems.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• 5-10 years of experience engineering and managing plumbing systems projects from start to finish for the built environment.
• Client engagement and business development experience.
• Registration as P.E. preferred.

Location

• San Diego, CA (on-site with remote Fridays).

Travel

• Up to 30%.

Salas O’Brien 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. Team members have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Salas O’Brien has both U.S. and Canadian (PTO) plans for full‑time salaried, exempt and non‑team members, 10 paid holidays, and paid leave programs for military service and new parents. 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 $100,000 to $150,000. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

Salas O’Brien provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, or local laws. Salas O’Brien will accommodate the disability‑related needs of applicants as required by law.

Qualifications

Education

Preferred

Bachelors or better in Mechanical Engineering.

Licenses & Certifications

Preferred

Professional Engineer

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.