Principal, Facility Engineering

Draper Labs; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work-life balance programs

Employee clubs and cultural activities

Job summary

Draper in Cambridge, MA seeks a Principal Facilities Engineer to serve as the highest-level technical authority for facility infrastructure systems, including MEP, HVAC, and building automation, supporting lab and manufacturing operations.

The role leads Capex delivery and internal engineering support, guiding standards, compliance, and strategic investments, while mentoring staff and coordinating with regulators, suppliers, and cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline is required.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive facilities engineering experience.
• Experience in laboratory, manufacturing, pharmaceutical or regulated environments preferred.
• Ability to access mechanical spaces and perform field inspections.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical authority for facility infrastructure systems.
• Develop and implement long-term facility infrastructure strategies.
• Lead planning and execution of complex capital projects from concept through commissioning.
• Provide strategic engineering guidance to senior leadership regarding facility investments, risk mitigation and capacity planning.
• Resolve highly complex multidisciplinary engineering issues and lead root cause investigations.
• Establish, maintain and continuously improve facility engineering standards and compliance with applicable codes and regulations.
• Lead and influence cross-functional teams, contractors, consultants and external partners to achieve objectives.
• Evaluate emerging technologies to drive innovation, reliability, sustainability, and efficiency.
• Oversee engineering reviews for facility modifications, expansions and equipment installations to ensure compliance.
• Interact with regulatory agencies, auditors, architects, engineering firms, contractors and key partners.
• Conduct field investigations, facility assessments and infrastructure inspections.
• Mentor engineering personnel and influence organizational policies and practices.

Skills

Facility systems

Capital project leadership

Engineering design principles

Leadership & project management

CAD software

Building management systems

Code compliance & ASHRAE

Field investigations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

4+ years credited institution

Tools

CAD software

Building management systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview:

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Job Description Summary:

The Principal Facilities Engineer serves as the organization's highest-level technical authority for facility infrastructure systems, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), HVAC, building automation, and critical utility systems supporting laboratory and manufacturing operations. This role provides strategic leadership for facility engineering standards, infrastructure reliability, long term capacity planning, and capital investment strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and operational continuity. This position operates across two core areas of responsibility that represent enterprise-level engineering needs: capital projects (Capex) delivery and internal facility engineering support. An incumbent in this role may be assigned to lead and govern Capex initiatives, including design validation, engineering reviews, request for information (RFI) resolution, commissioning oversight, and end to end execution of high impact infrastructure and equipment projects. In parallel, an incumbent may provide advanced internal engineering support for facilities operations, including resolution of complex technical issues, evaluation of system performance and support of laboratory, production and facility infrastructure requirements. Assignment to focus area will be determined by management based on organizational needs. This position includes periodic field investigations and facility assessments. The incumbent must be able to access mechanical spaces, rooftops, utility areas and other facility locations requiring ladder climbing, stair navigation and inspection activities.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority and subject matter expert for all facility infrastructure systems, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, building automation and critical utility systems.
• Develop and implement long-term facility infrastructure strategies that align with organizational growth, operational requirements and business objectives.
• Lead the planning, prioritization, and execution of complex, high-value capital projects and infrastructure programs from concept development through commissioning and operational handoff.
• Provide strategic engineering guidance to senior leadership regarding facility investments, risk mitigation, capacity planning and infrastructure modernization.
• Resolve highly complex multidisciplinary engineering issues and lead root cause investigations for significant facility system failures.
• Establish, maintain and continuously improve facility engineering standards, design criteria, specifications, and best practices with ensuring compliance with applicable codes and regulations.
• Lead and influence cross-functional teams, contractors, consultants and external partners to achieve project and operational objectives.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and industry trends to drive innovation, reliability improvements, sustainability initiatives, and operational efficiencies.
• Oversee engineering reviews for facility modifications, expansions and equipment installations to ensure compliance.
• Serve as primary engineering representative for interactions with regulatory agencies, auditors, architects, engineering firms, contractors and key external partners.
• Conduct field investigations, facility assessments and infrastructure inspections.
• Mentor engineering personnel and influence organizational policies, engineering practices and strategic decision-making related to facility infrastructure and operations.

Skills/Abilities

• Expert knowledge of facility infrastructure systems, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), HVAC, building automation, and critical utility systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale capital projects, infrastructure programs and multidisciplinary engineering initiatives.
• Advanced knowledge of engineering design principles, facility lifecycle management, asset reliability and infrastructure planning.
• Strong leadership, project management, stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Expert knowledge with CAD software, engineering analysis tools, building management systems, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Working knowledge of laboratory, manufacturing, data center and other critical facility environments including code compliance and ASHRAE standards.
• Physical capability to lift, carry, position and safely use ladders and inspection equipment to perform field investigations, facility assessments and infrastructure inspections. (field work ~1020%)

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline required.
• 4 Years or more of Credited Institution

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of progressive responsibility facilities engineering experience required.
• Experience supporting laboratory, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, biotechnology or other highly regulated environments preferred.

Additional Job Description:

Applicants selected for this position may be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

Job Location - City:

Cambridge

Job Location - State:

Massachusetts

Job Location - Postal Code:

02139-3563

Salary

The US base salary range for this full-time position is

$100,000.00 - $275,000.00

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Benefits

Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities.

EEO Statement

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact [e-mail].