Principal Mechanical Engineer

Valdes Architecture & Engineering; Lombard (IL); On-site; USD 145,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Valdes Architecture & Engineering seeks a Principal Mechanical Engineer to provide senior technical leadership across municipal infrastructure, water and wastewater, building systems, and life sciences markets.

The role requires a PE license, a BS in Mechanical Engineering, and 12+ years of experience. You will mentor engineers, lead projects from planning to commissioning, and coordinate with multidisciplinary teams while engaging clients as a trusted advisor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering is required.
• Active Professional Engineer (PE) license is required.
• 12+ years of progressively responsible mechanical engineering experience.
• Demonstrated leadership of complex mechanical engineering assignments.
• Ability to review calculations, specifications, and drawings with senior oversight.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior technical leadership for complex mechanical projects across multiple markets.
• Lead mechanical design from planning through commissioning, including design criteria and calculations.
• Mentor engineers and designers and review technical deliverables.
• Coordinate interfaces with other disciplines and ensure compliance with codes and client standards.
• Engage with clients as a trusted technical advisor and contribute to proposals and project pursuits.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Leadership

Client communication

Mentoring

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

Job description

Valdes Architecture & Engineering is seeking an accomplished Principal Mechanical Engineer to provide senior technical leadership across municipal infrastructure, water and wastewater, building systems, industrial process facilities, utility and power infrastructure, and life sciences markets.

The Principal Mechanical Engineer is one of the most senior technical positions within the Mechanical Engineering Department and serves as a technical authority, mentor, and trusted advisor to clients and project teams. This individual leads complex mechanical engineering assignments, establishes technical direction, resolves difficult or non-routine engineering problems, provides senior-level quality review, and develops the technical capabilities of other engineers.

The position requires independent engineering judgment and technical leadership from planning and conceptual design through construction and commissioning.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Serve as a technical authority for complex mechanical engineering projects and design challenges.
• Establish design criteria and technical direction for mechanical systems and equipment.
• Apply advanced engineering judgment to resolve complex, unusual, or non-routine engineering problems.
• Evaluate alternative systems and equipment based on performance, reliability, constructability, maintainability, lifecycle cost, and client requirements.
• Identify technical risks and develop practical, defensible engineering solutions.
• Provide technical consultation to clients and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Serve as Engineer of Record or responsible mechanical engineer when appropriate.

Provide technical leadership in one or more areas including:

• HVAC, plumbing, and building utility systems
• Process and utility piping
• Pumping systems
• Steam, condensate, heating, and cooling water systems
• Compressed air, gas, and fuel systems
• Pumps, compressors, heat exchangers, tanks, vessels, and packaged equipment
• Piping layouts, stress analysis, supports, and equipment interfaces

Project Leadership & Delivery

• Serve as Mechanical Lead on large, technically complex, and multidisciplinary projects.
• Lead mechanical engineering from planning and conceptual design through construction and commissioning.
• Develop and review project scopes, design criteria, engineering estimates, schedules, and budgets.
• Provide technical direction to engineers and designers and coordinate mechanical interfaces with other disciplines.
• Review and approve calculations, specifications, drawings, equipment selections, data sheets, reports, and construction documents.
• Identify technical, scope, schedule, and budget risks and work with Project Management to resolve them.
• Ensure deliverables meet project requirements, applicable codes, client standards, and Valdes quality expectations.

Field & Construction Support

• Lead field investigations and assessments of existing mechanical systems.
• Provide senior-level engineering judgment in resolving field conditions, construction issues, and equipment problems.
• Review RFIs, submittals, shop drawings, and proposed field modifications.
• Participate in equipment inspections, factory testing, startup, and commissioning.
• Ensure designs consider constructability, maintainability, accessibility, operations, and personnel safety.

Engineering Standards, Quality & Mentorship

• Provide senior-level QA/QC review of mechanical engineering deliverables, including the underlying design basis and technical approach.
• Help develop and improve department standards, specifications, procedures, calculation methods, and design practices.
• Promote consistent application of sound engineering practices and lessons learned.
• Mentor engineers and designers and help develop future technical leaders.
• Provide technical guidance while allowing developing engineers appropriate ownership of their work.
• Share technical knowledge and provide clear, constructive technical feedback.

Client Engagement & Business Development

• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to clients.
• Participate in client meetings, planning sessions, presentations, and technical discussions.
• Support proposals, project pursuits, scope development, technical approaches, and fee development.
• Identify opportunities where Valdes' mechanical engineering capabilities can address client needs.
• Develop and maintain strong technical relationships with clients.

Technical Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate advanced knowledge of mechanical engineering fundamentals and significant technical depth in one or more mechanical engineering areas.

Experience may include:

• Municipal infrastructure and water/wastewater
• Building mechanical systems
• Power generation and energy
• Industrial and central utility systems
• Industrial and process facilities
• Mechanical equipment and piping systems
• Pharmaceutical and life sciences facilities

The candidate shall demonstrate:

• Advanced ability to develop and review mechanical calculations, specifications, data sheets, equipment selections, reports, and construction documents.
• Strong knowledge of applicable codes and standards including ASME, ASHRAE, AWWA, NFPA, API, IMC, IPC, IBC, and applicable state and local requirements.
• Ability to direct and review work using applicable engineering analysis and design software.
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD and Revit sufficient to direct and review design work.
• Ability to communicate complex engineering issues clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Active Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• 12+ years of progressively responsible mechanical engineering experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex mechanical engineering assignments and multidisciplinary projects.
• Demonstrated ability to establish technical direction and independently resolve complex engineering problems.
• Demonstrated ability to review and approve mechanical engineering calculations, specifications, drawings, equipment selections, and technical deliverables.
• Experience mentoring and providing technical direction to engineers and designers.
• Strong client-facing communication skills
• Ability and willingness to travel to client and project sites as required.
• Must possess exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills
• Must be able to work in the US without sponsorship now or in the future

Preferred

• Experience serving as Engineer of Record or responsible Mechanical Engineer.
• Experience across multiple mechanical engineering markets or system types.
• Experience with rehabilitation and modernization of existing facilities.
• Experience developing engineering standards and QA/QC practices.
• Experience supporting proposals, project pursuits, and client development.

What Success Looks Like

A successful Principal Mechanical Engineer is recognized as a trusted technical authority who can lead the department's most challenging mechanical engineering assignments while improving the capabilities of the engineers around them.

The Principal Engineer provides sound technical direction when solutions are not obvious, identifies and manages engineering risk, develops practical and defensible solutions, and strengthens the department through technical leadership, mentorship, quality, and client confidence.

$145,000 - $185,000 a year

Salaries for all positions are based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, total years of experience in the industry, education, skills, and qualifications. Compensation may vary depending on the candidate's individual background and expertise. Salaries are subject to fluctuation outside of the given range. The indicated range is not a commitment and meant as a guideline. All compensation, exempt or non-exempt status, and benefits will be discussed during the interview process.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.