Principal Mechanical Engineer, Rail + Transit

Global Infrastructure; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and life insurance

Education benefits

Paid time off

Retirement plan with company match

Job summary

TYLin in New York is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead the design and delivery of mechanical systems for complex transit infrastructure, focusing on HVAC, tunnel ventilation, and vertical transportation for MTA stations.

This senior role combines technical leadership with project management across multidisciplinary teams, with opportunity to grow scope beyond New York.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (Master’s preferred).
• 15+ years of progressive mechanical engineering experience in rail or transit.
• Expertise in HVAC and tunnel ventilation design for underground facilities.
• Experience with elevator/vertical transportation design.
• PE license strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical design of HVAC, tunnel ventilation, smoke control, and supporting building systems for transit stations, tunnels, and rail facilities.
• Serve as a technical authority for vertical transportation systems, including elevators and related station accessibility systems.
• Manage design packages from concept through final design, including drawings, specifications, and engineering reports.
• Oversee engineering calculations, airflow modeling, system sizing, and performance-based design approaches.
• Ensure compliance with applicable standards and codes, including NFPA, ASHRAE, NYC Building Code, and transit authority requirements.
• Partner closely with architects, structural, electrical, fire/life safety, and systems teams to deliver fully integrated solutions.
• Provide project management leadership, supporting schedules, budgets, technical coordination, and client interface.
• Mentor and develop mechanical engineering staff, helping grow TYLin’s mechanical design capability within Rail + Transit.
• Participate in design reviews, QA/QC processes, and technical decision-making throughout project delivery.

Skills

Technical leadership

Project management

HVAC design

Tunnel ventilation

Vertical transportation

Client interaction

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Job description

TYLin is a globally recognized, full-service infrastructure consulting firm committed to providing innovative, cost-effective, constructible designs for the global infrastructure market. With over 3,000 employees throughout the Americas, Asia, and Europe, the firm provides support on projects of varying size and complexity. Together, we enhance conventional designs with smarter, more resilient systems. We provide people with better mobility. We steward precious resources by finding more sustainable solutions.

Job Summary

TYLin’s Rail + Transit team is expanding, and we are seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead the design and delivery of mechanical systems for some of the most complex transit infrastructure projects in North America. This is a senior technical and project management leadership role focused on HVAC, tunnel ventilation, and elevator/vertical transportation systems supporting MTA stations, tunnels, and transit facilities.

If you are passionate about mechanical design excellence, solving high-stakes engineering challenges in underground and urban environments, this is an opportunity to shape the next generation of rail and transit systems.

While this role is anchored in the New York / MTA market, the scope is expected to grow over time and may expand to support major transit programs in other regions across the U.S.

Responsibilities & Qualifications

What You’ll Do

As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will provide both technical leadership and project oversight across multidisciplinary design teams delivering critical station and facility infrastructure.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the mechanical design of HVAC, tunnel ventilation, smoke control, and supporting building systems for transit stations, tunnels, and rail facilities.

• Serve as a technical authority for vertical transportation systems , including elevators and related station accessibility systems.

• Manage design packages from concept through final design, including drawings, specifications, and engineering reports.

• Oversee engineering calculations, airflow modeling, system sizing, and performance-based design approaches.

• Ensure compliance with applicable standards and codes, including NFPA, ASHRAE, NYC Building Code, and transit authority requirements.

• Partner closely with architects, structural, electrical, fire/life safety, and systems teams to deliver fully integrated solutions.

• Provide project management leadership, supporting schedules, budgets, technical coordination, and client interface.

• Mentor and develop mechanical engineering staff, helping grow TYLin’s mechanical design capability within Rail + Transit.

• Participate in design reviews, QA/QC processes, and technical decision-making throughout project delivery.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (Master’s preferred).

• 15+ years of progressive mechanical engineering experience, ideally within rail, transit, or complex facility environments.

• Deep expertise in HVAC and tunnel ventilation design for underground or enclosed infrastructure.

• Experience supporting or leading elevator/vertical transportation design for station and facility projects.

• Strong knowledge of relevant engineering standards, life safety requirements, and transit agency design criteria.

• Proven ability to lead technical teams and manage design deliverables on major capital infrastructure programs.

• Excellent communication skills and confidence working directly with clients such as the MTA and other major transit agencies.

• PE license strongly preferred.

Additional Information

TYLin is committed to pay equity. As part of that commitment, we haveprovidedthe base compensation range of$200,000 - $260,000annually for this position and local market.We recognize that each candidate brings a unique set of skills, experience,educationand competencies to the table that will be reflected in our offer.TYLinis proud to offer exciting career development opportunities.

#LI-Hybrid

TYLin offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Our benefits may include extensive medical, disability and life insurance coverage, continuing education benefits, paid time off, employee assistance program and a retirement savings plan with company matching contributions.

We encourage all candidates to explore our total rewards offering.

Collaboration, mission-driven focus, discipline, and leadership skills developed through military service benefit us all. Whether you are a Veteran, Guardsman or Reservist, a Military Spouse or you are planning to transition to civilian life in the near future, we welcome and value your application.

TYLin is an equal opportunity employer, and we prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type as protected by federal, provincial, state or local laws. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.The company and its employees are required to comply with all local health authority, legal or lawful client requirements.