Project Design Engineer

AllSTEM Connections; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

AllSTEM Connections is seeking a leadership-driven Plumbing Engineer to build and own the plumbing engineering function within a fast-growing design-build firm. You will collaborate directly with leadership, project managers, and field teams to shape systems for high-end commercial projects.

The ideal candidate brings commercial plumbing expertise, strong design-build experience, and a track record of stable employment while driving project portfolios forward.

Qualifications

• Proven knowledge of commercial plumbing systems.
• Experience delivering design-build projects.
• Demonstrated leadership in engineering teams or projects.
• A portfolio of projects demonstrating scope and impact.
• Ability to coordinate with electrical, mechanical, and architectural trades.

Responsibilities

• Lead plumbing engineering function from scope through design and build.
• Own 100% design-build drawings, permits, and city plan checks.
• Attend design meetings with leadership, PMs, and field teams.
• Draft RFIs and resolve design issues with teams.
• Drive growth by building a self-sustaining design-engineering platform.

Skills

Commercial plumbing

Design-build experience

Leadership

Project portfolio

Trades coordination

Job description

Plumbing Engineering Leadership Opportunity

Prominent commercial mechanical contractor specializing in high-end HVAC and plumbing solutions for the Silicon Valley and Greater Bay Area.

Revit and CAD are must haves!

This is not a support engineering role.

This is a leadership seat with the opportunity to build and own the plumbing engineering function within a fast-growing design-build organization. We're not filling a role, we're building a platform.

We are looking for a builder, not someone conditioned to operate within large, fully structured organizations.

The right candidate will demonstrate decisiveness, accountability, and comfort operating without perfect information, no blame-shifting.

This individual won't be joining an existing engineering department, they will be helping build it. That should be something that excites them.

There needs to be a willingness to step away from stability to build something meaningful, even without all the answers defined upfront.

They will be at the table, working directly with leadership, PMs, and field teams, not buried within a department.

We have a deep bench of real-world experience, and we need someone who can translate that into engineered systems and take ownership of the outcome.

Ultimately, we are building a design engine, and we need someone who wants to lead it.

• Data Centers: Maintaining the precise cooling required for server reliability.
• Life Sciences & Bio Labs: Designing systems for cleanrooms and sensitive research environments.
• Industrial Facilities: Managing robust air quality and temperature for manufacturing.
• High-Tech Project Execution: They are known for tackling "unusual" engineering challenges. For example, they recently completed work on the Ohana Center in Monterey- a building with curved, serpentine walls that required custom-engineered ductwork and piping. They also work with cutting-edge companies like Archer Aviation on high-volume battery and electric engine labs.

Someone who knows how to design using Rivet and CAD.

Commercial ground Up, Tenant Improvements- all commercial. No residential at all.

We are ground up builders. We do CDA systems, nitrogen, work for semi-conductor plants, data centers, bio pharma facilities, multi-million-dollar kitchens.

We are all sub-contracted to general contractors.

This role will work closely with the VP during preconstruction and design-assist phases and will be a critical part of our growth strategy.

Currently, 5-10% of the time will be spent on estimating. When we're slow, we estimate more.

The Customer will send out a conceptual build with no design.

They tell us what they want (7 restrooms, kitchen, presidential restroom, cafe, etc).

When we are estimating, we'll draw a few lines in on where we think things should go.

Figure things out on a high level.

From there, if we get the design build job, I sit down with our engineer, this is what we have, show my sketches and then introduce engineer to my design team (architects).

He takes on the design meetings from there.

He asks questions, he gets the information he needs so he can finish the design.

Any follow ups, he writes the RFI's so he can finish the design.

He needs to work with the other trades (electrical engineer, mechanical engineer etc.).

Needs to have a 100% design build drawing, ready for permit, ready to go into the city and be able to do a plan check response, write the response letter and update the drawings.

• Knows plumbing up and down, commercial
• Design-build environment experience
• Solid job stability - jumping around after a year or two is a red flag
• Project list to accompany resume
• Someone that can jump right in (plug and play), and wants growth