Project Engineer

A.O. Reed & Co.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) Plan with Company Match

Health & Welfare Benefits

Life and Disability Insurance

Vacation 80–120 hrs/yr; accruals

Job summary

A.O. Reed & Co. is seeking a Project Engineer to support mechanical construction projects across Southern California, including San Diego, Riverside and LA counties.

You will assist the Project Manager with RFIs, submittals, change orders, and cost forecasting while coordinating with field supervision and BIM teams. This full‑time role emphasizes collaboration with field crews, design teams, and procurement, ensuring timely delivery of documentation and adherence to schedules.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related field (or equivalent).
• 1–3 years of experience in commercial mechanical construction (field engineering or internship acceptable).
• Basic to intermediate understanding of mechanical plans, specs, and system components.
• Familiarity with RFIs, submittals, project logs, change orders, and procurement workflows.
• Excellent verbal and written communication with field, BIM, engineering, and design teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage the RFI process from creation to resolution with the Project Manager.
• Assist with review and distribution of submittals and product data to GC and design teams.
• Maintain active project logs including RFIs, submittals, change orders, and meeting minutes.
• Distribute updated drawings, specifications, and files to internal and external team members.
• Prepare and price change orders for PM review and submission.
• Assist PM with cost-at-completion forecasting and job cost tracking.
• Support procurement processes to align with budgets and schedules.
• Provide technical and administrative support to field Supervisors and Superintendents.
• Collaborate with BIM/VDC to coordinate model updates with field plans.
• Attend owner/architect/GC meetings and document actionable follow-ups.
• Track design responses and disseminate to field crews.
• Ensure documentation meets contract schedule deadlines.
• Perform general project support tasks as directed.

Skills

RFI management

Submittal reviews

Project logs

Change orders

Material procurement workflows

Verbal and written communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related field

Tools

Procore

Bluebeam Revu

PlanGrid

AutoCAD

Revit

Job description

A.O. Reed, a Legence Company

A.O. Reed & Co. was founded in 1914, and incorporated on September 19, 1929. Since then, the company has been a leading mechanical contractor specializing in HVAC, plumbing, and service. A.O. Reed’s headquarters includes offices, fabrication shops, and storage structures. A.O. Reed specializes in large commercial and industrial projects. This includes state-of-the-art hospitals and advanced laboratory buildings that serve the nation’s biomedical industry. We also construct large private facilities which include ballparks, amusement parks, and office buildings. A.O. Reed serves the public sector with numerous projects on university campuses and military facilities. A.O. Reed ensures our systems continue to run efficiently by providing the highest quality service to our customers. The key to our success is our ability to solve complex problems using our organization’s collective knowledge, hands-on experience, professional expertise, and technical tools. Our team charts new territories and delivers top-quality results. In the construction and service sectors, we never lose sight of our obligation to exceed expectations, honor our commitments, and follow our principles. A.O. Reed has set the bar high in customer satisfaction, workmanship, and integrity.

Project Engineer

The Project Engineer position is a Full-Time position servicing the San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, and Los Angeles Counties. This position plays a vital role in supporting the Project Manager and field operations across all phases of Plumbing and HVAC mechanical construction projects. This position is responsible for managing day-to-day project administrative and technical tasks, including RFIs, submittals, change order pricing, project documentation, and file distribution. The Project Engineer works collaboratively with Field Supervisors, the BIM department, and external design teams to ensure clear communication, maintain project schedules, track labor projections, and support successful overall project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Request for Information (RFI) process from creation through resolution in coordination with the Project Manager.
• Assist with the review, tracking, and timely distribution of submittals and product data to general contractors and design teams.
• Maintain and update all active project logs, including RFIs, submittals, change orders, and meeting minutes.
• Download, organize, and distribute updated project drawings, specifications, and files to internal and external team members.
• Estimate and price change orders for Project Manager review and submission.
• Assist the Project Manager with cost-at-completion forecasting, job cost projections, and financial tracking.
• Support material and equipment procurement processes to align with project budgets and delivery schedules.
• Provide continuous technical and administrative support to Field Supervisors, Foremen, and Superintendents.
• Collaborate with field leadership to develop and update labor man-loading charts and resource schedules.
• Serve as a liaison to the BIM/VDC department, attending coordination meetings and integrating model updates with field execution plans.
• Attend owner, architect, and general contractor project meetings as required, documenting actionable follow-up items.
• Track design team responses to technical inquiries and ensure timely dissemination to field crews.
• Ensure all required project documentation and deliverables adhere to contract schedule deadlines.
• Perform general administrative and project support tasks as directed by management.

Supervisory Responsibilities

No direct supervisory responsibilities; focuses on site-level management and active coordination with Project Manager(s).

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related field (or an equivalent combination of education and hands-on mechanical trade experience).
• 1–3 years of experience in commercial mechanical construction, specializing in Plumbing, HVAC, or piping systems (field engineering or internship experience considered).
• Basic to intermediate understanding of mechanical plans, blue-line drawings, architectural specifications, and mechanical system components.
• Familiarity with managing RFIs, submittal reviews, project logs, change orders, and material procurement workflows.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively collaborate with Field Supervisors, BIM teams, general contractors, and design engineers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience working within a mechanical subcontractor environment.
• Hands-on experience with construction management software (e.g., Procore, Bluebeam Revu, PlanGrid, or similar) and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Basic familiarity with BIM/VDC workflows, AutoCAD, or Revit coordination.
• Exposure to union trade environments and labor scheduling (man-loading).

Salary

$70,000 – $95,000. This role is also eligible for an annual performance-based bonus. Bonus eligibility and payout are determined by role, individual performance, and company performance, and are not guaranteed.

Travel Requirements

Minimal to moderate travel is required. Primary work is performed in the office or on active job sites. Travel includes driving to regional construction project locations to meet with Field Supervisors, attending owner/contractor project meetings, and participating in off-site BIM coordination or site walks. A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation are required.

Reasonable Accommodations (ADA)

To the extent required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the Company will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with known disabilities to allow them to perform the essential functions of this position, provided such accommodations do not impose an undue hardship. Employees or applicants who require accommodation should contact the Human Resources Department to initiate a timely, good-faith interactive process to determine effective fitness-for-duty solutions.

Reasonable Accommodations (Application Process)

If you need assistance or accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact us at [e-mail] or your dedicated recruiter with the job title and requisition number.

About Legence

Legence (Nasdaq: LGN) is a leading provider of engineering, consulting, installation, and maintenance services for mission-critical systems in buildings. The company specializes in designing, fabricating, and installing complex HVAC, process piping, and other mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems—enhancing energy efficiency, reliability, and sustainability in new and existing facilities. Legence also delivers long-term performance through strategic upgrades and holistic solutions. Serving some of the world’s most technically demanding sectors, Legence counts over 60% of the Nasdaq-100 Index among its clients.

Benefits Overview

• 401(k) Plan with Company Match: Currently match contributions dollar-for-dollar up to 4% of eligible pay; immediate vesting.
• Health & Welfare Benefits: Employer provided medical, dental, vision, prescription drug, Employee Assistance Program and accident & illness coverage.
• Life and Disability Insurance: Eligible for employer-provided Long-Term Disability, Basic Life, and AD&D Coverage, with option to purchase additional coverage per plan terms.
• Time Off: Vacation is 80 hrs/yr during your first 5 years, then 120 hrs/yr. Unused vacation rolls over up to 80 hrs (years 1–5) and 120 hrs (year 6+). Accrues each pay period, and unused accrued vacation time is paid out at separation per CA law. This is separate from CA sick leave; company holidays per policy.
• Expenses: Business travel and related expenses reimbursed per company policy.

Employment Eligibility

Candidates must have current work authorization in the U.S.; visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Pay Disclosure & Considerations

Where pay ranges are indicated, please note that a successful candidate’s exact pay will be determined based relevant job-related factors, including any of the following: candidate’s experience, skills, and qualifications, as well as geographic and market considerations. We are committed to ensuring fair and competitive compensation for all employees and comply with all applicable salary transparency laws.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Legence and its affiliate companies are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), marital or familial status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, other non-merit-based factors, and any other characteristic protected under applicable local, state or federal laws and regulations.