Senior Building Mechanical Engineer

Jacobs; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 124,000 - 249,000; Full time

Job summary

Jacobs in Portland, OR seeks a Senior Building Mechanical Engineer to lead design of HVAC, plumbing, odor control and fire protection for water and wastewater facilities in the Northwest.

You will mentor designers, coordinate with architects and vendors, perform calculations, develop as-built drawings, and support field teams during construction. Hybrid work policy offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field.
• 10+ years’ experience in HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection design.
• PE license required.
• Strong analytical and multitasking abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design for HVAC, plumbing, odor control and fire protection for water and wastewater facilities.
• Perform design calculations for plumbing, air loads, duct sizing and energy analyses.
• Coordinate with architects, vendors and other engineers; edit specifications and select equipment.
• Develop as-built drawings and field evaluations; develop master plans and field investigations.
• Mentor designers and drafters; provide design guidance and review submittals.
• Support field staff during construction and respond to RFIs; ensure schedule and quality.
• Attend meetings with clients and stakeholders to discuss project needs.

Skills

HVAC design

Plumbing design

Fire protection design

Design-build experience

Mentorship

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

As a Senior Building Mechanical Engineer at Jacobs, you’ll bring innovation and excellence to some of the most exciting infrastructure projects in the Northwest region. You’ll use your exceptional design and analytical skills to lead, plan, design and focus on mechanical (plumbing, HVAC, odor control, and fire protection) systems for water and wastewater treatment-related facilities, which typically feature process treatment buildings, administration and operations buildings, laboratories, maintenance buildings, and occasional assignments for other business units, including federal and military programs, industrial, and institutional projects.

• Design complete plumbing systems, including utility and potable water distribution systems, drainage systems, and miscellaneous systems such as compressed air and natural gas.
• Design complete HVAC systems, including package type and central plants.
• Design odor control systems, including vapor and liquid phase treatment technologies.
• Design fire protection systems using a performance system approach.
• Prepare calculations for plumbing systems, including water and drainage flows, water heater sizing, and pump sizing and selection.
• Perform calculations for design, such as air loads, pipe/duct/equipment sizing, ventilation requirements, static pressure, odor removal, lifecycle costs, and energy analyses.
• Select equipment, coordinate with equipment vendors, and edit specifications.
• Conduct field evaluations and develop as‑built drawings.
• Develop master plans and perform field investigations.
• Conduct technology alternatives analyses using multi‑criteria analysis tools for selecting odor control systems.
• Manage and coordinate work with architects, technicians, and engineers of other disciplines.
• Attend meetings and communicate with clients, vendors, and other project stakeholders to establish project needs and discuss design issues.
• Manage quality and schedule of work and interface with clients.
• Support field staff during construction phase of projects, including responding to submittal reviews and requests for information.
• Provide design guidance and mentorship to designers/drafters and less experienced engineers.

Here's what you'll need

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• 10+ years’ experience in producing HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection designs and providing services during construction for design‑build projects
• Professional Engineer (PE) license
• Motivation, strong data analysis skills, technical problem‑solving ability, organizational skills, and the ability to effectively multitask in a fast‑paced environment.

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well‑being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full‑time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $123,600.00 to $248,800.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Job posted on August 28, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

We value collaboration and believe that in‑person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.