Senior Commissioning Engineer

Smith Engineering, PLLC; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-paid medical

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Fertility reimbursements

Adoption reimbursements

Surrogacy reimbursements

Paid parental leave

FSA accounts

Transit/Parking

Job summary

Smith Engineering is seeking a Sr. Commissioning Engineer to join our Energy Group in New York City.

In this hands-on role, you will execute commissioning and retro-commissioning projects across large commercial properties, central plants, and critical facilities, inspecting HVAC and BMS systems to optimize performance. You will work in the field with chief engineers, building operators, and facility managers, analyzing trend data and delivering data-driven solutions that enhance energy savings

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• 5–10 years of hands-on commissioning or RCx experience.
• Deep knowledge of HVAC systems, central plants, and controls.
• Familiarity with ASHRAE commissioning guidelines.
• OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certification required.
• Strong communication and field-relations skills.

Responsibilities

• Field commissioning, testing, and retro-commissioning of HVAC systems and BMS.
• Identify performance issues and deliver data-driven improvement plans.
• Analyze BMS trend data to evaluate equipment performance.
• Coordinate with chief engineers, operators, and facility teams.
• Ensure compliance with Local Law 87 and ASHRAE guidelines.
• Contribute to process improvements and data tools in the field.

Skills

HVAC

Central plants

Controls

ASHRAE guidelines

AI proficiency

OSHA 10/30

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Smith Engineering is a growing MEP and Energy Engineering firm serving mission-critical clients across life sciences, data centers, healthcare, higher education, and commercial real estate. We operate multiple divisions — Energy, Design, Training, and Controls through our sister company, BEP — with a strong presence in the Northeast and Colorado. We are a team of engineers who care about the quality of our work and the growth of our people.

Your Role

We are seeking a Sr. Commissioning Engineer to join our Energy Group. In this hands-on technical role, you will be responsible for executing commissioning and retro-commissioning (RCx) projects across large commercial properties, central plants, and critical facilities throughout New York City.

You will work directly in the field to inspect, test, and optimize complex HVAC and mechanical systems, analyze trend data from Building Automation/Management Systems (BMS), identify building operational inefficiencies, and provide actionable solutions that drive measurable energy savings and asset performance.

Responsibilities

• Field Commissioning & Testing: Conduct thorough in-field functional testing, retro-commissioning, and diagnostic evaluations of complex HVAC systems, central plant equipment, and building management systems.
• Energy Savings & Investigation: Act as an operational "bloodhound" to identify hidden building performance issues, operational drift, and system inefficiencies, delivering clear pathways to resolution.
• BMS & Data Analysis: Analyze trend data within Building Management Systems (BMS) to evaluate equipment performance, troubleshoot operational anomalies, and leverage data-driven insights.
• Compliance & Retro-commissioning: Execute high-value Local Law 87 retro-commissioning projects and ASHRAE-aligned commissioning activities, ensuring rigorous quality standards beyond basic compliance checking.
• Field Communication & Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong, professional working relationships with chief engineers, building operators, facility managers, and client teams to ensure seamless execution on site.
• Process Enhancement & Innovation: Contribute to improving internal processes, leveraging data tools, and expanding technical efficiency in field data collection and analysis.

Qualifications

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline, along with 5–10 years of hands-on experience in commissioning, retro-commissioning (RCx), or mechanical energy engineering.
• Technical Depth: Deep working knowledge of HVAC systems, central plants, controls, and ASHRAE commissioning guidelines, with a strong focus on large commercial or complex facilities. AI proficiency is required.
• Safety & Field Readiness: Active OSHA 10 certification (or OSHA 30) is required, along with a strong commitment to job site safety and best practices in machine rooms and central mechanical plants.
• Communication & Rapport: Strong interpersonal and communication skills; proven ability to build trust and rapport with chief engineers, union operators, and building managers in high-pressure field environments.
• Tenacity & Drive: Highly self-motivated, detail-oriented, and tenacious in technical problem-solving—willing to go the extra mile to discover root causes and unlock value.

Preferred Qualifications ("Nice to Have")

• Professional Certifications: Holding one or more of the following key industry certifications: Certified Commissioning Professional (CCP); Existing Building Commissioning Professional (EBCP) ; Building Commissioning Professional (BCXP) ; Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA)
• Facility Focus: Experience executing retro-commissioning or commissioning projects in large commercial high-rises, data centers, central utility plants, or major institutional/hospital facilities.
• Data Tools & AI: Experience using advanced BMS trend-logging tools, automated analytics, or data-driven fault detection platforms.
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Fertility, adoption, and surrogacy reimbursements.
• Paid parental leave.
• Medical Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Transit/Parking accounts.