Senior Mechanical Engineer / MEP Manager – Building Systems

Skyline Search Partners; Minneapolis, Saint Paul (MN, MN); On-site; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee stock purchase program

Health and wellness benefits

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

Skyline Search Partners partners with a publicly traded organization to hire a Senior Mechanical Engineer or MEP Manager for its in-house Property Development and Engineering team. This owner-side role influences HVAC, plumbing, and fire-protection systems across a national portfolio.

The position offers leadership opportunities, mentorship, and collaboration across internal teams while driving engineering standards, reliability, and lifecycle performance from design through operation.

Qualifications

• 5–10+ years of mechanical engineering experience.
• Strong commercial HVAC and building-systems design background.
• Experience across multiple HVAC system types, including RTUs, AHUs, heat pumps, and VRF.
• Working knowledge of plumbing and fire protection systems.
• Strong understanding of mechanical codes, engineering standards, and construction practices.
• Ability to operate independently and drive technical initiatives with limited oversight.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide mechanical engineering leadership for new development and renovation projects.
• Evaluate and design HVAC systems using RTUs, AHUs, heat pumps, VRF, and related systems.
• Provide technical guidance related to plumbing and fire protection systems.
• Review mechanical designs, calculations, specifications, equipment selections, and construction documents.
• Evaluate system alternatives based on performance, constructability, energy efficiency, cost, and long-term operation.
• Troubleshoot complex building-system and construction issues.
• Represent the owner's engineering interests throughout design and construction.
• Collaborate with Architecture, Construction, Real Estate, Development, and Engineering teams.
• Manage and provide direction to outside engineering consultants.
• Participate in design development, construction documentation, construction administration, and closeout.
• Help develop and maintain mechanical engineering standards across a national portfolio.

Skills

HVAC systems

Building systems design

Mechanical codes

Leadership

Cross-functional collab

Independent initiative

PE license

Job description

We are partnering with a well-established, publicly traded organization with a national real estate portfolio and an active development pipeline to hire a Senior Mechanical Engineer / MEP Manager for its growing in-house Property Development and Engineering team.

About the Role

This is a true owner-side engineering opportunity. Rather than working in a traditional consulting environment with billable-hour requirements and multiple outside clients, you'll work directly for the organization developing, constructing, and operating the properties. You'll have the opportunity to influence mechanical systems from design through construction and operation, establish engineering standards across a national portfolio, and see firsthand how your decisions perform over time.

We're open to hiring at one of two levels:

• Senior Mechanical Engineer: Join as a senior technical contributor with a genuine, performance-based path toward leading the MEP function.
• MEP Manager: Candidates with the appropriate technical and leadership background may be considered directly for the management role.

Responsibilities

Mechanical Engineering & Building Systems

• Provide mechanical engineering leadership for new development and renovation projects
• Evaluate and design HVAC systems utilizing technologies such as RTUs, AHUs, heat pumps, VRF, and related commercial building systems
• Provide technical guidance related to plumbing and fire protection systems
• Review mechanical designs, calculations, specifications, equipment selections, and construction documents
• Evaluate system alternatives based on performance, constructability, energy efficiency, cost, and long-term operation
• Troubleshoot complex building-system and construction issues
• Represent the owner's engineering interests throughout design and construction
• Collaborate with internal Architecture, Construction, Real Estate, Development, and Engineering teams
• Manage and provide technical direction to outside engineering consultants
• Participate throughout design development, construction documentation, construction administration, and project closeout
• Help drive technical decisions and resolve issues without the constraints of a traditional billable-hour consulting environment
• Help develop and maintain mechanical engineering standards across a national portfolio
• Evaluate new technologies, equipment, and system approaches
• Apply lessons learned from existing facilities to future projects
• Identify opportunities to improve system reliability, efficiency, constructability, and lifecycle performance
• Help shape the processes and technical standards of a growing in-house engineering function

Leadership & Team Development

For candidates entering at or progressing into the MEP Manager level:

• Lead a team of Mechanical and Electrical Engineers
• Provide technical direction, mentorship, and professional development
• Establish consistent engineering practices and expectations across the team
• Help prioritize engineering resources across an active portfolio of projects
• Build a collaborative, accountable engineering culture within the broader Property Development organization

Qualifications

• 5–10+ years of mechanical engineering experience
• Strong commercial HVAC and building-systems design background
• Experience across multiple HVAC system types, including RTUs, AHUs, heat pumps, and VRF
• Working knowledge of plumbing and fire protection systems
• Strong understanding of mechanical codes, engineering standards, and construction practices
• Ability to operate independently and drive technical initiatives with limited oversight
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills

Required Skills

• Strong commercial HVAC and building-systems design background
• Experience across multiple HVAC system types, including RTUs, AHUs, heat pumps, and VRF
• Working knowledge of plumbing and fire protection systems
• Strong understanding of mechanical codes, engineering standards, and construction practices
• Ability to operate independently and drive technical initiatives with limited oversight
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills

Preferred Skills

• Professional Engineer (PE) license
• Previous engineering leadership or people-management experience
• Demonstrated mentorship of other engineers
• Project management and construction administration experience
• Experience managing outside MEP engineering consultants
• Experience developing engineering standards across multiple facilities or locations
• Senior Mechanical Engineer: $130,000–$140,000 base
• MEP Manager: Approximately $150,000 base for candidates qualified to enter directly at the leadership level

The organization also offers a comprehensive benefits package, including an employee stock purchase program, health and wellness benefits, retirement benefits, paid time off, and additional company-sponsored benefits and employee programs.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The organization is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and fostering an inclusive, diverse workplace where all employees are respected and valued, regardless of background, identity, or protected status.