Sr Building Performance Engineer

HGA; Town of Middleton (WI); On-site; USD 126,000 - 142,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus program

401(k) company match

Paid parental leave

Medical, dental and life insurance

PTO and disability programs

Job summary

HGA seeks a Senior Building Performance Engineer to lead commissioning and optimization across design and post-construction phases in Madison, WI.

You will conduct energy modeling, assessments, and performance audits, guiding HVAC, electrical, and automation systems to enhance efficiency and sustainability. Collaboration with architects and engineers is core to project success.

Qualifications

• BS and/or MS degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 15+ years of relevant building performance experience.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to lead cross-disciplinary teams and manage client relationships.
• Experience with energy efficiency and sustainability in building systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the commissioning and optimization of building systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, automation).
• Collaborate with architects, engineers, and construction teams to meet energy goals.
• Conduct energy modeling, building assessments, and performance audits.
• Provide technical expertise to improve building operations and reduce environmental impact.
• Develop commissioning plans, oversee testing, and document results.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to business development.
• Engage with clients and design teams on decarbonization and energy optimization.

Skills

HVAC systems

Energy modeling

Commissioning

Building performance

Project management

Client engagement

Communication

Education

BS or MS in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

Trane Trace

eQuest

Insight 360

Job description

Sr Building Performance Engineer

Location: Madison, WI

HGA, an award-winning architectural, engineering, and planning firm, is seeking a talented and ambitious Senior Building Performance Engineer. If you are passionate about optimizing energy performance and ensuring sustainable, high-performing systems, this is the role for you.

It is expected this role will focus on the energy performance of buildings throughout the design and post-construction phases. You will be integral in commissioning and optimizing HVAC systems, air and water distribution systems, building automation systems, electrical systems, plumbing systems, and other related equipment to ensure optimal performance across diverse, impactful projects.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the commissioning and optimization of building systems, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and automation systems.
• Collaborate closely with architects, engineers, and construction teams to ensure designs meet energy efficiency and sustainability goals.
• Conduct energy modeling, building assessments, and performance audits to recommend improvements.
• Provide technical expertise in energy efficiency and sustainability to enhance building operations and reduce environmental impact.
• Develop commissioning plans, oversee testing and functional performance, and document results.
• Support and mentor junior engineers, fostering a culture of learning and innovation within the team.
• Develop opportunities for future work, including meeting with clients, writing proposals, developing fees, preparing for and attending interviews and negotiating contracts.
• Lead strategic client and design team engagements around decarbonization, energy efficiency, and optimization strategies at building and campus scales.
• Serve as sustainability team leader/project manager, coordinating with interdisciplinary design team members and external consultants on projects in multiple sectors including Science & Technology, Higher Education, and Healthcare.
• Serve as the lead commissioning authority and lead or perform commissioning tasks and responsibilities as outlined in ASHRAE Commissioning Guideline 0-2019.
• Perform retro-commissioning services for existing buildings.
• Assist in the training and development of engineers.

You will need to have

• BS and/or Masters degree in relevant Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical or other similar degree and demonstrated competencies).
• 15+ years of relevant experience.
• Great communication skills.
• Ability to connect and collaborate with peers across HGA offices on a regular cadence to coordinate workload and support as needed.
• Strong initiative/be a self-starter.
• Ability to identify opportunities and take action without direct supervision.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to be able to work with a variety of individuals.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in managing clients, project teams and project processes.
• Excellent written and verbal skills.
• Knowledge Microsoft Office Suite products.
• Highly motivated to learn more about sustainable practices and is passionate about sustainability and energy efficiency.

Preferred Qualifications

• PE, CEM or similar.
• LEED, WELL, and/or other relevant building certification accreditation.
• A commissioning certification from the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), the Building Commissioning Association (BCA), or the University of Wisconsin.
• Experience with automatic controls operation, and troubleshooting.
• Experience in optimizing HVAC systems for comfort, IAQ and energy efficiency.
• General navigation knowledge of multiple types of Building Automation Systems, for example, Automated Logic WebCTRL, Distech EC, JCI Metasys, Tridium Niagara, and Siemens Apogee and Desigo.
• Knowledge of and experience with CxAlloy.
• Knowledge of current energy and Cx requirements in sustainable building rating systems (LEED, Living Building Challenge, WELL Building Standard, etc.).
• Familiarity with early design phase building performance simulation using software tools such as Climate Consultant, Ladybug and Honeybee for Grasshopper, DIVA for Rhino, COMFEN, WUFI, Therm, Insight 360, or Sefaira.
• Experience with advanced design phase energy modeling, such as Trane Trace, Open Studio, eQuest and IESVE.
• Familiarity with architectural production software: AutoCAD, Revit, Sketch-Up, Rhino and/or related software.
• Experience conducting Structural and Whole Building Life Cycle Assessments.

Salary Information

The pay range listed aligns to the geography of the office for which this position is posted. Actual compensation will be based upon work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.

• annual bonus and success sharing bonus program
• 401(k) guaranteed contribution
• paid parental leave
• medical, dental and life insurance plans
• PTO and short- and long-term disability programs

Salary Range: $126,000 - $142,000 depending on qualifications and experience.

Additional Information

HGA is a place where you can do your best work. We believe that enduring, impactful design results from deep insight into the people and passions that animate each unique environment. We value empathy, are fueled by curiosity, and embrace the hard work that leads to innovation. Equally important is our commitment to creating a culture of inclusivity and diversity where we encourage your originality, respect the need for flexibility and work-life balance, and empower your desired career growth. HGA is a national award-winning interdisciplinary design firm rooted in architecture and engineering.

Learn more about us

Learn more about us here.