Sr. Solutions Engineer

R-Zero; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous time-off policies

Health benefits

401(k) program starting on day one

Monthly stipend for work-from-home

Learning and development support

Job summary

R-Zero is looking for a Senior Solutions Engineer to enhance our Physical AI solutions through effective pre-sales engagement. This role involves customer-facing technical discovery, collaborative pitches with Sales Directors, and developing impactful ROI narratives for HVAC solutions. You'll draw on 3+ years of sales engineering experience, engaging with clients on energy efficiency and building automation strategies. This position is pivotal in a fast-paced startup that is redefining how buildings operate efficiently. Join R-Zero as we impact energy and carbon reduction in the built environment.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in a Solutions Engineering or Sales Engineering role.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in HVAC system design or energy engineering.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical discovery with clients.
• Conduct high-impact demos of R-Zero’s platform.
• Develop technical scopes and ROI narratives.

Skills

Technical communication

Mechanical engineering judgment

HVAC systems knowledge

BMS/BAS architecture

Sales engineering skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

BMS integration tools

Mechanical drawing software

Job description

R-Zero offers smart building technology that delivers real-time occupancy and energy insights, which ultimately helps buildings reduce energy costs, improve net operating income and increase asset value. R-Zero’s occupancy based demand control ventilation solutions include IAQ and comfort monitoring, high-efficiency HVAC filtration, space utilization sensors, occupancy-based building controls, and real estate performance analytics. R-Zero’s intuitive, secure and scalable platform enables owners, operators, and their tenants to cut building operating expenses and carbon emissions, with zero upfront costs. Learn more at www.rzero.com.

About the Role

R-Zero is hiring a Senior Solutions Engineer to drive the technical pre-sales motion for our Physical AI solution — a portfolio of occupancy sensors and intelligence that unlocks meaningful HVAC energy reduction in commercial buildings. This is a customer-facing, sales-forward role that pairs strong communication skills with mechanical engineering judgment. You'll be the technical voice in early-stage customer conversations, leading pitches alongside Sales Directors, qualifying buildings against R-Zero's occupancy-based demand-controlled ventilation criteria, and translating HVAC, BMS, and controls complexity into clear, compelling value for executive and engineering audiences alike.

This is a startup role, and we mean it. R-Zero is a fast-moving company building a category that doesn't have a textbook playbook yet — which means the right person here gets to help write it. You won't just execute against an established pre-sales motion; you'll own the evolution of the tools, qualification frameworks, and processes the Solutions team runs on.

You’ll operate as a senior pre-sales engineer on the Solutions team, partnering closely with the rest of the team to scale qualification velocity and feed a growing sales pipeline. You’ll get hands-on with our internal tools, scope buildings from drawings and BMS data, and develop ROI narratives that move deals forward.

Key Responsibilities

Customer-facing pre-sales

• Lead technical discovery: Run discovery calls with facilities directors, energy managers, and BMS controls staff to capture HVAC system architecture, BMS configuration, occupancy profiles, and existing DCV strategies.
• Pitch and demo: Co-pitch with Sales Directors and deliver high-impact demos of R-Zero’s occupancy based DCV platform, savings models, and M&V approach — flexing message and depth based on audience.
• Translate to business value: Convert HVAC and controls detail into ROI narratives, energy savings ranges, and implementation pathways that resonate with executive decision-makers.
• Sales partnership: Partner with Sales on opportunity strategy, multi-stakeholder navigation, and objection handling — especially around BMS write-access, IT/security review, and capex versus EaaS commercial models.

Building qualification and scoping

• Building qualification: Use internal tooling and engineering judgment to assess buildings against the qualification criteria (AHU specs, OA strategy, BMS readiness, occupancy patterns, energy recovery, existing DCV).
• Scope of work development: Develop technical scopes, sensor counts, sequence-of-operation strategies, and integration approaches from mechanical drawings, BMS point lists, and trended data.
• Site surveys: Conduct remote and occasional in-person surveys to validate AHU configuration, BAS points, and field conditions.

End-to-end ownership

• Pre-sales to handoff: Own the technical journey from first call through clean handoff to implementation, ensuring scope accuracy and customer expectations are aligned.
• Implementation support: Stay engaged through deployment as needed — supporting BMS integration questions, validation visits, and customer escalations.
• Expansion opportunities: Surface portfolio expansion opportunities post-deployment by validating performance and equipping Sales to upsell additional buildings.

Team and tooling

• Tooling contribution: Provide structured feedback on R-Zero’s internal Solutions Engineering tooling and propose process improvements.
• Cross-functional partnership: Partner with Product, Engineering, and Sales to channel field insights into roadmap priorities and competitive positioning.
• Knowledge sharing: Author and maintain technical collateral, qualification heuristics, and customer-facing FAQs that scale the team’s capability.

Required Qualifications

• Customer-facing pre-sales: 3+ years in a Solutions Engineering or Sales Engineering role with demonstrated success leading technical discovery, delivering pitches and demos, and supporting enterprise sales cycles with multiple stakeholders.
• Technical depth: 5+ years of hands‑on experience in HVAC system design, BMS/controls engineering, mechanical engineering, energy engineering, or building automation — with depth sufficient to read mechanical drawings and BMS point lists without supervision.
• Working knowledge of HVAC systems (AHUs, VAV, terminal units), BMS/BAS architectures, controls integration, and ventilation strategies.
• Experience working with internal AI/LLM-based qualification or scoping tools.
• Familiarity with ASHRAE 62.1, Title 24, and demand‑controlled ventilation (DCV) approaches.
• Comfort reading mechanical drawings, BMS point lists, and trended controls data.
• Strong written and verbal communication — equally credible in front of a CFO, an energy manager, and a controls technician.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Building Science, Controls Engineering, Energy Engineering, or related field.

Nice-to-haves

• Background working at an MEP consultancy, energy consultancy, cleantech or HVAC technology company, and/or early‑stage startup — environments where you've owned ambiguous problems and seen how buildings actually get designed, commissioned, or retrofitted.
• Hands‑on experience with BACnet integrations and Niagara/Tridium supervisors.
• Exposure to DCV, IAQ, or smart building product categories.
• Industry credentials such as CEM, CBCP or CCP, CEA, and PE.
• Familiarity with energy modeling tools and M&V frameworks (IPMVP).

Travel Requirements

• Up to 25% travel for site surveys, key customer meetings, and occasional deployment support. Travel may include occasional overnight work or physical site tasks (e.g., walkdowns, mechanical room access).

Why R-Zero

• Join a purpose‑driven team tackling one of the biggest challenges facing the built environment‑ energy and carbon reduction.
• Work with innovative technologies at the intersection of health, energy, and smart building automation.
• Competitive compensation, equity, and benefits.
• A culture of collaboration, taking ownership, and innovation.

Compensation Information

The salary range for this position will vary based on candidate level, experience, and location. The base salary for this position contemplates a range of $165,000 - $185,000. Certain roles may be eligible for incentive compensation, equity, and benefits. Proof of eligibility to work in the United States and a background check is required upon employment.

Physical Requirements

Seeing: Must be able to read reports & computer monitors.

Hearing: Must be able to hear well enough to communicate with others.

Sitting: Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time.

Standing: Must be able to stand for prolonged periods of time.

Reaching/Climbing/Stooping/Kneeling:

Grasping/Feeling: Must be able to write & use a keyboard, tablet or phone system.

Lifting/Pulling/Pushing: Must be able to lift, push and pull at least 75 lbs.

Lifting Requirements

Rarely (0 – 12%)

Occasionally (13 – 33%)

Frequently (34 – 64%)

Regularly (65 – 100%)

0 – 25 lbs.

26 – 50 lbs.

51+ lbs.

Benefits

• Generous time‑off policies and paid holidays
• Competitive total compensation with equity
• Health benefits (medical, dental, vision) and 401(k) program starting on day one
• Up to 12 weeks paid parental leave
• Monthly stipend to support home internet and cell phone for work purposes
• Budget for WFH equipment
• Monthly in‑office lunches and happy hours for people based in the SF Bay Area
• Learning and development support
• Hybrid work environment with only 1‑2 mandatory days per month in office for people based in the SF Bay Area

Working Environment For employees in the San Francisco Bay Area

Work is at the Company’s work location in San Francisco, in an office setting and is performed during the Company’s core business hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The noise level in the office is usually moderate. You will be required to bring your R-Zero provided lap‑top and sit at the provided office workstations. Sitting for prolonged periods of time is required as are the additional physical requirements listed below. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this classification. The Company reserves the right to add or make changes at any time. This is not intended to change the at‑will relationship.

EEO STATEMENT

R-Zero is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. We welcome all qualified applicants to apply at R-Zero and we strive to select the best qualified applicant for each position in our organization. Applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic data, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or other legally protected status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. R-Zero complies with all laws and regulations relating to employment discrimination and is always committed to doing what’s right.

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you freely give informed consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of your personal information as described therein.