Mechanical Department Head
A design firm specializing in healthcare projects is seeking an experienced Mechanical Department Head to lead and grow its Mechanical Engineering team in the Charlotte office. This senior leadership role is responsible for technical excellence, staff development, project delivery, and the strategic growth of the firm's healthcare mechanical practice.
The ideal candidate is a licensed Professional Engineer with deep experience in healthcare building systems, a proven track record of team leadership, and a collaborative approach to delivering complex, code‑intensive projects in a multidisciplinary environment.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Management
- Lead, mentor, and manage the Mechanical Engineering team, with emphasis on healthcare project delivery
- Establish department standards, workflows, and quality control procedures tailored to healthcare facilities
- Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and technical excellence
- Support succession planning and long‑term departmental growth
Technical Oversight (Healthcare Focus)
- Provide technical leadership for HVAC, plumbing, medical gas, and specialized healthcare mechanical systems
- Review and approve mechanical designs, calculations, and construction documents for healthcare projects
- Ensure compliance with healthcare‑specific codes and standards, including FGI Guidelines, ASHRAE, NFPA, ICC, and applicable state and local regulations
- Serve as Mechanical Engineer of Record for healthcare projects, as required
- Guide infection control, redundancy, resiliency, and maintainability strategies in facility design
Project Delivery
- Oversee mechanical scope, staffing, budgets, and schedules for healthcare projects
- Coordinate closely with architecture, structural, electrical, and specialty healthcare disciplines
- Participate in client meetings, user group sessions, and project pursuits
- Resolve technical challenges during design, permitting, and construction phases
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
- Professional Engineer (PE) license (North Carolina preferred or ability to obtain)
- 8+ years of mechanical system design, healthcare-specific experience highly preferred
- Expert knowledge of healthcare HVAC systems, plumbing, medical gas, and life‑safety requirements
- Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, and mechanical engineering analysis tools
- Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills
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