Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - Dulles, VA
Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - Mission Critical (Data Centers)
Location: Dulles, VA * Employment Type: Full‑time/Regular
About the role
My client is a national, 100% employee‑owned design-build MEP organization delivering new build and major rehabilitation projects across mission‑critical/data center, healthcare, and complex commercial environments. As a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, you'll lead multi‑discipline design efforts from concept through construction, serve as a key voice in project meetings, and mentor junior engineers-while working on some of the most advanced, high‑density facilities in the world.
What you'll do
- Provide conceptual design for assigned projects and create preliminary redline design layouts for estimating.
- Execute complex mechanical calculations (heating/cooling loads, equipment selection & sizing, friction loss, hydraulic calculations, etc.).
- Conduct site inspections for compliance with construction documents and resolve design issues during construction.
- Supervise/mentor less‑experienced engineers; coordinate HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection design and documentation on small and large projects.
- Participate as the design lead in project team meetings; communicate effectively with clients, GCs, and internal stakeholders.
What you'll bring
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
- PE license (required).
- 8+ years of mechanical design experience, including lead responsibilities.
- Strong knowledge of HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection systems and how they operate as a whole.
- Ability to read complex M/P plans; strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
- Proficiency with CADD and Microsoft Office (Excel, etc.).
- Nice to have: Mission‑critical/data center design experience (e.g., high‑density cooling strategies, CFD, sequences of operation, controls integration).
Why join my client
- Employee‑ownership: 100% employee‑owned culture with a genuine stake in the company's success.
- Best‑in‑class benefits:
- 401(k) with 50% company match (no cap) and immediate 100% vesting
- Medical, dental, vision-100% paid for the employee
- Annual performance bonus program
- Life/AD&D, voluntary life, and disability coverage
- FSAs (health & dependent care)
- Paid parental leave; paid holidays, vacation, and personal time
- Training/professional development and company‑paid memberships/licenses
- Wellness benefits
- Impactful work in the heart of "Data Center Alley": Northern Virginia is the world's most active data center market with record‑low vacancy and multi‑year preleasing-meaning steady, cutting‑edge project flow and technical growth opportunities.
- Future‑ready engineering: AI workloads and rising rack densities are accelerating adoption of advanced cooling (e.g., liquid cooling), offering career‑defining design challenges.
- Ownership advantage: Employee‑owned models are associated with stronger retention, engagement, and long‑term wealth building for employees.
FAQs
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