Principal Mechanical Engineer
Valdes Architecture & Engineering is seeking an accomplished Principal Mechanical Engineer to provide senior technical leadership across municipal infrastructure, water and wastewater, building systems, industrial process facilities, utility and power infrastructure, and life sciences markets. The Principal Mechanical Engineer is one of the most senior technical positions within the Mechanical Engineering Department and serves as a technical authority, mentor, and trusted advisor to clients and project teams. This individual leads complex mechanical engineering assignments, establishes technical direction, resolves difficult or non-routine engineering problems, provides senior-level quality review, and develops the technical capabilities of other engineers. The position requires independent engineering judgment and technical leadership from planning and conceptual design through construction and commissioning.
Responsibilities Technical Leadership
Serve as a technical authority for complex mechanical engineering projects and design challenges
Establish design criteria and technical direction for mechanical systems and equipment
Apply advanced engineering judgment to resolve complex, unusual, or non-routine engineering problems
Evaluate alternative systems and equipment based on performance, reliability, constructability, maintainability, lifecycle cost, and client requirements
Identify technical risks and develop practical, defensible engineering solutions
Provide technical consultation to clients and multidisciplinary project teams
Serve as Engineer of Record or responsible mechanical engineer when appropriate
Provide technical leadership in one or more areas including:
HVAC, plumbing, and building utility systems
Process and utility piping
Pumping systems
Steam, condensate, heating, and cooling water systems
Compressed air, gas, and fuel systems
Pumps, compressors, heat exchangers, tanks, vessels, and packaged equipment
Piping layouts, stress analysis, supports, and equipment interfaces
Project Leadership & Delivery
Serve as Mechanical Lead on large, technically complex, and multidisciplinary projects
Lead mechanical engineering from planning and conceptual design through construction and commissioning
Develop and review project scopes, design criteria, engineering estimates, schedules, and budgets
Provide technical direction to engineers and designers and coordinate mechanical interfaces with other disciplines
Review and approve calculations, specifications, drawings, equipment selections, data sheets, reports, and construction documents
Identify technical, scope, schedule, and budget risks and work with Project Management to resolve them
Ensure deliverables meet project requirements, applicable codes, client standards, and Valdes quality expectations
Field & Construction Support
Lead field investigations and assessments of existing mechanical systems
Provide senior-level engineering judgment in resolving field conditions, construction issues, and equipment problems
Review RFIs, submittals, shop drawings, and proposed field modifications
Participate in equipment inspections, factory testing, startup, and commissioning
Ensure designs consider constructability, maintainability, accessibility, operations, and personnel safety
Engineering Standards, Quality & Mentorship
Provide senior-level QA/QC review of mechanical engineering deliverables, including the underlying design basis and technical approach
Help develop and improve department standards, specifications, procedures, calculation methods, and design practices
Promote consistent application of sound engineering practices and lessons learned
Mentor engineers and designers and help develop future technical leaders
Provide technical guidance while allowing developing engineers appropriate ownership of their work
Share technical knowledge and provide clear, constructive technical feedback
Client Engagement & Business Development
Serve as a trusted technical advisor to clients
Participate in client meetings, planning sessions, presentations, and technical discussions
Support proposals, project pursuits, scope development, technical approaches, and fee development
Identify opportunities where Valdes' mechanical engineering capabilities can address client needs
Develop and maintain strong technical relationships with clients
Technical Competencies
The successful candidate will demonstrate advanced knowledge of mechanical engineering fundamentals and significant technical depth in one or more mechanical engineering areas.
Experience may include:
Municipal infrastructure and water/wastewater
Building mechanical systems
Power generation and energy
Industrial and central utility systems
Industrial and process facilities
Mechanical equipment and piping systems
Pharmaceutical and life sciences facilities
The candidate shall demonstrate:
Advanced ability to develop and review mechanical calculations, specifications, data sheets, equipment selections, reports, and construction documents
Strong knowledge of applicable codes and standards including ASME, ASHRAE, AWWA, NFPA, API, IMC, IPC, IBC, and applicable state and local requirements
Ability to direct and review work using applicable engineering analysis and design software
Working knowledge of AutoCAD and Revit sufficient to direct and review design work
Ability to communicate complex engineering issues clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders
Qualifications Required
Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited institution
Active Professional Engineer (PE) license
12+ years of progressively responsible mechanical engineering experience
Demonstrated experience leading complex mechanical engineering assignments and multidisciplinary projects
Demonstrated ability to establish technical direction and independently resolve complex engineering problems
Demonstrated ability to review and approve mechanical engineering calculations, specifications, drawings, equipment selections, and technical deliverables
Experience mentoring and providing technical direction to engineers and designers
Strong client-facing communication skills
Ability and willingness to travel to client and project sites as required
Must possess exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills
Must be able to work in the US without sponsorship now or in the future
Preferred
Experience serving as Engineer of Record or responsible Mechanical Engineer
Experience across multiple mechanical engineering markets or system types
Experience with rehabilitation and modernization of existing facilities
Experience developing engineering standards and QA/QC practices
Experience supporting proposals, project pursuits, and client development
What Success Looks Like A successful Principal Mechanical Engineer is recognized as a trusted technical authority who can lead the department's most challenging mechanical engineering assignments while improving the capabilities of the engineers around them.
The Principal Engineer provides sound technical direction when solutions are not obvious, identifies and manages engineering risk, develops practical and defensible solutions, and strengthens the department through technical leadership, mentorship, quality, and client confidence.