HVAC Project Manager

AER Systems LLC is a small, fast-growing open-shop HVAC and mechanical contractor headquartered in Carlsbad, CA. We are SDVOSB and DVBE certified and built on a foundation of doing things right — strong processes, clear communication, and a serious commitment to our people and our clients. We are young as a company but experienced as operators, and we are growing deliberately.

We operate like a modern company, not a legacy contractor. We use AI tools actively across estimating, documentation, and operations. We invest in technology that makes our people faster and more effective — and we expect our team to embrace it. If you are the kind of PM who is always looking for a better way to do something, you will fit in here.

This role is central to that growth. You will be the first dedicated PM on staff, building the project management function alongside a hands-on CEO and Director of Operations who are deeply invested in doing this well.

Your primary focus will be executing two active prevailing wage, multifamily HVAC projects:

103-unit multifamily residential development across two sites (a few blocks apart). Full HVAC scope: ductwork, line sets, rough-in and finish work, split systems, and thermostat-level controls. Four-story walk-up construction. Prevailing wage. This is your primary project.

Seven-story multifamily development with commercial components. Prevailing wage. You will manage this project in parallel with San Ysidro once it is active (est. Jan 27)

We are a technology-forward contractor in an industry that has been slow to adopt it — and that is a deliberate competitive advantage for us. Here is what that looks like in practice:

•        Procore is our system of record — RFIs, submittals, daily logs, photos, budgets, and correspondence all live there. We use it fully, not selectively.

•        We use AI tools for drafting, research, documentation, and problem-solving. We expect our team to be comfortable using AI as a productivity tool and to develop their own fluency with it.

•        We communicate directly and move fast. Decisions do not get stuck in chains of approval. You will have real authority over your projects.

•        We do not tolerate paper-over-it culture. Problems get surfaced, owned, and solved. We would rather know about an issue on Monday than find out about it on Friday.

•        Remote work is real here — not a temporary arrangement. We trust people to manage their time and deliver. We measure output, not hours.

•        Own project schedules from mobilization through closeout — develop, maintain, and communicate look-ahead schedules to the field and GC

•        Manage all materials: scope takeoffs, procurement, vendor coordination, and delivery sequencing to keep the field ahead of installation

•        Attend on-site OAC meetings and foreman coordination meetings; produce and distribute meeting minutes

•        Manage the RFI process end-to-end — write, submit, track, and close RFIs in Procore

•        Serve as the primary point of contact for GC correspondence, including submittals, change events, and daily/weekly reporting

•        Manage change order pricing and submissions — you will estimate COs in the field using current labor and material costs

•        Maintain complete and current project documentation in Procore: contracts, submittals, RFIs, daily logs, photos, and correspondence

•        Track project costs against budget; flag variances early and escalate with context and options

•        Partner with leadership on field crew hiring — help identify, screen, and onboard foremen and installers

•        Support foreman in resolving field issues: sequencing conflicts with other trades, access problems, equipment delivery coordination

•        Monitor crew productivity and flag staffing issues before they become schedule problems

•        Foster a positive, accountable crew culture consistent with AER's values

•        Oversee job site safety compliance — conduct or coordinate regular safety walks, enforce PPE and IIPP standards

•        Ensure prevailing wage compliance in coordination with AER's compliance consultant — understand DIR requirements and support certified payroll processes

•        Maintain OSHA documentation and incident reporting protocols

•        2 years of experience as a Project Manager on commercial or multifamily construction projects

•        Procore — you must be genuinely proficient, not just familiar. You will live in Procore.

•        Comfortable using AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, or similar) as part of your daily workflow — for drafting, research, and documentation

•        Demonstrated ability to manage project schedules, procurement, and GC relationships independently

•        Experience writing and pricing change orders

•        Strong written communication — GC correspondence, RFIs, and meeting minutes reflect on AER

•        Comfortable with prevailing wage projects or willing to learn; our compliance consultant handles certified payroll

•        Based in or willing to work in San Diego County; travel to project sites required

•        HVAC, mechanical, or MEP trade background — you understand what's happening in the field

•        Multifamily residential project experience

•        Experience managing multiple concurrent projects

•        Familiarity with California DIR prevailing wage requirements

•        You run toward problems, not away from them — you surface issues early with a proposed path forward

•        You are organized without being bureaucratic — your documentation is current because it makes your job easier

•        You communicate directly and without drama with GCs, field crews, and leadership

•        You are comfortable being the first PM in a growing company — you help build the systems, not just run inside them

•        You are curious about technology and actively look for tools that make you faster and better

•        You want to grow with a company, not just work for one — you are interested in what AER becomes, not just what it is today

•        You take ownership of outcomes, not just activities