Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

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.