About this Role:
This is an on-site leadership position based in San Diego, California for a licensed Mechanical Professional Engineer who wants to lead the Mechanical and Plumbing Engineering disciplines, drive technical excellence, mentor high-performing teams, and shape the strategic growth of a rapidly expanding MEP engineering firm.
Compensation & Benefits:
Annual Salary Range:$150,000–$225,000, based on experience, qualifications, and demonstrated leadership.
At 120 Degreez, we invest in our team's long-term success—professionally and personally.
- 401(k) with up to 3% employer match
- 70% employer-paid medical insurance + 100% dental and vision
- $1,500 annual professional development and certification allowance
- Paid Company Holidays + 2 weeks of Paid Time Off (PTO) + 1 week Paid Sick Leave
- 100% employer-paid life insurance
- Clear career advancement pathway from Designer through Principal
- Collaborative, structured, and growth-focused work environment
Who This Role Is For:
- You take ownership of your disciplines' technical quality and overall success
- You are confident making high-level engineering decisions and mentoring others
- You have extensive experience leading U.S.-based commercial mechanical and plumbing engineering teams
- You want to help build a growing firm while advancing toward Principal-level leadership
What You'll Do:
- Lead the Mechanical and Plumbing Engineering Departments, including staffing, utilization, and technical standards
- Provide technical oversight and QA/QC leadership across multiple projects and project teams
- Mentor mechanical and plumbing engineers, project managers, and designers to support professional growth and technical excellence
- Review and approve HVAC, plumbing, piping, ventilation, hydronic, domestic water, sanitary waste and vent, storm drainage, natural gas, energy compliance, and other critical mechanical and plumbing engineering deliverables
- Partner with executive leadership on staffing strategy, resource planning, profitability, and business growth initiatives
- Support project managers with technical guidance, risk management, and complex problem solving
- Participate in client meetings, proposal development, and business development efforts while representing the firm at a senior leadership level
- Drive continuous improvement of engineering standards, QA/QC procedures, and department performance
What Success Looks Like (First 90 Days):
- Fully integrated into executive leadership and project teams
- Providing leadership across the Mechanical and Plumbing Engineering Departments and active project portfolio
- Establishing consistency in QA/QC processes and technical standards
- Building strong relationships with staff and clients while contributing to strategic business initiatives
Non-Negotiable Requirements:
- Active Professional Engineer (PE) license (Mechanical preferred; California preferred)
- 12+ years of mechanical engineering experience with progressively increasing leadership responsibilities, including oversight of commercial plumbing systems
- Strong experience leading U.S.-based commercial MEP engineering projects
- Demonstrated experience managing engineering teams, staffing, utilization, and QA/QC programs
- Strong proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, Carrier HAP, TRACE 3D Plus, Bluebeam, and other industry-standard mechanical and plumbing engineering software
- Comprehensive understanding of the California Mechanical Code (CMC), California Plumbing Code (CPC), California Building Code (CBC), California Energy Code (Title 24), ASHRAE standards, SMACNA standards, and applicable industry standards
- Experience mentoring engineering teams and leading multidisciplinary coordination
- Excellent communication, client relationship, and leadership skills
Work Authorization:
We are not able to provide visa sponsorship for this role. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship requirements.
Who Should NOT Apply:
- Candidates without an active Professional Engineer (PE) license
- Candidates without U.S.-based commercial MEP engineering experience
- Candidates requiring current or future visa sponsorship
- Engineers without demonstrated leadership experience in staffing, QA/QC, and technical oversight
- Candidates seeking production-only engineering roles without department leadership responsibility
We challenge our team members to combine creativity and strategic thinking; it's the winning combination for exceptional outcomes. With a collective spirit, our team dives deeper and pursues exciting, forward-thinking solutions. At 120 Degreez, we believe that every design deserves a personal touch.
At 120 Degreez Engineering, we believe in that strategy, accuracy, and creativity are the bedrock of innovative design. We combine advanced building science, technical expertise, and a deep understanding of regulatory requirements. Together, our firm assists our clients in achieving success by engineering high-performance projects.