Senior Mechanical Engineer – HVAC Design & BIM/VDC

Emerald Built Environments, a Crete United Company is a multidisciplinary engineering, building commissioning, energy consulting, and sustainability consulting firm serving clients throughout the United States. Our services include mechanical engineering, building systems commissioning, energy modeling, energy audits, and building performance optimization. We collaborate with owners, developers, architects, and contractors to improve building performance, efficiency, and long-term value. 

Position overview

Emerald seeks an experienced Mechanical Professional Engineer to support its engineering practice through a dedicated assignment with Hartwig, a Crete United, Chicago based HVAC contractor. The role combines mechanical HVAC design, hands-on BIM/VDC capability, and close coordination with construction teams. Projects may include commercial and industrial new construction, renovations, additions, and existing-building improvements. The engineer is employed by Emerald and joins its multidisciplinary team while collaborating day-to-day with Hartwig. Hartwig works across building types with a focus on commercial and industrial buildings across Illinois and contiguous states and has three locations in the greater Chicago region.

Key responsibilities

• Lead HVAC design, including heating, cooling, ventilation, load calculations, equipment selection, and layouts.
• Prepare and review engineering drawings, specifications, calculations, and permit/construction documents.
• Produce or contribute directly to Revit-based mechanical models and BIM/VDC coordination; coordinate with fabrication/detailing specialists as needed.
• Coordinate with contractors, architects, engineers, specialty subcontractors, and construction managers.
• Support constructability, value engineering, equipment selection, and cost-conscious design decisions.
• Provide construction-phase support, including RFIs, submittals, field observations, and issue resolution.
• Design renovations, additions, retrofits, and projects in occupied or operating facilities.
• candidate must deliver engineered designs adhering to relevant building, mechanical and energy codes, and applicable engineering standard of care.
• Manage project schedules, technical deliverables, quality, and stakeholder communication.
• Manage other project team members including Emerald engineers and subcontractors.
• Collaborate with Emerald engineering, commissioning, energy modeling, and energy audit teams as needed.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• Active PE license; Illinois licensure or ability to obtain it within an agreed timeframe.
• At least five (5) years of substantial building HVAC design experience.
• Hands-on proficiency with Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD, including mechanical BIM coordination.
• Commercial and/or industrial HVAC system design and construction documentation experience.
• Candidate must be proficient in applicable mechanical, building, and energy codes.
• Ability to independently deliver technical work and collaborate effectively with contractor teams.
• Strong communication, adaptability, organization, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred qualifications

• Industrial plants, manufacturing, food processing, cold storage, or specialized refrigeration project experience.
• Design-build or mechanical contractor collaboration experience.
• Advanced VDC, clash detection, and multidisciplinary coordination experience.
• Procore or similar construction collaboration software.
• Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEMP) certification.
• Commissioning credentials such as BCxP, CCP, or CxA.
• Energy modeling, energy auditing, or high-performance HVAC expertise.

Why this opportunity

The role offers direct engagement with a mechanical contractor on varied real-world projects, supported by the capabilities of a national multidisciplinary engineering and building performance consulting team.

What We Offer:

• Compensation: $140,000–$160,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience.

• Benefits: Eligible employees receive medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off, and applicable paid sick leave, subject to plan terms and company policy.

Crete United company is an equal opportunity employer, considering all applicants for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state of federal law. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.