Senior Mechanical Engineer

Our client in New Jersey is seeking the support of a Senior Mechanical Engineer – Central Utility Plants (Chilled Water Systems) as part of their Power & Infrastructure Department. POSITION SUMMARY We are seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer with a minimum of 10 years of experience specializing in central utility plants and large-scale chilled water generation and distribution systems serving institutional and mission-critical campuses. This role provides technical leadership for the planning, design, and execution of chilled water systems supporting hospitals, universities, and data centers. The successful candidate will bring deep technical expertise, strong leadership capability, and experience delivering reliable, efficient, and resilient utility infrastructure. RESPONSIBLITIES Lead the design and engineering of central utility plant chilled water systems, including chillers, cooling towers, pumping systems, heat rejection equipment, and thermal energy storage. Engineer large-scale chilled water distribution networks for campus environments, including hydraulic modeling, redundancy strategies, and future expansion planning. Develop and review basis of design documents, engineering calculations, equipment specifications, construction drawings, and technical reports. Perform cooling load analyses, energy modeling, system optimization, and life-cycle cost evaluations to support system selection and long-term campus planning. Support reliability and resiliency requirements typical of hospitals, data centers, and research campuses, including N+1 and fault-tolerant system designs. Provide technical leadership during construction and commissioning, including submittal reviews, RFIs, site observations, and functional performance testing support. Coordinate closely with electrical, controls, civil, structural, and architectural disciplines to ensure integrated central plant solutions. Interface directly with clients, facilities stakeholders, and operators to align designs with operational requirements and long-term maintenance strategies. Mentor junior engineers and review technical deliverables to ensure quality, consistency, and adherence to best practices. Ensure compliance with applicable codes, standards, and guidelines (ASHRAE, ASME, NFPA where applicable, local jurisdictional requirements). REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering or related discipline (Masters degree preferred). Minimum of 10 years of progressive mechanical engineering experience , with a strong focus on central utility plants and large chilled water systems. Proven experience designing chilled water plants and distribution systems for hospitals, university campuses, data centers, or similar institutional facilities. In-depth knowledge of chiller technologies, pumping configurations, heat rejection systems, thermal energy storage, and plant controls integration. Proficiency with engineering design and analysis tools, including load calculation software, hydraulic modeling tools, and AutoCAD/Revit. Professional Engineer (PE) license in the United States required or ability to obtain through reciprocity in a reasonable timeframe. Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Experience with campus master planning and phased utility plant expansion. Familiarity with commissioning, retro-commissioning, and operational optimization of central utility plants. Experience supporting mission-critical facilities with high uptime and redundancy requirements. Knowledge of energy efficiency, decarbonization, and low-carbon campus utility strategies. KEY COMPETENCIES Technical leadership and independent engineering judgment Systems-level thinking with a focus on reliability and resiliency Cross-disciplinary collaboration and stakeholder engagement Mentorship and quality control of engineering deliverables Client-focused, solutions-oriented mindset LOCATION: The position will be on-site or hybrid based on the project and campus requirements. COMPENSATION: Our client offers a competitive compensation package. The salary range for this position starts at $160,000 to $180,000, with actual salary depending on experience. BENEFITS Competitive base salary and bonus potential Medical, dental, life, and short/long-term disability insurance Generous 401(k) match Generous vacation Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) Paid company holidays Summer hours half-day Fridays Flexible hours Employee development and growth opportunities