Driven by a unique workplace culture and a passion for sustainability, Petersen Engineering, Inc. (PEI) is a rapidly growing MEP/FP firm whose mission is Smart, Sustainable Design. We take pride in being recognized throughout the industry for our friendly and professional service and have carefully cultivated our team and culture to position our firm for success. Our firm is growing to meet the expanding needs of the high-performance building sector. And we are committed to making PEI the best place you have ever worked.

PEI has more than doubled in size over the past two years. In 2019 we added in-house electrical engineering capability to serve our clients more seamlessly. Having full MEP/FP services in-house has enhanced our appeal to existing and new clients. We currently employ six Certified Passive House Consultants, a testament to our progressive, whole building approach to our work. We are currently working on several occupied deep energy retrofits. We are also collaborating on more than 15 Passive House projects ranging in size from 24,000 to 340,000 square feet and from 25 to 330 units. Notable among these projects are Finch Cambridge, which is widely acclaimed as an early adopter of Passive House, as well as a number of multi-phased, affordable multifamily projects like Old Colony. In the past three years we have also increased our workload in assisted living, with 10+ projects currently completed, in construction, or in design. Other sectors where we have a long history of experience include health care, campus, wastewater and water treatment. We are working to increase our repeat client base and broaden project types in order to sustain growth and build resiliency. We believe that our progressive approach, our success in the Boston market, and our professionalism provide a solid basis for being optimistic about our vision for continued growth.

Role Overview

An excellent manager and technical/discipline lead, you will move seamlessly between the role of Project Manager and Senior Mechanical/HVAC Engineer – in some projects wearing both hats, in some projects wearing one or the other. You will manage client relationships and incoming requests for proposals, attend preliminary walkthroughs and project meetings, and set up/define initial project goals and schedules. You will help onboard new projects, working with others on the team to launch them, define our approach, and draft conceptual and schematic narratives. If you are not serving as the Project Manager, you will facilitate the smooth transition of the work to the Project Manager and production team, and will serve as a resource to them, providing support and guidance for all aspects of the project. You will serve as a technical resource to junior staff, mentoring them and building their capacity so that they can continue to expand their skills. This role requires a unique combination of strong technical expertise, a willingness/ability to be interrupted frequently and share that expertise with more junior staff, and the ability to prioritize and reallocate work on the fly, as deadlines and departmental capacity require. While this position will not immediately have direct reports, we are looking for somebody with the aptitude and appetite to take on a departmental leadership role.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• 15 years of experience in Mechanical/HVAC Engineering, with experience serving as senior ME in a client-facing role.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• 5+ years of experience managing people and projects – certificate in leadership/management or other similar training/experience strongly preferred.
• Sustainable building design experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• PE credential strongly preferred.
• Ability to adapt to changing project demands and prioritize your own workload and that of others to meet multiple, sometimes conflicting deadlines.
• Ability and willingness to mentor and coach more junior staff.
• Strong interpersonal skills – ability to collaborate effectively with clients, project team members and internal employees.
• Adaptability and flexibility – willingness to shift from higher level management to “in the weeds” support of team members as needed.
• A passion for PEI’s mission – Smart Sustainable Design – and ability to be an ambassador for our brand.

Responsibilities

Project Management

• Attend project design charrettes and kickoff meetings, representing all Petersen Engineering disciplines.
• Confirm the project scope, schedule, and requirements with the client and other stakeholders, documenting key project goals and constraints. 
• Propose interim milestones to the schedule for proper information flow, adjusting as necessary throughout the project.  
• Facilitate the set-up of project task lists for tracking progress.
• Prepare and implement a proactive QA/QC plan for projects.
• Facilitate system selection process.
• Work with/lead production staff to develop drawings and specifications through all project phases, including CA. 
• Perform risk assessments to develop response strategies; manage risks throughout the project.  
• Supervise the job closeout process to ensure documentation, lessons learned, and filings are complete. 

Senior Mechanical/HVAC Engineer

• Serve as engineering team lead and HVAC subject matter expert, internally and externally, from conceptual design through construction administration.
• Research project requirements and identify potential design solutions.
• Attend kick-off meetings, walk-throughs of existing buildings/renovation projects, and site visits as needed.
• Analyze, design and present technical material in traditional and innovative ways for review by technical and non-technical audiences.
• Understand trends and standard methodologies in the markets in which we work.
• Participate in the QC process by reviewing drawings and evaluating the need for design changes; make appropriate recommendations.
• Assist Project Engineer with selection and specification of mechanical equipment such as boilers, chillers, and air handling units.
• Review shop drawings for compliance of specifications and contract documents.
• Day-to-day management of engineering team tasks, projects, and issues, removing roadblocks as appropriate.
• Prepare or direct development of design documentation including drawings, calculations, specifications, reports, etc.
• Prepare or direct development of specifications, working drawings, instructions, and other related documents.
• Maintain current knowledge of design and construction procedures to meet changing priorities.
• Assist Project Managers with RFI’s and other construction issues.
• Assist with initial utility and EE coordination.
• Serve as key participant in troubleshooting post occupancy issues.
• Perform high-level code analysis to advise company and clients on important recurring issues (ex. Ventilation interpretation/summary).
• Complete specific high-level tasks as needed: ex. specification and control sequences.

Communication

• As Project Manager, serve as primary point of contact for client and stakeholder communication. Respond quickly and efficiently to client emails and phone calls related to design coordination and decisions. Facilitate communication between clients and the project team; and documents important issues.  
• Network and attend key client events (groundbreakings, grand openings, fundraisers, etc.)
• Write reports for internal and external purposes based on findings.
• Interface effectively with clients and members of the design team; maintain and build strong relationships.
• Nurture relationships and networks to develop business.

Budget

• Assist in preparing estimates and developing proposals.
• Track project performance, specifically to analyze the successful completion of short- and long-term goals. 
• Monitor project budget throughout the project and work with project team to schedule work. 
• Complete all administrative tasks to ensure proper job tracking and invoicing; participate in invoice review.

Coaching/Mentoring/Professional Development

• Delegate appropriate tasks to Senior Engineers, Project Engineers and Designers. 
• Coach/mentor staff to facilitate their technical and soft skills learning and professional development. 
• Attend internal and external training and professional development opportunities to expand technical and project management knowledge.
• Serve as positive, can-do influence on other team members. 
• Teach teams to connect their solutions to bigger picture issues.
• Participate in professional associations.

Compensation and Benefits

Our salaries and Paid Time Off are competitive with those offered by other MEP/FP firms in the Northeast. In addition, we have historically provided bonuses as the firm’s financial performance has allowed. We also offer health, dental and vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, and a company 401k with a match of up to 4% based on your contribution of 5% of your salary.

To apply, send resume and cover letter detailing your interest in the role to careers@petersenengineering.com.