Decarbonization Subject Matter Expert - Principal Engineer - Dewberry

Because of increasing demand for mechanical and energy engineering expertise, we are seeking a Decarbonization Subject Matter Expert - Principal Mechanical Engineer to join our Fairfax, VA office.  As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will be responsible for providing operational and technical guidance and training/mentoring of our design resources in all areas of work we do associated with energy engineering and decarbonization/electrification projects. Assist the Business Unit Manager and Service Line Leader in development and implementation of Decarbonization/Electrification growth strategy.  Assist the Project/Client Managers by providing technical guidance to help meet the client’s desires and budget. Work with a team of engineers on a variety of private, public, and federal projects. In addition to working with mechanical/energy engineers, this individual will team with architectural, electrical, structural, and other disciplines to provide full-range services to our local and regional clients.  In short, provide business leadership and technical guidance associated with mechanical/energy engineering to accomplish our project commitments and growth objectives. Reports to the Business Unit Manager.

Dewberry has a large team of Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Structural (MEPS) engineers focused on design services for nationwide clients in specialized facility types and specialized design services. Our experience includes high performance buildings, net zero energy design, renewable energy technologies, microgrid and energy storage system design, energy and climate resilience, and services related to decarbonization/electrification of the built environment.  Our MEPS group contains subject matter experts in leadership roles in international professional organizations such as ASHRAE.  Our repeat clients include universities, and state, local, and federal government agencies, and large global industrial manufacturers, among others. Our MEPS service line is ranked #31 Nationally among MEP Giants.

Dewberry is a leading, market-facing professional services firm with more than 60 locations and 2,500 professionals nationwide. What sets us apart from our competitors is our people. At Dewberry, we seek out exceptional talent and strive to deliver the highest quality of services to our clients. Whether you’re an experienced professional or a new graduate, you’ll have the chance to collaborate with the best and brightest and work on innovative and complex projects at the forefront of the industry. Our commitment to excellence stems from our personal integrity and from other defining attributes, which we call “Dewberry at Work,” that have inspired our employees to be successful for more than a half-century.

The Principal Mechanical Engineer would be expected to provide the following to others on the design team and senior leadership to effectively and successfully complete projects and achieve business objectives:

• Consultation with senior leadership on development and implementation of growth strategy related to decarbonization/electrification.
• Consultation with clients related to energy and carbon goals, design concepts and solutions, and project economics.
• Marketing assistance to develop demand for our services related to decarbonization and electrification.
• Service Line Operations: Assist the Chief Engineer leading MEPS Service Line’s Mechanical community of practice to ensure successful inter-office mechanical operations, by actively participating in the community of practice events and performing delegated tasks from the Chief.
• Office Operations: Supervise all Mechanical discipline managers within an office or business unit for successful intra-office operations, by actively helping those department managers that report to you smoothly run their departments
• Quality Management: Ensure Mechanical discipline managers are consistently applying and complying with corporate quality management processes and procedures.
• Technical Management: Ensure Mechanical discipline managers are providing timely and adequate guidance and quality oversight, including code review, of all project work involving mechanical or decarbonization/electrification project engineering.
• Recruitment and development of technical staff and project managers to deliver on project commitments.
• Supervise staff in the decarbonization/electrification
• Technical training and development of staff related to energy planning, modeling and life cycle cost analysis, design of high performance and low carbon buildings, electrified/geothermal heating systems and other clean energy technologies.
• Staff Development Oversight: Ensure Mechanical discipline managers are providing adequate technical training and development of staff by providing guidance and mentoring of managers.
• Standards Development Oversight: Ensure Mechanical discipline managers are establishing and improving standards, practices, guidelines, and specifications for their Mechanical discipline area.  Principal shall lead the development of their office Mechanical standards and coordinate those standards through the Chief Engineer across offices.
• Engineer of Record on select projects as needed.
• Provide “on-the-spot” advice and decisions – technical and cost estimates.  Principal engineer is the top Mechanical in an office unless mechanical issue involves other office in the service line then the Chief Engineer presides.
• Coordinates with client/project managers and department managers within an office to resolve Mechanical engineering conflicts.
• Office Organizational Management: Assist Office/Business Unit Manager to ensure successful office operations, including advice on staff organizational structure and office procedures.
• Evaluation of project opportunities and Go/No Go determination based on technical qualifications, resource availability and alignment with business strategy and portfolio.
• Technical interface with code officials and contractors.
• Active member/leader of local and national technical organizations (e.g. ASHRAE); present at conferences – industry thought leader.

• Accomplished mechanical engineer/PE with 20+ years of progressive technical experience in the design of mechanical systems, thermal energy infrastructure and clean energy technologies.

• Experience should include technical oversight of multiple projects with proven success in meeting contract specifications and achieving high performance and advanced energy design standards.

• Self-motivated with highly developed verbal, written and interpersonal skills.   

Do not meet every single requirement? At Dewberry we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace for our employees. So, if you are excited about this role, but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the position description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may just be the right candidate for this or other opportunities. 

*At this time, Dewberry will not sponsor a new applicant for work authorization.

*Dewberry is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

*Only recipients of an offer of employment from Dewberry, will be required to submit to a background screening which may include, but is not limited to, employment verification, educational and other credential verification, driving record check, criminal background check, and an investigative consumer report. These screenings will be conducted by Dewberry’s background vendor of choice and will be conducted in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local law.

Notice to Third Party Recruiters:  Dewberry only compensates job placement recruiters that have a valid Dewberry-approved written agreement in place for recruiting services. Dewberry does not compensate third party recruiters for unsolicited job placement candidate information.

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