Director Mechanical Engineering

Pay range: $135,000.00 - $243,000.00. Pay is based on several factors including labor markets, education, work experience, and certifications.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits and programs for eligible team members and their dependents, including medical, vision, dental, and life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Employee discount
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage
• Paid sick leave
• Paid national holidays
• Paid vacation

Find competitive benefits from financial and education to well-being and beyond at Target's benefits page.

About Us

Working at Target means helping all families discover the joy of everyday life. We bring that vision to life through our values and culture. Target's Properties team creates and maintains the physical spaces where millions of guests and team members experience our brand every day. From stores and supply chain facilities to headquarters locations, we deliver innovative, sustainable, and reliable building solutions that support Target's business today while preparing for tomorrow.

About the Role

A role in Engineering within Store Design offers the opportunity to apply your technical expertise to complex building systems that directly impact the safety, reliability, sustainability, and long-term performance of Target's facilities. As the Director of Mechanical Engineering, you will lead Target's enterprise mechanical engineering practice responsible for HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection systems across Retail Stores, Supply Chain facilities, and Headquarters locations.

You will provide strategic leadership for a team of engineers while establishing engineering standards, driving innovation, and ensuring Target's building systems are safe, reliable, sustainable, and operationally efficient. Your leadership will influence engineering standards, talent development, supplier partnerships, and the future direction of Target's mechanical engineering practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing team of mechanical engineers responsible for HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection systems across Target’s property portfolio.
• Establish team priorities, resource strategies, and engineering processes that support delivery of new stores, remodels, supply chain facilities, and asset lifecycle programs.
• Provide technical leadership and governance for mechanical engineering designs performed by external consultants, ensuring alignment with Target standards, project requirements, and business objectives.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve enterprise design standards, engineering criteria, specifications, and best practices for mechanical building systems.
• Partner with Construction, Store Design, Architecture, Property Management, Sustainability, Energy Management, Sourcing, Legal, Supply Chain, Finance, and Store Operations teams to deliver integrated facility solutions.
• Lead engineering reviews to ensure quality, consistency, constructability, operational effectiveness, maintainability, and compliance with applicable codes and regulations.
• Identify and implement strategies that improve system performance, energy efficiency, reliability, and total cost of ownership across Target’s portfolio.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with HVAC manufacturers, suppliers, and service partners to support Target’s operational, engineering, and sustainability objectives.
• Lead escalation and resolution of complex HVAC equipment, performance, and reliability issues across Target’s portfolio, partnering with suppliers, service providers, and internal stakeholders to identify root causes and implement long-term corrective actions.
• Partner with Target’s Sourcing team to develop and execute sourcing strategies for mechanical systems and equipment, including supplier evaluation, product standardization, lifecycle cost analysis, risk mitigation, and long-term category planning.
• Influence supplier performance through established governance routines, performance metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives that drive quality, reliability, innovation, and total cost of ownership outcomes.
• Develop business cases and technical recommendations supporting investments in building systems, engineering standards, technologies, and operational improvements.
• Establish performance metrics and continuous improvement routines that drive engineering excellence and consultant accountability.
• Collaborate and foster strong relationships with internal and external global partners to achieve project and enterprise goals.
• Influence long-term mechanical engineering strategy and roadmap development in support of Target’s growth, sustainability, and operational objectives.
• Develop talent through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and performance management while fostering an inclusive and engaged team culture.
• Travel up to 25%.

This position operates as a Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement, meaning the team member’s core role will need to be performed both onsite at the Target HQ MN location and virtually, depending on role, team, and task requirements.

Requirements

• 4-year degree in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET accredited school or equivalent experience.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• 10+ years of progressive mechanical engineering experience with demonstrated leadership responsibility.
• Experience leading engineering teams responsible for HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection systems within large commercial, retail, or distribution facility portfolios.
• Experience managing consultant relationships and overseeing engineering design execution across multiple concurrent projects and programs.
• Experience managing strategic supplier relationships, equipment manufacturers, and sourcing initiatives within a large-scale commercial, retail, industrial, or distribution environment.
• Strong understanding of building systems, building controls, energy management, sustainability strategies, applicable codes, and industry standards.
• Demonstrated leadership experience building and leading inclusive and engaged teams.
• Proven success leading cross-functional teams with complex scope and multiple stakeholders.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present across various leaders and stakeholders.
• Enterprise mindset with organizational influence to connect and operate effectively across teams.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in an ambiguous and rapidly changing work environment through curiosity and comfort to test, learn, and iterate.
• Continuous learner with passion for innovation and emerging building technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and translate strategy into action.