Engineering Assistant

About the role

GDS Associates, Inc. is seeking an Engineering Assistant in the Energy Efficiency business unit based in the Northern Massachusetts/Southern New Hampshire region. The ideal candidate should have a basic understanding of home building and construction practices and a strong interest in energy-efficient residential construction.

Responsibilities

• Interact with individuals on project sites
• On-site inspection and data collection of energy efficiency features
• Learn to calculate necessary inputs for completing home energy ratings
• Collaborate with other team members
• Communicate with project leads on status and schedule
• Track and document energy efficiency features of new homes through visual verification
• Review construction plans for calculating conditioned floor area and volume of homes and dwellings
• Conduct mid-construction inspections to verify and document energy features (e.g., mechanical equipment, insulation, air-sealing and other building envelope details)
• Conduct diagnostic testing and document results upon final inspection (blower door and duct leakage testing)
• Provide in-field technical guidance and support to builders and subcontractors on improving energy performance, health, and durability of new residential buildings
• Maintain flow of data from field to other members of the team
• Maintain relationships with builders, architects, and property owners

Requirements

• Technical or associate's degree in related field with two (2) years of relevant experience or bachelor's degree in related field with no experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Knowledge/experience in new construction
• Knowledge/experience of building science
• Desire and ability to learn about energy efficient construction, including diagnostic testing
• Must be able to obtain RESNET- Home Energy Rater (HERS) or Rater Field Inspector (RFI) certification
• Desire and ability to learn about energy efficient construction and green building, including diagnostic testing
• Willingness to work in a dynamic setting, balancing time spent on construction sites performing inspections and providing necessary documentation
• Experience in residential HVAC (e.g., sizing heating and cooling systems, system installation, troubleshooting and/or duct design)
• Physical ability to climb ladders (sometimes to heights of 15 feet), lift/carry/use scientific measurement equipment weighing approximately 20 pounds, walk in and around homes in various stages of construction, enter/work in confining spaces, and lift/carry/use scientific measurement equipment weighing approximately 35 pounds
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, Word) and iOS mobile devices
• Familiarity or ability to learn appropriate field equipment and technologies

Skills

• Ability to travel to project sites (50% to 100%)

Benefits

• Flex Benefits (Flexible Hours, Telecommuting)
• Competitive Pay
• Excellent Health Insurance Benefits
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick, Floating Holiday, Holidays)
• 401(k) Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Tuition Reimbursement

Job Benefits: Flex Benefits (Flexible Hours, Telecommuting) Competitive Pay Excellent Health Insurance Benefits Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick, Floating Holiday, Holidays) 401(k) Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Tuition Reimbursement