Lead Building Performance Engineer

PAE is seeking a visionary and technically accomplished Lead Building Performance Engineer to drive our mission of regenerative design through project leadership and innovation. In this role, you will lead multidisciplinary building performance projects while serving as the primary technical lead and trusted client advisor. This position integrates building performance strategies into the design process and guides project teams across energy, water, carbon, daylighting, resilience, and occupant comfort.

About Us

PAE is an engineering and design firm that turns complex challenges into reality. By leveraging the latest technologies, we solve problems in unique ways, and our designs enable buildings and communities to be more resilient and efficient. PAE is trusted by our clients in every aspect of a project's lifespan, from idea to occupancy. We set ambitious goals backed by analysis to significantly conserve water and energy while balancing costs and long-term operational needs. As a B Corp, we measure success by the benefits our projects provide to our clients, our communities, and our planet. We embrace innovation, transparency, sustainability, and lifelong curiosity.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary building performance projects from concept through construction.
• Serve as the primary technical contact for clients and develop long-term client relationships.
• Lead project planning, staffing, scope, schedule, budget, and deliverable quality.
• Develop project work plans and coordinate technical assignments across the project team.
• Guide technical staff performing energy, water, carbon, daylighting, enclosure, resilience, and life cycle assessment studies.
• Integrate building performance strategies into the architectural and engineering design process.
• Lead project meetings and coordinate with owners, architects, consultants, and contractors.
• Review technical analyses and provide engineering guidance across multiple building performance disciplines.
• Prepare and oversee reports, presentations, narratives, and technical recommendations.
• Support proposals, interviews, scope development, and business development efforts.
• Mentor and develop junior staff while fostering technical excellence.
• Improve company standards, workflows, and quality management processes.
• Perform site visits and construction support as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Architecture, Building Science, or a related field.
• Professional registration (PE, RA, or equivalent) preferred.
• Experience with high-performance and sustainable building design.
• Minimum of 5-10 years of experience leading building performance projects.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, build client relationships, and integrate building performance into design.
• Strong technical leadership and project leadership skills.
• Excellent client relationship and communication skills.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary project teams.

Skills

• Broad understanding of building performance, including:
  • Whole-building energy modeling
  • Building enclosure performance
  • Daylighting and visual comfort
  • Thermal comfort
  • Operational carbon
  • Embodied carbon and whole life carbon assessments
  • Water efficiency and water balance analysis
  • Climate resilience and passive design
• Ability to evaluate technical work across multiple disciplines and guide project direction.
• Experience leading integrated design workshops and communicating technical concepts to diverse stakeholders.
• Strong organizational, delegation, and mentoring skills.
• Experience supporting business development and proposal preparation.

Preferred Software Experience

• IESVE, EnergyPlus
• Rhino and Grasshopper
• Ladybug Tools, Honeybee, ClimateStudio, Radiance, or DIVA
• One Click LCA, EC3, Athena, Tally, or similar whole life carbon software
• Power BI
• SketchUp
• Adobe InDesign
• Revit

Pay

Hiring base salary range: $122,300-$151,100 annual. This position is eligible for time and a half overtime pay. The base salary is one component of PAE’s competitive compensation package for employees. We take into consideration a variety of factors including but not limited to skills, abilities, experience, education, credentials, internal equity, and geographic location in determining the exact salary offered.

Benefits

• Employer-paid health insurance (medical, dental, vision)
• Annual 401k profit sharing based on company profit and account contribution
• Professional development reimbursements including state registration and professional association dues
• Employer-paid commuter/parking stipend
• Cell phone stipend
• Life insurance and disability benefits
• Hybrid work schedule
• Employee Assistance Program
• 9 paid holidays including an additional employee-selected day
• Paid time off for sick leave, family leave, community service, holidays, and vacation

To learn more about our comprehensive benefits package, visit https://www.pae-engineers.com/careers/benefits.

About Our Company

Founded in 1967, PAE is a leading sustainable engineering and consulting firm on a mission to deliver clean air, energy, and water for all. We specialize in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering, building performance analysis, technology design, and lighting design (LUMA). PAE designs some of the nation's highest-performing and most regenerative built environments across the U.S., from Living Buildings to all-electric buildings and beyond. Our portfolio includes over 100 LEED Platinum projects as well as dozens of projects that have either achieved or are pursuing the Living Building Challenge, Passive House, Architecture 2030, Carbon Neutral, Net Zero Energy, and Net Zero Water.