Principal Mechanical Design Engineer - PE

6-month contract-to-hire role based in Providence, RI, with a salary range of $150,000–$175,000 based on experience.

About the role

Seeking a highly experienced Senior Mechanical Engineer to join an in-house design/engineering team supporting a large healthcare campus in Providence, RI. This role functions similarly to a small internal Architecture & Engineering (A&E) firm, managing and executing multidisciplinary design across critical infrastructure systems. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in large-scale facility systems design, strong leadership capabilities, and the ability to oversee both internal and external engineering efforts while supporting ongoing campus operations and construction activities.

The work environment is approximately 60% office-based (design and coordination) and 40% on-site (project execution, troubleshooting, inspections), with all locations in close proximity, requiring minimal travel between sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage in-house design efforts across a diverse portfolio of campus projects.
• Oversee and review designs related to mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), and fire protection systems.
• Provide technical leadership and engineering oversight of internal staff and external vendors/consultants.
• Act as a key decision-maker for design direction, ensuring alignment with operational needs and regulatory standards.
• Review and approve engineering drawings, including the ability to stamp drawings (PE required).
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues across campus infrastructure, including cooling towers and other critical systems.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for construction and engineering-related inquiries across the campus.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects, frequently shifting priorities and focus as needs arise.
• Participate in hands-on design work, as well as oversight and quality assurance of external designs.
• Support the construction process by collaborating with contractors, vendors, and internal stakeholders.

Requirements

• Professional Engineer (PE) license (required).
• 7+ years of relevant experience.
• Extensive experience with large-scale, mission-critical systems, including:
  • Mechanical systems
  • Electrical systems
  • Plumbing systems
  • Fire protection systems
• Proven ability to manage complex engineering projects in dynamic environments.
• Strong experience reviewing and producing engineering design documents and drawings.
• Experience overseeing external vendors, consultants, and contractors.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced environment with frequent priority changes and project switching.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in healthcare facilities (highly preferred).
• Background supporting higher education campuses, or large manufacturing or industrial facilities.
• Experience working in an owner-side engineering or in-house design environment.
• Familiarity with operating as part of an internal A&E-style team.

Leadership & Transition Opportunity

This role is part of a long-term succession planning effort, with a structured 6-month shadowing and knowledge transfer period (contract period) with the goal to convert to full-time after the 6-month period. Opportunity to gain deep exposure to campus operations, systems, and institutional standards.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance plans.
• Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP).
• 401K program with company match after 12 months of tenure.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) on the HDHP plan.
• SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions.
• Corporate discount savings program and other discounts.
• On-demand training program and access to certification prep, technical and leadership courses/books/seminars after 6+ months of tenure.
• Certification discounts and perks for associations including CompTIA and IIBA.
• Dedicated customer service team and a certified Career Coach.