Principal Project Manager MEP

At Mott MacDonald, we trust our brilliant people to do brilliant things in engineering, management, and development services, supporting multisector project work in over 150 countries. As one of the largest employee-owned companies in the world, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional outcomes through our network of 20,000+ talented consultants. With sustainability and innovation at the heart of our sectors in North America—including Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Water—we empower our people to excel, learn, and grow, offering diverse opportunities to contribute to career-defining work.

About the role

We are seeking a Principal Project Manager to lead Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) services delivery for major energy, water, and heavy civil infrastructure projects. This hands-on role is for an experienced engineer and project manager who enjoys solving complex technical challenges and working closely with design teams, contractors, and equipment manufacturers. The successful candidate will play a lead role in delivering essential systems that make buildings and facilities functional, safe, and comfortable—including large-scale hydropower schemes, transport facilities, industrial and commercial sites, and other infrastructure.

These systems include fire suppression, HVAC, service and sanitary water, drainage facilities, vertical transport, power and lighting, fire detection, security and access control, communications and data services, and building management systems. You will work within collaborative delivery environments, integrating engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning activities while mentoring developing engineers and supporting the growth of Mott MacDonald’s energy and infrastructure practice.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical lead and project manager to deliver multi-disciplinary MEP projects from planning and design through construction and commissioning.
• Manage MEP design development through all stages, interfacing with other project teams and design disciplines (e.g., architectural, civil, electro-mechanical, and construction teams) to ensure design and construction alignment.
• Lead and support interactions with key project stakeholders, relevant authorities, and regulatory agencies to ensure system and design compliance.
• Work closely with equipment and system suppliers throughout specification, procurement, design integration, factory acceptance testing (FAT), installation, and commissioning.
• Oversee and manage structured design reviews, risk management activities, and project execution planning.
• Provide leadership and work with contractors, suppliers, and clients to support successful delivery of complex MEP projects, balancing technical, schedule, cost, and construction objectives.
• Provide technical guidance during construction and assist in resolving field engineering, installation, and commissioning challenges.
• Lead preparation and submission of project bids, including interacting with clients to clarify and negotiate the successful award of project assignments.
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers while helping build a high-performance MEP team.
• Promote a culture of safety, collaboration, innovation, and technical excellence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred or ability to obtain through reciprocity.
• 20+ years of experience delivering complex multi-disciplinary MEP projects within the energy, hydropower, water, industrial, or heavy civil sectors.
• Demonstrated experience delivering projects through Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build, EPC, CM/GC, or similar alternative delivery models, with a strong understanding of design integration, contractor collaboration, constructability, procurement, risk management, and construction-phase coordination.
• Strong project management, technical problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively with clients, contractors, suppliers, and internal project teams.
• Experience working with local authorities and regulatory agencies.
• Proven ability to mentor developing engineers and support team growth.

Benefits

• Employee ownership with personal and group performance bonuses.
• Comprehensive benefits package including 401k, medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Short-term/long-term disability, paid holidays, PTO, parental leave, and company-paid life insurance.

Pay

The expected salary for this position is $200,000 - $250,000.

Schedule

This is a full-time, regular position. Our hybrid approach centers on an in-office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face-to-face and a minimum of three days per week in the office. You and your manager can balance flexibility with connection to meet client, team, and personal commitments.

Location: Los Angeles, CA, US