Senior Mechanical Engineer

About the Role

Within SSOE’s Tool Install division, we specialize in high-tech Tool Installation design, offering top-tier design and engineering services to a diverse array of clients and markets. Our team is composed of highly skilled and knowledgeable professionals who excel across various disciplines. We pride ourselves on our cross-disciplinary approach, which allows us to understand and address our clients' needs more comprehensively than traditional, siloed methods. This role is based at our client’s N. Phoenix, AZ facility, where you will work alongside our integrated engineering team onsite each day. Remote or hybrid work arrangements are not available.

At SSOE, we empower our team to work smarter by providing responsible access to industry-leading AI tools, including Large Language Models and vibe-coding platforms. From day one, you’ll receive training and support to leverage AI for enhancing productivity, sparking creativity, and streamlining complex workflows.

Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership & System Design
  • Serve as the mechanical authority on projects, setting design direction, resolving technical conflicts, and ensuring system-level integrity from concept through construction.
  • Own end-to-end mechanical design of semiconductor tool installations, including utility matrices, point-of-use (POU) connections (PCW, exhaust, specialty gases, chemical drains), and specialized systems for contamination-controlled environments.
  • Lead the design, analysis, and specifications of complex HVAC systems (air handling units, VAV systems, chillers, boilers, pump hydraulics, exhaust ventilation) for advanced semiconductor fabrication facilities.
  • Engineer ultra-pure water (UPW/RO/DI) infrastructure and process cooling/heating systems meeting stringent purity and reliability requirements.
  • Design specialized exhaust and chemical delivery/drain systems for hazardous production materials (HPMs), ensuring compliance with ASME, ASHRAE, NFPA, SMACNA, and SEMI standards.
• Analysis & Optimization
  • Perform detailed thermodynamic, hydraulic, and psychrometric analyses to optimize system performance, energy efficiency, and operational stability.
  • Develop sequences of operation (SOO) and contribute to control system narratives for seamless integration with facility controls.
  • Apply computational and code-based methods to validate designs against state/local codes, ASHRAE, NFPA 90A, and SEMI guidelines.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration & Project Delivery
  • Drive coordination across electrical, structural, process, chemical, controls, and architectural teams to deliver fully integrated mechanical systems.
  • Lead design reviews, HAZOP studies, and constructability reviews from concept through commissioning.
  • Translate tool vendor requirements into optimized utility matrices to reduce installation complexity.
  • Provide hands-on engineering support during construction: RFI responses, submittal reviews, site inspections, field verifications, as-built documentation, and system start-up oversight.
  • Develop and review project deliverables (drawings, specifications, calculations, reports) for technical accuracy and code compliance.
• Mentorship & Technical Excellence
  • Mentor junior engineers and designers, providing constructive feedback to build capability and confidence.
  • Champion knowledge-sharing practices, contributing to internal standards and design guidelines.
  • Drive a safety-first design philosophy to protect people, processes, and the community.

Requirements

• Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited institution.
  • Active Professional Engineer (PE) license in Arizona or eligibility to obtain by reciprocity within six months of hire.
  • 6+ years of progressive experience in mechanical systems design for semiconductor, pharmaceutical, microelectronics, or contamination-controlled environments.
  • Expertise in HVAC system design (AHUs, VAV, chillers, boilers, pump hydraulics, exhaust ventilation) and process utility systems.
  • Proficiency with AutoCAD for mechanical design.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of ASHRAE standards, NFPA 90A, IMC/IBC, and Arizona state/local mechanical and fire codes.
  • Ability to lead multi-discipline coordination and communicate complex technical information clearly.
  • Experience delivering mechanical design packages (drawings, specifications, calculations, reports) for complex industrial or high-tech facilities.
• Preferred Qualifications
  • Direct experience with semiconductor fab tool installation design: utility matrices, POU connections, HPM exhaust systems, and ultra-pure water infrastructure.
  • Experience leading HAZOP studies, constructability reviews, and design-phase risk assessments.
  • Familiarity with SEMI standards (S2, S8, F15) governing semiconductor equipment safety.
  • Track record of mentoring junior engineers or leading small project teams through complex mechanical design challenges.

Benefits

• Compensation
  • Salary: $130,000 – $160,000 per year.
  • Leadership bonus program and ownership investment opportunities.
• Health & Wellness
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Employer-paid life insurance.
  • Wellness program support.
• Retirement
  • 401(k) plan with company match.
• Professional Growth
  • Dedicated professional development funding.
  • PE licensure and certification exam support.
  • Conference attendance and structured career advancement programs.
• Time Off
  • Generous paid time off (PTO) policy plus paid holidays.
• Work-Life Balance
  • Flexible scheduling within project commitments.
  • Culture that respects time outside the office.