Sr Building Performance Engineer

About the role

HGA, an award-winning architectural, engineering, and planning firm, is seeking a Senior Building Performance Engineer to lead and grow its Building Performance presence on the West Coast. This role focuses on optimizing energy performance and ensuring sustainable, high-performing systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the commissioning and optimization of building systems, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and automation systems.
• Collaborate closely with architects, engineers, and construction teams to ensure designs meet energy efficiency and sustainability goals.
• Conduct energy modeling, building assessments, and performance audits to recommend improvements.
• Provide technical expertise in energy efficiency and sustainability to enhance building operations and reduce environmental impact.
• Develop commissioning plans, oversee testing and functional performance, and document results.
• Support and mentor junior engineers, fostering a culture of learning and innovation within the team.
• Develop opportunities for future work, including meeting with clients, writing proposals, developing fees, preparing for and attending interviews and negotiating contracts.
• Lead strategic client and design team engagements around decarbonization, energy efficiency, and optimization strategies at building and campus scales.
• Serve as sustainability team leader/project manager, coordinating with interdisciplinary design team members and external consultants on projects in multiple sectors including Science & Technology, Higher Education, and Healthcare.
• Lead or perform commissioning tasks and responsibilities as outlined in ASHRAE Commissioning Guideline 0-2019.
• Perform retro-commissioning services for existing buildings.
• Absorb and train new engineers.

Requirements

• BS and/or Masters degree in relevant Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical or other similar degree).
• 15+ years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• PE, CEM or similar.
• LEED, WELL, and/or other relevant building certification accreditation.
• A commissioning certification from the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), the Building Commissioning Association (BCA), or the University of Wisconsin.
• Experience with automatic controls operation, and troubleshooting.
• Experience in optimizing HVAC systems for comfort, IAQ and energy efficiency.
• General navigation knowledge of multiple types of Building Automation Systems, for example, Automated Logic WebCTRL, Distech EC, JCI Metasys, Tridium Niagara, and Siemens Apogee and Desigo.
• Knowledge of and experience with CxAlloy.
• Knowledge of current energy and Cx requirements in sustainable building rating systems (LEED, Living Building Challenge, WELL Building Standard, etc.).
• Familiarity with early design phase building performance simulation using software tools such as Climate Consultant, Ladybug and Honeybee for Grasshopper, DIVA for Rhino, COMFEN, WUFI, Therm, Insight 360, or Sefaira.
• Experience with advanced design phase energy modeling, such as Trane Trace, Open Studio, eQuest and IESVE.
• Familiarity with architectural production software: AutoCAD, Revit, Sketch-Up, Rhino and/or related software.
• Experience conducting Structural and Whole Building Life Cycle Assessments.

Benefits

• Annual bonus and success sharing bonus program.
• 401(k) guaranteed contribution.
• Paid parental leave.
• Medical, dental and life insurance plans.
• Paid time off.
• Short- and long-term disability programs.

Pay

The pay range listed aligns to the geography of the office for which this position is posted. Actual compensation will be based upon work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer. Individuals in this role working more than 24 hours a week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in HGA’s robust benefit programs.

Salary Range: $121,000 - $158,800 depending on qualifications and experience.