System Optimization Manager

MacDonald‑Miller Facility Solutions (“MacMiller”) is the Northwest’s leading mechanical contracting firm, designing, delivering, and servicing HVAC, plumbing, and automation systems for commercial buildings. With over 1,600 employees across 14 offices, the company supports new‑construction projects, retrofits, service, building performance, and energy‑efficient design‑build solutions. The organization emphasizes a culture of collaboration, dedication, safety, community, innovation, and fun.

About the role

The System Optimization Manager leads the department responsible for quality‑control standards, commissioning, System Optimization Specialists, and the Field Engineering/TAB group. This role owns departmental performance, technical quality, people leadership, financial discipline, and cross‑functional collaboration to deliver verified, high‑performing mechanical systems. The manager acts as the liaison to executive leadership and partner business units, translating company goals into actionable plans and preparing the organization for sustainable growth.

Responsibilities

• Department Leadership & Culture
  • Set clear expectations, balance workloads, coach performance, and build a culture of accountability and support.
  • Develop technical talent and future leaders through mentoring, training, feedback, delegation, and succession planning.
  • Foster a culture built on trust, collaboration, safety, continuous learning, empowerment, integrity, and excellence.
• Strategy, Growth & Organizational Readiness
  • Develop and execute departmental goals, strategies, and operating plans aligned with company objectives.
  • Anticipate future market, technology, staffing, organizational, and geographic needs and prepare the department for long‑term growth.
  • Translate complex challenges into clear, actionable workstreams with defined ownership and measurable outcomes.
  • Support expansion across Washington, Oregon, and future markets.
• Quality Control, Commissioning & Technical Standards
  • Own and continuously improve company QA/QC standards, tools, processes, checklists, and training resources.
  • Provide leadership oversight for commissioning, system startup, controls coordination, balancing, testing, corrective action, and turnover.
  • Ensure systems perform as designed, meet contract requirements, sequences of operation, and company standards.
  • Leverage lessons learned from warranty, commissioning, TAB, field engineering, and project execution to prevent recurring issues.
• Operational & Financial Management
  • Manage departmental budgets, staffing plans, resources, KPIs, and financial performance.
  • Monitor workload, capacity, productivity, quality, schedules, and financial results, taking corrective action when needed.
  • Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, standardize processes, and make the department easier for internal teams to engage.
  • Establish routine audits that provide meaningful feedback to project teams and leadership.
• Cross‑Functional & Executive Partnership
  • Serve as primary liaison between the department, executive leadership, and Operations, Project Management, Engineering, Estimating, Sales, Controls, Service, Energy, Warranty, and field teams.
  • Improve interdepartmental handoffs, clarify accountability, and remove barriers impacting quality, schedule, cost, customer experience, or system performance.
  • Provide leadership with clear reporting on priorities, risks, performance, resources, and business needs.
  • Partner with Engineering, Estimating, and Sales to incorporate lessons learned into future project planning.
• Compliance & Safety
  • Ensure departmental operations comply with applicable regulations, company policies, contractual requirements, and safety standards.
  • Promote safe planning and execution across job sites, mechanical spaces, startup, testing, and commissioning activities.
  • Ensure issues are appropriately escalated, documented, assigned, corrected, and verified.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, construction management, management science, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5–10 years of project management or operational leadership experience, including leading mid‑sized teams.
• Proven success building strong company culture and leading teams.
• Strong knowledge of a broad range of mechanical systems, including VRF systems and central plants.
• Working knowledge of building management and automation systems, with experience in BMS interfaces.
• Experience with Microsoft 365, Procore, and other common industry software.
• Strong financial, organizational, communication, coaching, and change‑management skills.
• Ability to break down complex problems into clear, actionable solutions.
• Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record.
• Personal attributes: highly collaborative, strong communicator, passionate, can‑do attitude, self‑motivated, top‑tier problem solver.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees (dependents available with shared premium).
• 401(k) retirement plan with company matching.
• Paid time off (vacation and sick) and holiday pay.
• Short‑term and long‑term disability insurance.
• Employee and dependent life insurance.
• Wellness program.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Company‑provided vehicle.

Pay

Base salary $142,000 – $175,000 annually, plus a company‑provided vehicle.

Location

Seattle Pre‑Fab Shop: 3701 South Norfolk St., Seattle, WA 98118.