Principal/Senior Mechanical Engineer (MEP)-Honolulu Hybrid

Principal / Senior Mechanical Design Engineer (MEP), Honolulu, HI

A well-established building systems consulting firm is hiring a senior Mechanical (HVAC) leader to serve as a discipline lead across multiple active projects in Honolulu. This is a high-ownership role for someone who can balance hands-on design with team leadership and client partnership.

What you will own

• Lead mechanical delivery across multiple projects, acting as the primary HVAC technical authority and a steady point of leadership for the local team.
• Build, mentor, and elevate a local MEP design group, including workload planning, coaching, QA/QC, and raising the standard on documentation and coordination.
• Develop and maintain local client relationships with architects, owners, and key decision-makers, with an emphasis on repeat work, referrals, and long-term trust.
• Drive HVAC system selection and design, considering climate, corrosion exposure, energy goals, maintainability, and constructability specific to island projects.
• Produce and review design deliverables including drawings, load calculations, ventilation calculations, equipment schedules, specifications, and design narratives.
• Coordinate across disciplines (architectural, structural, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, controls), and proactively resolve clashes and scope gaps before they hit the field.
• Provide construction administration including RFIs, submittals, site observations, field issue resolution, and collaboration with contractors to keep projects moving.
• Deliver client-ready communication by translating technical decisions into clear recommendations, risk tradeoffs, and next steps.
• Support a high-service culture where responsiveness, accountability, and quality are the differentiators.

What you will bring

Required

• BS in Mechanical Engineering
• 10+ years of MEP consulting/design experience with strong HVAC technical depth (Honolulu and Hawaii market familiarity is a plus)
• Leadership experience managing and mentoring engineers/designers, providing technical direction, and owning quality control
• MEP project management capability (scope, schedule, fee awareness, coordination, and deliverable control)
• Strong client-facing skills with the ability to lead meetings, manage expectations, and build trusted relationships with owners and architects
• Excellent communication (written and verbal), able to drive alignment across internal teams and external partners
• Solid command of applicable building codes and standards and how they impact HVAC design and documentation
• Comprehensive HVAC design knowledge including load calculations, equipment selection, ventilation/outdoor air strategies, controls intent, and constructability

Preferred

• Professional Engineer license (or equivalent experience and readiness to pursue)
• LEED accreditation or a track record of delivering sustainable/high-performance designs
• Working knowledge of IES-VE (or comparable modeling/analysis tools)

Job Type

Full-time

Pay

$140,000.00 - $200,000.00 per year

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Relocation assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location

In person