Mechanical Engineer / Project Manager (Multi-Market Building Design)

INTEGRATED DESIGN and ADVISORY

The Integrated Design and Advisory business vertical is one of the business verticals at Michael Baker International with more than 850 professionals located across the country. Established as a national professional and consulting services delivery platform, we unite architecture and engineering design expertise with strategic advisory services to deliver holistic and innovative solutions that address the business and project objectives of our clients. We serve clients across various sectors, including industrial, defense contractors, data centers, aerospace, life sciences, healthcare, higher education, aviation, rail and transit, and the federal government.

Integrated Design leverages the early involvement of all project stakeholders and key disciplines such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural and fire protection engineering, as well as architecture and planning. Our Advisory capabilities include providing solutions across the project life cycle along with resilience services. This offering showcases the firm’s expertise in areas such as strategic consulting, planning, cybersecurity, building controls, cost management, commissioning, program management, construction support, building information modeling, digital twins, emergency response, disaster recovery, operational continuity, energy resiliency and more.

Over the past 85 years, Michael Baker has built a legacy of expertise, experience, innovation and integrity as we partner with our clients to solve complex built environment and critical infrastructure challenges. We have achieved success as a company by employing a solutions-oriented mindset and continually evolving our capabilities to best serve our clients. The Integrated Design and Advisory business vertical supports our long-term growth strategy, enhanced capabilities and unique areas of expertise that focus on high performance buildings, intelligent systems and critical infrastructure. We are focused on a holistic approach, informed decision-making and innovative solutions for our clients. This supports our goal to aggressively pursue, win and execute large, complex projects for government and private sector clients, as well as expand into new markets.

DESCRIPTION

Join Michael Baker International's Integrated Design and Advisory (IDA) Mechanical team as a Senior Mechanical Engineer supporting our growing Advanced Manufacturing and Mission Critical/Data Center markets. This is a Seller/Doer technical leadership role focused on project delivery, client engagement, and business growth—without formal people management responsibilities. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment in San Diego, CA. 

In this role, you will serve as a Designer of Record (DOR) on select projects while managing scopes, schedules, budgets, and client relationships in alignment with Michael Baker Way project delivery processes. The ideal candidate will lead designs for complex facilities, contributing deep expertise in HVAC, process cooling, and mechanical infrastructure for high-reliability environments. You will work closely with clients, project managers, and multidisciplinary teams to deliver technically sound, efficient, and constructible solutions while actively participating in proposal efforts and long-term client relationships. 

Technical Expertise & Design Excellence

• Serve as Designer of Record (DOR) and provide senior mechanical engineering support for complex HVAC, process cooling, hydronic, and piping systems.
• Lead and contribute to mechanical design from concept through construction, maintaining hands-on technical involvement while balancing PM responsibilities.
• Design and coordinate mechanical systems for secure and controlled facilities, including environments subject to ICD‑705 requirements and Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs), with attention to reliability, access control interfaces, and operational constraints.
• Prepare and review engineering calculations, system sizing, specifications, narratives, and technical documentation.
• Ensure designs meet applicable codes, standards, client requirements, and quality expectations.
• Adhere to project budgets, schedules, and quality expectations, identifying risks and mitigating issues proactively.
• Collaborate with design-build and construction partners to evaluate constructability, substitutions, and value-based design solutions.
• Support construction administration through field observations, submittal reviews, and RFI responses.

Project Management & Execution

• Serve as Project Manager and/or Mechanical DOR for assigned projects.
• Manage projects with heightened requirements for documentation, coordination, schedule control, and risk management.
• Maintain project financial performance through budgeting, forecasting, variance tracking, and coordination with project controls and accounting.
• Identify and manage project risks; develop and implement mitigation strategies.
• Prepare and manage change orders, amendments, and contract modifications.
• Maintain accountability for overall project performance, quality, and client satisfaction.

Business Development & Client Engagement

• Serve as a forward-facing client leader, building relationships with new clients and acting as Client Account Manager for several key existing client relationships.
• Participate in client meetings, interviews, and presentations in support of pursuit and delivery activities.
• Support and lead proposal development, including technical approaches, scopes, schedules, fees, and risk assessments.
• Identify opportunities for repeat work and expanded services through strong execution and relationship building.
• Serve as a trusted technical and strategic advisor to clients throughout the project lifecycle.

Collaboration & Professional Skills

• Communicate clearly and effectively with clients, internal teams, contractors, and vendors.
• Collaborate across disciplines to support integrated project delivery.
• Contribute to continuous improvement, standardization, and quality initiatives.
• Occasional travel may be required to support projects and client engagements.

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical or Architectural Engineering from an ABET-accredited program. 
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required. 
• 10+ years of professional experience in mechanical building systems design. 
• Demonstrated experience serving as Designer of Record for complex mechanical systems. 
• Strong knowledge of ASHRAE, applicable building codes, and mission-critical design standards. 
• Proficiency with Revit and Trane TRACE (or similar). 
• Experience supporting business development and client-facing pursuits. 
• Strong technical writing skills, including specifications and design narratives. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and PDF markup software (Bluebeam or similar). 
• U.S. Citizenship required.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in Defense Contracting, Industrial Manufacturing, Data Centers/Mission Critical, Aerospace, and/or Healthcare facilities.
• Familiarity with ICD‑705, Intelligence Community Facility requirements, and the design considerations associated with SCIFs and other secure facilities.
• Experience supporting secure, mission‑critical, or defense‑related facilities where heightened reliability, documentation, and operational continuity are required.
• Design-Build project delivery experience.
• Client-facing project management and Seller/Doer experience.
• Knowledge of fast-track, regulated, or high-reliability environments.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and complex stakeholders.

Compensation
The salary range for this position is $110,000- $190,000. The actual salary offered will be dependent on the preferred candidate’s experience, expertise, and physical location.

Workplace Flexibility
This is a hybrid position, available in our San Diego, CA office.  

Benefits
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:
•    Medical, dental, vision insurance
•    401k Retirement Plan
•    Health Savings Account (HSA)
•    Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
•    Life, AD&D, short-term, and long-term disability
•    Professional and personal development
•    Generous paid time off
•    Commuter and wellness benefits