Head of Engineering

Position Profile

Location: Minneapolis, MN
Position Title: Head of Engineering / Mechanical Engineer

The Opportunity

This is a rare, high‑impact opportunity for an experienced Mechanical Engineer to step directly into the leadership of an established engineering function—an essential role created due to retirement after decades of organizational continuity. As the new Head of Engineering, you will immediately influence the technical direction, risk management practices, and design quality of a respected mechanical contracting organization serving a diverse mix of commercial and industrial sectors.

This firm operates in the most interesting and complex segments of the mechanical systems world—healthcare facilities, industrial manufacturing, retrofit environments, data centers, and specialized process applications. In this role, your engineering expertise directly shapes solutions for some of the most challenging HVAC, plumbing, piping, steam, medical gas, and process systems in the region.

You will function as the technical authority for the business, enabling a large team of project sales engineers and managers, serving as the internal go‑to for design decisions, supporting field superintendents, and guiding a team of junior engineers and drafting professionals. Your work will significantly influence profitability, quality, customer satisfaction, and company reputation—while also relieving the Engineering Director from currently wearing two hats.

For the right engineer, this is a chance to take ownership, make the role your own, and step into a leadership position that will meaningfully shape the future of the organization.

The Company

For more than eight decades, this organization has built a reputation as a trusted, high‑integrity mechanical contractor serving a wide variety of commercial and industrial customers. The company designs, installs, and services HVAC, plumbing, sheet metal, automation, millwright, and industrial mechanical systems—delivering year‑round solutions that keep businesses operating safely and reliably.

Employees describe the culture as exceptionally collaborative, supportive, humble, empowered, and united in doing the right thing. The environment strikes a rare balance: a diverse team of personalities and backgrounds paired with a strong sense of unity, shared standards, and willingness to help each other. When one person is out, others step in seamlessly.

As part of a large national ownership group, the company benefits from significant backing—capital investment, tooling and fleet purchasing, and strategic support—while maintaining full autonomy over culture, operations, and decision‑making. The ownership group provides resources without imposing disruption or bureaucratic oversight.

The Boss

You will report directly to a long‑tenured Engineering Director—an experienced, hands‑on leader who values autonomy, mentorship, technical rigor, and developing people. His leadership style is grounded in:

• Leading by example
• Providing guidance rather than micromanagement
• Creating supportive guardrails (“bumpers”)
• Investing time in mentoring and developing talent
• Setting people up for success

He has performed this exact role in the past and understands the support an engineer needs to succeed. He views this hire as critical—not only to relieve bandwidth constraints, but to strengthen the technical backbone of the company for years to come.

The Position

The Head of Engineering will serve as the organization’s top technical authority and primary designer across a wide range of commercial and industrial mechanical systems. This individual will:

• Lead mechanical design for projects ranging from $100K to $2M
• Provide technical oversight and evaluate risk on complex design decisions
• Serve as the engineering partner to a large team of project managers/sales engineers
• Support field superintendents and foremen with construction‑phase problem solving
• Manage and mentor three junior engineers/drafters
• Engage directly in customer meetings to scope needs and craft design solutions
• Take ownership of design‑build projects (the entire workload for this role)
• Act as a quality and risk backstop for the entire mechanical engineering function

This role is influential, hands‑on, and essential to the company’s ability to deliver complex, customized, design‑build mechanical solutions.

Essential Functions (Other duties may be assigned)

• Lead design of HVAC, plumbing, process piping, steam systems, medical gas systems, sheet metal, industrial process systems, and dust collection systems
• Analyze mechanical systems in new and existing facilities
• Develop drawings, specifications, documentation, and reports aligned with codes and standards
• Collaborate with project managers and sales engineers to develop engineered solutions
• Conduct site visits and participate in customer-facing meetings
• Review and approve shop drawings, submittals, and change orders
• Provide engineering guidance during pre‑construction, construction, and installation phases
• Mentor and oversee junior engineering and drafting staff, manage work queues, and uphold design quality
• Serve as the engineering risk evaluator for technical decisions impacting cost, safety, or reputation
• Support field leadership with real-time construction questions and problem solving

Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license required
• Strong communication skills and ability to represent engineering decisions confidently
• Proven ability to work autonomously and exercise sound technical judgement
• Demonstrated competence designing mechanical systems across multiple disciplines
• Ability to collaborate effectively with project management, sales, and field teams
• High integrity and a strong sense of ownership for design quality

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (or related field)
• 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience preferred
• Experience in mechanical contracting or consulting engineering
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, Revit, and related engineering design tools
• Design‑build experience strongly preferred

Competencies

• Mechanical systems expertise
• Analytical problem solving
• Leadership and mentoring ability
• Confidence in technical decision making
• Organization and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Collaborative, team‑first mindset

Work Environment

• Office‑based role with frequent site visits to industrial and commercial facilities
• Collaborative and supportive culture with strong peer and leadership engagement
• Project mix includes healthcare, industrial, data centers, and specialized retrofit environments
• Fast‑paced environment requiring adaptability, creativity, and technical confidence

Compensation

The compensation package includes:

• Competitive base salary
• Bonus opportunity tied to company performance
• 401(k)
• Health and optional supplemental benefits