MEP Systems Designer [Position Open]
Positive Energy is currently seeking a MEP Systems Designer to support projects in our residential MEP design department. Positive Energy is a unique firm, dedicated to transforming the way buildings are designed. Everything we do is rooted in progressive engineering principles to support human thriving. As a small business, our success depends on every single employee’s contributions. This position offers the opportunity to do cutting edge work for a growing company in a strong market position with an eye on the future. If you’re someone who shares our passion for building science, progressive engineering and industry transformation, please send your resume and portfolio to jobs@positiveenergy.pro (no phone inquiries please)
Position Description
The MEP Systems Designer is responsible for overall support and execution of Positive Energy’s engineering work dealing with high performance HVAC, plumbing, building enclosures, electrical, and energy systems. This position is located in Austin, TX with the possibility of remote/hybrid work location depending on qualifications and experience.
High Quality MEP Engineering
A successful candidate will maintain the highest level of quality for our MEP design services and cultivate a strong knowledge base of MEP systems solutions to a wide range of applications. The candidate is expected to be able to:
Successfully develop high quality engineered MEP designs using Revit (and other related Autodesk software) for residential and light commercial buildings
Have or quickly develop facility with design tools needed to perform MEP designs (RHVAC, Diamond System Builder, Bluebeam, LoopCAD, etc.)
Consistently increase knowledge of MEP systems, building science principles, and share knowledge with the team
Display proficiency in independently researching and applying industry best practices
Establish positive working relationships with project partners, including architects, contractors, installers, manufacturers, specification engineers, and property owners
Act as a technical resource and representative of Positive Energy’s mission to current and prospective clients
Apply strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills to design challenges
2. Personal Responsibility and Collaboration
A successful candidate will be a good fit into a high-paced, collaborative, entrepreneurial environment where continual improvement is required. The candidate is expected to be able to:
Seamlessly collaborate with all team members, remote and in-office
Effective manage schedule and time in order to meet challenging deadlines
Demonstrate strong initiative in working independently and demonstrate ability to be “self-starting” with regards to improving skills and knowledge
Develop trust relationships with all staff and project stakeholders through active listening, professional demeanor, and mutual kindness and respect
Evidence strong interest and constant curiosity in the fields of building science, high performance buildings, and sustainable design
3. Desired Skills and Qualifications
Understanding of residential and light commercial high performance MEP design concepts
Expertise in Revit software, energy modeling experience a plus
High degree of accuracy in data input and design output
Ability to meet deadlines and to self-supervise
Ability to read and interpret architectural plans and construction specifications
Ability to maintain professional and responsive oral and written communication
Ability to positively contribute to our team and work in a small business environment
Degree in relevant discipline (mechanical engineering, CAD/BIM design, architectural engineering, etc.)
Work experience in relevant industry (engineering, construction, HVAC, architecture)
Employment Period
Full time employment with 3-month probation period
Salary and Benefits
Competitive salary ($55,000-$85,000 depending on qualifications) with opportunity for advancement
Employee insurance package (health, dental, life, disability)--employee is 100% covered and has the option to pay out of pocket for dependent coverage
401k plan with 4% employer match
Progressive leave policy
Support for relevant professional development opportunities
About Positive Energy
Positive Energy’s mission is to engage with the AEC industry in innovative ways, to skillfully provide building science and engineering knowledge to improve and transform the way buildings are created, to improve the lives of our employees, and foster meaningful relationships with our project partners.
Our headquarters are in Austin, TX, where most of our team live and work. We support projects in multiple markets throughout North America and appreciate the unique complexities of varying climate/design conditions, as well as varied construction market realities. Positive Energy has a proud history of meaningful collaborations with owners representatives, architecture teams, builders, and trades. We have been fortunate to design and consult on projects across the US and abroad that leave a lasting architectural legacy, all while reducing the building’s impact on resources and increasing occupant health, comfort and well-being. The markets where most of our project collaborations take place are Austin, San Antonio, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Carmel-By-The-Sea, Paso Robles, Napa, Montecito, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle/Tacoma, Portland OR, Jackson Hole, Park City, Big Sky, Colorado, Santa Fe, Paradise Valley, Tuscon, Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York, Maine, Charleston, Miami, and the Caribbean.
Positive Energy’s mission is pursued within each of our projects. We educate our clients in understanding how their choices can result in better buildings. We support the application of emerging solutions that improve the lives of building occupants and support sustainability of the building industry. We continuously advocate for healthy indoor environments, the electrification of buildings, highly efficient system technologies, and renewable energy. Every member of our MEP team is constantly building expertise and understanding to be able to lead teams in these areas of attention. We also dedicate resources to information sharing and advocacy through leadership in key local and national organizations and through our Building Science Podcast.
Positive Energy’s Core Values and Competencies
Positive Energy adheres to a set of core values and competencies that are the foundation of our relationships and work environment.
1. Core Values
Kindness (The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate)
Positivity (The quality of being enthusiastic & confident about what we are doing together)
Ethical behavior (Knowing and acting in ways that recognize right and wrong; when in doubt talk with your peers)
Continual learning and improvement (We are all always works in progress)
2. Core Competencies
Our aspiration is that by adhering to our core competencies, we achieve excellence in our work and cultivate a community of clients and team members who love to work with us, which provides us all with valuable, meaningful and fulfilling experiences.
Professionalism in Communication
Clear, concise, with precision (Use smart brevity)
Ensure your audience understands
Offer to explain in another way
Suggest they repeat what you just said using their own words.
Keep your cool in tense interactions
Effective, assertive communication is in bounds
Aggressive and passive aggressive communication is out of bounds
Awareness of body language, facial expressions, and tone
Professionalism in Collaboration
Actively listen (Listen more, talk less, rephrase what you heard to ensure understanding)
Value diverse perspectives
Foster open dialogue
Cultivate strong trust relationships with co-workers and clients
It’s less important to be “right” and more important to come up with creative solutions that work for everyone
Understand when to draw boundaries and how to do so with kindness (ask for help and advice if needed)
Professionalism in Effectiveness
Timely communication
Reliable consistency of project treatment
Delivery of high-quality work within agreed-upon timelines
Commitment to meeting or exceeding expectations
Ensure comprehension (yours and theirs)
Value cooperation
Support colleagues
Contribute positively to achieving shared goals
Close communication loops
Good solutions are not always perfect solutions
Good solutions may have “and” solutions (Por que no los dos?)
Take responsibility for your mistakes and seek to rectify them
Cultivate Servant Leadership
Listening (full attention, notice non-verbal cues, avoid interrupting, be constructive; asking for feedback is an important part of listening)
Empathy (care about your team personally, value other perspectives, be open minded)
Healing (ensure the team has the knowledge, support and resources to recover from setbacks and friction, internal or external; and knows to give this process time to happen)
Self-awareness and empathy (recognize and give consideration to how you’re affecting others)
Persuasion (guide and persuade team members, non-authoritarian)
Conceptualization (think beyond tasks to communicate larger goals and their importance)
Foresight (learn from successes and failures and apply the lessons learned)
Stewardship (Be dependable. Demonstrate PE’s values. Be a role model.)
Commitment to growth (motivate and develop your team, lead by example, provide opportunities for the team to grow and develop)
Build community (encourage collaboration and engagement, encourage sharing opinions and active participation by the whole team, show people why their job is important)
Positive Energy’s MEP Design Approach
The goal of Positive Energy’s residential MEP engineering services is to deliver the highest caliber work in the industry. We apply decades of engineering experience in the custom home market to provide thoughtful design solutions for each unique project. We commit to providing a deep level of service, coordination, and support to each of our project partners.
Because we are a mission-focused engineering team with deep expertise, we solve problems in design that result in excellent outcomes for owners. We help project teams with a diversity of design goals, including creating healthier indoor environments, Passive House design, electrification, on site energy systems, and advanced system technologies.
We developed a design process to accomplish both efficient design interactions and thorough delivery of project design goals. Our typical MEP design process is grouped into deliverable-based design efforts. We have found that this approach works quite well for most residential projects and creates an effective platform for collaboration across a project team.
Positive Energy’s typical MEP engineering design process
This work involves collaboration with and, on occasion even educating, project partners. We coordinate our design work with owners representatives, architects, structural engineers, civil engineers, general contractors, installing contractors, and utility offices.