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Now hiring · Madison, WI 53715 · $95k–$130k / year
Mechanical Engineer — Madison, WI
The Mechanical Engineer supports construction-phase quality on the mechanical systems of active projects: reviewing submittals and shop drawings against the design documents, answering RFIs with the engineer of record, observing installation of HVAC, hydronic, refrigeration, ventilation, and building-automation systems, witnessing start-up and functional testing, and documenting what was installed against what was specified. You work alongside our mechanical inspectors and the project quality team, and you are the engineer the contractor calls when the drawing and the field disagree.
This is a project-site position supporting programs in and around Madison, Wisconsin, staffed through the Chicago, IL regional hub on a project basis with travel as assigned.
In Madison, expect red lake clays, deep frost subgrades, and brewery-to-factory industrial range, and a record that follows you project to project.
What you'll do
- Review mechanical submittals, shop drawings, and product data against the contract documents and the International Mechanical Code (IMC), ASHRAE 62.1/90.1/15, SMACNA duct construction standards, NFPA 90A/90B, and the mechanical sections of the project specifications
- Prepare RFI responses and field directives in coordination with the engineer of record
- Perform field observations of HVAC, hydronic, refrigeration, ventilation, and building-automation systems and write observation reports with photographs and specification references
- Witness start-up, functional performance tests, and test-and-balance or acceptance testing; review the test reports
- Support the commissioning agent and the quality team through punch list and closeout; maintain the deficiency log to closure
What we're looking for
- B.S. in mechanical engineering or equivalent; EIT required, PE preferred (or able to sit within 12 months)
- 3+ years of mechanical design or construction-phase engineering on commercial, industrial, healthcare, or institutional projects
- Working command of the International Mechanical Code (IMC), ASHRAE 62.1/90.1/15, SMACNA duct construction standards, NFPA 90A/90B, and the mechanical sections of the project specifications
- Reads drawings and specifications fluently and writes a report an owner's representative can act on
What a week in this job looks like
Monday is the submittal log: what came in, what is due back to the contractor, which items need the engineer of record. Midweek is the field — walking the mechanical rough-in with the inspector, checking installations against the approved submittals, and photographing what will be covered up by Friday. The RFIs that come out of those walks get answered the same week, with the drawing reference and the code section, so the contractor is not waiting on you to pour or close a wall.
At start-up and commissioning you are on site for the functional tests, reading the test report against the sequence of operations, and signing off only on what you watched.
Pay, schedule, and travel
Pay runs $95,000 to $130,000 depending on certifications held, verified experience, and the program you are assigned to. The rhythm follows the construction schedule: heavier during rough-in and commissioning, lighter between phases.
Texas positions are dispatched from the Sugar Land headquarters; project-site positions elsewhere are staffed on a project basis with travel and per diem as assigned, and the listing for your city says which one it is.
Standards and quality
The work runs to the International Mechanical Code (IMC), ASHRAE 62.1/90.1/15, SMACNA duct construction standards, NFPA 90A/90B, and the mechanical sections of the project specifications, documented under the company's quality system. Observation reports and test witness records carry your name and are retained as project quality records.
How hiring works, and our commitment
Apply with your license or EIT, your project list, and a sample observation report or submittal review (redacted as needed). Expect a direct conversation with the people you would work for, references that get called, and a written offer consistent with this posting. The role requires a valid driver's license and the ability to be present on active jobsites, with pre-employment screening consistent with jobsite and client requirements.
We are an equal opportunity employer and consider every applicant without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status.
Apply for this position — upload your resume and we fill in the form
The work behind this job in Madison
Materials Testing in Madison · Geotechnical in Madison · Forensic in Madison
Nearby openings
Mechanical Engineer — Milwaukee, WIMechanical Engineer — Green Bay, WIMechanical Engineer — Kenosha, WIMechanical Engineer — Racine, WI
FAQ
Working in Madison — common questions
Is the Mechanical Engineer position in Madison an office job or a field job?
Office and field. Mechanical Engineers split time between document review at a desk and field observation on active jobsites; expect several site visits a week on an active project.
Which hub covers Madison?
The Chicago, IL regional hub, about 122 miles away. Work in Madison is staffed on a project basis through that hub.
Do I need to relocate to Madison?
Not necessarily. Project-site positions are staffed with travel and per diem as assigned; candidates already living near Madison are preferred when a project starts there.
What certifications does a Mechanical Engineer in Madison need?
EIT is required and a PE license is preferred; the company pays exam fees and review courses for the PE. ICC Commercial Mechanical Inspector (M2) or Mechanical Plans Examiner, plus EPA 608 for refrigerant work; NEBB or AABC test-and-balance credentials are a plus.
What tests will I run on Madison projects?
Fresh concrete testing at the truck — slump (ASTM C143), air content (ASTM C231), temperature (ASTM C1064), unit weight (ASTM C138), cylinder casting (ASTM C31) — and nuclear density on fill lifts (ASTM D6938) against the ASTM D698 or D1557 Proctor, plus aggregate and soil sampling for the laboratory.
What should I include in my application?
Years of experience, any certifications (ACI, NICET, ICC, nuclear gauge), and either a resume file or a short work history in the form. Applications without certifications are welcome for entry-level roles.