Mechanical EngineerIrvine, CA | Hybrid ScheduleContract-to-HireDesign the Systems. Own the Work. Make an Impact.
If you're tired of being the engineer who only reviews drawings, coordinates consultants, or manages projects from a distance, this opportunity is different.
We're looking for a hands-on Mechanical Engineer who wants to stay deeply involved in engineering design, calculations, Revit production, and technical problem solving. You'll work on complex healthcare, institutional, federal, and mission-critical facilities where engineering execution matters and your contributions directly impact project success.
This is an opportunity to join a growing team with a strong backlog of awarded work and immediate project needs.
What You'll Do
Design HVAC and plumbing systems for complex facility projects
Prepare and develop mechanical construction documents in Revit
Perform load calculations, equipment sizing, pump calculations, and related engineering analysis
Coordinate directly with architects, electrical engineers, structural engineers, and other design disciplines
Support multiple active projects simultaneously
Participate in occasional site visits and field verification activities
Contribute immediately to project execution with limited ramp-up time
This is a production-focused position requiring direct design ownership. You'll be expected to personally perform the engineering work, not simply oversee it.
What Makes Someone Successful Here
The strongest engineers in this environment:
Personally design HVAC and plumbing systems
Own calculations and engineering decisions
Produce construction documents in Revit
Work independently with minimal supervision
Collaborate effectively across disciplines
Understand both design intent and real-world constructability
Take initiative and solve problems without waiting for direction
Required Qualifications
Hands-on HVAC design experience
Hands-on plumbing design experience
Revit MEP production experience
Experience creating construction documents
Mechanical calculation experience including load calculations and equipment sizing
Ability to explain systems, calculations, and deliverables you personally designed
U.S. Citizenship (required for project access)
Preferred Qualifications
PE or EIT certification
Federal, military, healthcare, institutional, or public-sector project experience
Mechanical controls experience
Building automation systems exposure
Sequences of operation experience
Design-build project experience
AutoCAD experience
Strong communication and coordination skills
What We're Looking For
We're not looking for:
Project managers who no longer design
BIM coordinators without engineering ownership
Engineers who only review drawings
HVAC-only specialists with little exposure to plumbing
Candidates whose experience is primarily oversight-focused
We're looking for engineers who can confidently answer:
"What systems did you personally design?"
"What calculations did you personally perform?"
"What construction documents did you produce?"
"What engineering decisions were yours?"
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
Immediate impact on active awarded projects
Exposure to highly technical and complex facilities
Strong project backlog and growth trajectory
Opportunity to remain hands-on in design and engineering
Hybrid work schedule after onboarding period
Long-term growth potential
Collaborative team environment focused on technical excellence
Compensation
Target compensation generally falls within the $120,000-$150,000+ range, depending on experience, technical depth, and demonstrated design ownership. Exceptional candidates with strong production capabilities may be considered outside the typical range.
Ideal Backgrounds
Mechanical Engineer | HVAC Engineer | Plumbing Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | MEP Engineer | Building Systems Engineer
Project experience within:
Healthcare
Laboratories
Higher Education
Government Facilities
Federal Projects
Military Facilities
Industrial Facilities
Institutional Buildings
Mission-Critical Environments
If you're a true hands-on engineer who still enjoys designing systems, running calculations, and producing quality work in Revit, we'd love to connect.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Irvine, CA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $57.00 - $72.00/hr.
Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: - Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a hybrid position in Irvine,CA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 7, 2026.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.
