Mechanical Engineer (Engineer IV)

Fairfax County, VA

$88K — $155K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field from an accredited institution.
  • Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in Virginia or pending reciprocity.
  • 4+ years of professional engineering experience in relevant fields.
  • Significant experience in mechanical, plumbing, and HVAC design and project management.
  • Strong understanding of building automation systems and energy management.

Responsibilities

  • Lead design projects and address construction issues as the County's primary representative.
  • Set project goals and performance metrics for high-quality engineering outcomes.
  • Design, install, and maintain HVAC and plumbing systems for various building projects.
  • Analyze engineering plans and ensure compliance with codes and standards.
  • Act as a subject matter expert across various County departments.
  • Prepare and review engineering calculations, project drawings, and budgets.
  • Manage simultaneous large-scale projects in occupied facilities.

Benefits

  • $5,000 sign-on bonus for new hires.
  • Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage.
  • Long-term disability and life insurance.
  • Flexible spending programs and deferred compensation.
  • Paid leave including sick, parental, and holidays.
  • Continuous learning and development opportunities.
Full Job Description
Salary : $88,765.46 - $155,339.60 Annually
Location : FX. CTY. GOVERNMENT CENTER, 12000 GOVERNMENT CENTER PKWY., FAIRFAX (EJ32), VA
Job Type: FT Salary W BN
Job Number: 26-01129
Department: Facilities Management
Opening Date: 07/25/2026
Closing Date: 8/21/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: S29
Posting Type: Open to General Public

Job Announcement

$5,000 Signing Bonus*
This position includes a sign-on bonus of $5,000 for new county hires.


Fairfax County's Facilities Management Department (FMD) is seeking a highly skilled senior mechanical engineer/project manager to lead the development and execution of complex capital and non-capital projects in occupied County facilities. This role provides senior level leadership under the general direction of the Project Coordinator (Principal Engineer) and/or the Division Director of Design, Engineering, and Construction.

The successful candidate will manage largescale or multiple simultaneous mechanical, HVAC, plumbing, and building automation projects that require close coordination across county departments and stakeholder groups. This is an excellent opportunity for a licensed professional engineer who thrives in a collaborative, technically challenging environment.

Key Responsibilities
  • Serves as the primary Fairfax County representative leading design projects and resolving construction issues.
  • Establishes project objectives and performance standards to ensure high-quality engineering solutions.
  • Performs complex professional engineering work involving the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of HVAC, Building Automation Systems (BAS), and plumbing systems for new construction, renovations, and capital renewal projects.
  • Conducts detailed review and analysis of engineering plans, specifications, and code compliance for HVAC and plumbing systems.
  • Acts as a subject matter expert within FMD and for multiple County departments and agencies.
  • Prepares and reviews mechanical engineering calculations, reports, construction drawings, specifications, schedules, and project budgets.
  • Signs and seals engineering work products in accordance with licensure requirements.
  • Ensures all assigned projects are completed on time, meet FMD and industry quality standards, and remain financially and operationally efficient.
  • Manages complex projects in occupied commercial or institutional environments.
  • Leverages a strong technical background, excellence in design, attention to detail and quality control to perform and review mechanical engineering calculations, reports, construction drawings, specifications, schedules and budgets for commercial building mechanical, plumbing systems, and building automation systems.

Note: This position is designated as an Essential Employee.
Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")

Graduation from a four-year college or university accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technologies with a bachelor's degree in the appropriate engineering or architectural field; plus, four years of progressively responsible professional experience in the appropriate engineering or architectural field. Possession of a valid Virginia Professional Engineer or Architect license is required.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
  • Valid driver's license
  • Valid Professional Mechanical Engineer License for the state of Virginia. An individual who possesses a valid Professional Engineer license in another state will be granted a temporary exemption of a maximum of six months to this requirement pending the Virginia Board for Professional Engineers decision regarding that individual's application for reciprocity.

BONUS ELIGIBILITY:
Positions within this classification that are general merit may be eligible for a one-time hiring incentive bonus for new county employees only. This bonus program requires a signed payback agreement between the department and employee.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Valid professional mechanical engineer license in the state of Virginia.
  • 5 Plus years' experience as a lead mechanical P.E. responsible for design and sealing of commercial building mechanical and plumbing system projects.
  • 3 years of experience as a lead mechanical P.E. with design of commercial building automation systems managing commercial building HVAC systems and operations and the design and construction of critical building mechanical and plumbing design and construction projects.
  • Experience for designing and construction of life cycle mechanical systems and component replacement in occupied mission critical commercial buildings.
  • Strong background in energy management informing, validating and optimizing commercial building mechanical, automation and plumbing systems design and operation.
  • Experience managing project design contracts.
  • Strong contract management skills.
  • Strong staff management skills.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to climb ladders, access tight spaces, crawl, reach, lift 25 lbs, push 25lbs, etc. Ability to work with extended exposure to outside environment including harsh weather as well as inside environments of extreme heat and cold. Dexterity to use hand tools. Must be able to access facility equipment and equipment rooms. Must be able to communicate by phone. Must be mobile to access active construction sites. Must communicate with others verbally and in writing. Must drive a motor vehicle. Vision to see detail drawings, construction and discern color. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include exercise.

Note: This job announcement is listed with a closing date of 9/4/26, and interested applicants are advised to submit their applications as soon as possible. Interviews will be conducted on a regular basis throughout the recruitment with candidates whose qualifications best fit our needs. If your application is received later in the recruitment process, it may not be reviewed or considered. The application process may close prior to the currently advertised closing date when the position has been filled.

#LI-JY1
Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:
  • Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
  • Group Term Life Insurance
  • Long Term Disability
  • LiveWell Program
  • Flexible Spending Programs
  • Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
  • Paid Holidays
  • Deferred Compensation
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Employees' Child Care Center
  • Continuous Learning Opportunities
Please click for a summary of our benefits.

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program:

For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions
  1. Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.
    • Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
    • Flexible Spending Program
    • Deferred Compensation
  2. Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.
    • No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?
  • Less than 12th grade
  • High school diploma or GED
  • Some college
  • Associate's degree
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Master's degree
  • Doctorate degree

02

If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.
  • Less than 45 quarter hours
  • 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
  • 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
  • 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
  • 180 or more quarter hours
  • Less than 30 semester hours
  • 30 to less than 60 semester hours
  • 60 to less than 90 semester hours
  • 90 to less than 120 semester hours
  • 120 or more semester hours
  • Not applicable

03

Please indicate all major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.
  • Mechanical engineering
  • Other (related field)
  • Other (non-related field)
  • Not Applicable

04

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".
05

Did you graduate from a college or university accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technologies?
  • Yes
  • No

06

Which of the following types of licenses do you possess? Check all that apply.
  • Professional Engineer (PE) in Virginia
  • Professional Engineer (PE) in another state.
  • None of the above

07

If you possess a valid Professional Engineer (PE) license, please list your license number, the expiration date, and the state in which you are licensed. If this is not applicable to you, enter "Not applicable."
08

Do you currently possess a valid driver's license?
  • Yes
  • No

09

How many years of full-time equivalent progressively responsible professional experience in the appropriate engineering or architectural field do you possess?
  • None
  • Less than one year
  • One to less than two years
  • Two to less than three years
  • Three to less than four years
  • Four to less than five years
  • Five to less than six years
  • Six to less than seven years
  • Seven to less than eight years
  • Eight or more years

10

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have as the lead Mechanical P.E. directly responsible and accountable for the design and sealing of commercial building mechanical and plumbing systems projects?
  • None
  • Less than one year
  • One to less than two years
  • Two to less than three years
  • Three to less than four years
  • Four to less than five years
  • Five or more years

11

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have as the lead Mechanical P.E. directly responsible and accountable for the design of commercial building, Building Automation Systems (systems managing commercial building HVAC systems and operations)?
  • None
  • Less than one year
  • One to less than two years
  • Two to less than three years
  • Three to less than four years
  • Four to less than five years
  • Five or more years

12

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have as a Mechanical P.E. as the lead designer in the design, and construction of mission critical building mechanical and plumbing system design and construction projects?
  • None
  • Less than one year
  • One to less than two years
  • Two to less than three years
  • Three to less than four years
  • Four to less than five years
  • Five or more years

13

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have as the lead Professional Mechanical P.E. directly responsible for the designing and construction of life cycle mechanical systems and component replacement in occupied mission critical commercial buildings?
  • None
  • Less than one year
  • One to less than two years
  • Two to less than three years
  • Three to less than four years
  • Four to less than five years
  • Five or more years

14

Please indicate the largest value of single project design contracts you are directly responsible for managing.
  • Less than $500,000
  • $500,000 to less than $1,000,000
  • $1,000,000 to less than $5,000,000
  • $5,000,000 to less than $10,000,000
  • None of the above

15

Are you willing and able to perform the physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodations?
  • Yes
  • No

16

This position is considered essential personnel for purposes of continuity of operations. Essential personnel will be required to report to work during times designated countywide as approved for unscheduled leave regardless of the emergency (i.e., weather, transportation, other disaster). Are you willing and able to report to work during these situations?
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question

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