Energy/Mechanical Engineer

Post Date

Aug 04, 2026

Location

Palo Alto,
California

ZIP/Postal Code

94304
US
Oct 03, 2026 Insight Global

Job Type

Contract-to-perm

Category

Environmental Engineering

Req #

SJC-e2f152f9-061a-4282-acd9-fb2511a2a387

Pay Rate

$38 - $48 (hourly estimate)

Job Description

A large automtive company in the Bay Area is looing for an Energy/Mechanical Engineer to join their Infrastructure DesignX - the company's newest high-octane technical engineering team.
They're not here to maintain the status quo. They're here to invent the infrastructure that powers the next generation of R&D labs and gigafactories. Think cutting-edge energy systems, radical decarbonization, and performance-obsessed mechanical design that turns “impossible” facility challenges into production reality across the Bay Area and beyond.

As the Energy / Mechanical Engineer, you’ll own the strategies that push our facilities to peak energy performance. You’ll drive energy efficiency moonshots, decarbonization studies, and detailed life cycle cost assessments — translating bold conceptual models into real mechanical systems that actually get built. You’ll sit at the intersection of architecture, electrical, mechanical, and controls, running rapid design optioneering that optimizes every watt, every dollar, and every ton of carbon.

If you get excited by the idea of designing the energy backbone for the most advanced manufacturing and research environments on the planet, this is your arena.

What You’ll Do
• Perform comprehensive energy modeling and simulations to optimize building performance, evaluate Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs), and calculate operational carbon emissions (CO2e).
• Research local initiatives and credits for implementing energy efficiency upgrades.
• Conceptualize complex mechanical HVAC, central utility plant (CUP), and hydronic distribution systems for large-scale R&D and manufacturing environments.
• Conduct detailed heating and cooling load calculations using industry-standard software to size mechanical equipment accurately.
• Select and specify mechanical equipment, including chillers, boilers, cooling towers, air handling units (AHUs), pumps, and fans.
• Collaborate with the Controls Engineering team to develop sequences of operations that maximize the efficiency of mechanical systems.
• Evaluate lifecycle costs of various mechanical system architectures to guide design decisions.
• Ensure all designs comply with relevant building codes, mechanical codes, and energy standards (e.g., ASHRAE, California Title 24).
• Manage and prioritize design requests for new construction builds, existing site facilities support, and legacy site enhancement projects.
• Research emerging technologies and evaluate performance claims, maturity level (TRL), reliability data, safety/code implications, maintainability, and vendor viability.

Pay range for this role is $58 - $68 per hour depending on years of experience and education

We are a company committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments where people can bring their full, authentic selves to work every day. We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer that believes everyone matters. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, genetic factors, age, disability, protected veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to HR@insightglobal.com.To learn more about how we collect, keep, and process your private information, please review Insight Global's Workforce Privacy Policy: https://insightglobal.com/workforce-privacy-policy/.

Required Skills & Experience

- 5+ years of hands-on experience in mechanical/HVAC system design.
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Architectural Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience with decarbonization initiatives and CO2 emissions studies.
- Proficient in energy modeling and load calculation tools (EnergyPlus, IESVE, TRACE, HAP, OpenStudio)
- Solid foundation in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer
- Proven experience designing custom airside and waterside systems, including variable flow hydronics and specialized exhaust systems.
- Strong knowledge of sustainable building practices and energy-efficient system design.
- Experience with Revit and AutoCAD (BIM tools)
- Ability to read and create mechanical drawings, P&IDs, and construction documents

Nice to Have Skills & Experience

- Professional Engineer (PE) license, Certified Energy Manager (CEM), or LEED AP certifications

Benefit packages for this role will start on the 1st day of employment and include medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as HSA, FSA, and DCFSA account options, and 401k retirement account access with employer matching. Employees in this role are also entitled to paid sick leave and/or other paid time off as provided by applicable law.