Sustainable Design Engineer

Overview:

A technically skilled, outcomes-driven practitioner in building energy and performance modeling who helps project teams in making design decisions that improve people’s lives through healthier, more resilient, lower-carbon buildings. Exercises independent judgment to develop whole-building simulations and engineering analyses across building types and scales, translating data into clear, actionable recommendations from early concept through delivery and post-occupancy verification. Brings broad knowledge of high-performance sustainable design principles and tools, contributes original solutions, and strengthens firmwide capability through collaboration, research, and knowledge sharing.

Responsibilities:

• Develops whole-building dynamic thermal and energy simulation models across diverse building types and scales, including advanced mechanical systems evaluations and architectural-performance integration (daylighting strategies, lighting controls impacts, and façade thermal/moisture response)
• Performs detailed engineering analysis to reduce energy consumption and associated GHG emissions across design, construction, and operations, aligned with integrated project performance goals
• Executes comfort studies, energy simulation, daylight simulation, solar shading analysis, and renewable energy evaluations, and produces analysis-based recommendations that inform decisions by architects, engineers, contractors, and operators
• Supports DesignGreen and firm sustainability leadership by contributing modeling and analysis that integrates design-performance, energy-modeling, and operations-modeling practices across projects
• Predicts building energy use and savings versus baseline using whole-building simulation with clear assumptions, and supports post-occupancy evaluation and performance verification using industry-standard calibration procedures
• Provides Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for design alternatives, applying appropriate economic parameters and documenting tradeoffs tied to design and operational decisions
• Reviews professional literature to identify innovation opportunities that improve energy efficiency and building performance using new and existing technologies, and contributes market-relevant implementation ideas
• Produces technically rigorous, graphically clear reports, calculations summaries, and presentation materials that translate analysis into actionable design direction
• Collaborates with design teams and technical disciplines to promote integrative sustainable strategies and leverages complex datasets to support design decisions and research objectives
• Supports specialized project and enterprise research on energy, environmental, carbon, and sustainability topics, and contributes to methods, data collection, and documentation as needed
• Delivers internal training content and knowledge sharing on building science fundamentals and energy analysis software applications
• Participates in team meetings to coordinate project delivery, surface technical issues early, and align modeling work with project schedules, scopes, and performance outcomes

Qualifications:

• Accredited professional degree in Architecture, Engineering, Sustainable Design or related field
• Professional engineering licensure preferred
• Typically 3+ years of experience
• Modeling credentials such as ASHRAE Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEMP), Building Energy Simulation Analyst (BESA), or equivalent preferred
• Sustainable design accreditation preferred
• Familiarity with design and energy modeling applications such as Rhino, Grasshopper, Radiance, DIVA, REVIT, AutoCAD, Sketchup, IES VE, Sefaira, Insight360, Energy Plus, EnergyPro preferred
• Experience with Photoshop, Illustrator, Sketchup and InDesign graphic software preferred
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite preferred
• Experience in LEED submission and regulatory compliance energy modeling
• Familiarity with computational design and parametric modeling preferred
• Familiarity with energy modeling preferred
• Knowledge of sustainability and integrated design guidelines
• Strong knowledge in interpreting and applying high-performance building standards such as ANSI, ASHRAE, IESNA and ASTM as well as building energy codes such as IECC and T24
• Strong knowledge of architectural building systems
• Working knowledge of building physics, energy transfer, mechanical design, system control strategies and economics is required
• Knowledge of QA/QC and specification process
• Knowledge of building codes and ability to research and apply/incorporate into technical documents
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work on multiple projects at the same time
• Ability to maintain existing client relationships and build new client relationships
• Ability to communicate and present ideas in a clear, concise and professional manner both verbally and in writing
• Ability to problem solve and apply innovative solutions
• Ability to collaborate and encourage collaboration in a team environment
• Ability to effectively meet deadlines at expected quality
• Travel may be required

If you currently work for HKS, please submit your application via the Internal Careers Portal.

HKS is an EEO/AA Employer: M/F/Disabled/Veteran