Job Information
University of Washington FACILITIES MECHANICAL ENGINEER in Seattle, Washington
Req #: 225174
Department: UW FACILITIES: ASSET MANAGEMENT
Appointing Department Web Address: https://facilities.uw.edu/
Posting Date: 03/01/2024
Closing Info: Open Until Filled
Salary: $7,548 - $10,932 per month
Shift: First Shift
Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-staff-20230119_a11y.pdf)
As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.
UW Facilities manages the University’s buildings, infrastructure, and land with more than 1,100 employees in a variety of fields. The Asset Management group includes Campus Architecture and Planning, Engineering Services, the Project Delivery Group, and Sustainability. Please visit the UW Facilities web page for more information: UW Facilities .
Engineering Services (ES) is responsible for providing technical engineering expertise during the programming, planning, design, construction, commissioning, turnover, operation and maintenance of UW facilities and infrastructure. UW’s Seattle main campus comprises over 300 buildings and 15 million gross square feet, including a major medical center/teaching hospital, state of the art research facilities, classrooms, offices, sport and recreation facilities, dormitories, utility distribution systems, 8 miles of utility tunnels and two central utility plants. Other UW campuses and facilities comprise over 230 buildings and 4.5 million gross square feet including the University of Washington Tacoma and Bothell campuses, Pack Forest, Forks, Sand Point, Friday Harbor, and the UW Tower complex.
Asset Management has an outstanding opportunity for a Facilities Mechanical Engineer to support the University of Washington. This position is part of the Engineering Services group, which provides professional engineering support and is responsible for all facilities information and design standards.
Under general supervision, provide expertise and oversight for the planning, design, construction, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of building systems. Troubleshoot and resolve problems with buildings or plant operations, facilities, or utility systems. Perform engineering review of the design, construction, and commissioning of Capital Projects. Apply engineering principles in various assignments such as Building Systems and Controls integration, development of controls standards and details, and commissioning of complex controls strategies. Perform general engineering assignments which require application of a wide variety of engineering procedures, principles, and practices.
UW’s Seattle campus comprises over 300 buildings and 15 million gross square feet, including a major medical center/teaching hospital, state of the art research facilities, classrooms, offices, sport and recreation facilities, dormitories, utility distribution systems, 8 miles of utility tunnels and two central utility plants. Other UW campuses and facilities comprise over 230 buildings and 4.5 million gross square feet including the University of Washington Tacoma and Bothell campuses, Pack Forest, Forks, Sandpoint, Friday Harbor, and the UW Tower complex.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
• Provide expertise in mechanical engineering and controls during the planning, design, construction, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of various building systems, including Building Automated Systems (BAS) and Direct Digital Control (DDC) for HVAC systems, lighting control, Building Access and Security systems, life safety systems, occupancy sensors, lighting sensors, automated windows, window shades, etc. • Provide technical expertise and oversight during all phases of Capital Projects, including major capital and minor capital projects. Ensure projects comply with UW’s Facilities Design Standards, identify value-engineering ideas, actively observe construction and commissioning activities, visit construction sites and write observation reports, and confirm delivery of turnover-to-operation deliverables. • Provide technical assistance, recommendations, calculations, and engineering solutions to campus planning, operation, maintenance, and construction units. Troubleshoot and recommend solutions to resolve major operational and maintenance problems. Identify life-cycle cost optimization and operational efficiencies. Coordinate with shop personnel for building and utility renewal projects and assessments, corrective engineering, preventative and deferred maintenance. Act as commissioning authority to commission new installations, replacements, and retrofits. • Conduct condition assessments to determine existing system condition. Prepare analysis to identify deficiencies of electrical system needs. When additional forensics/ investigation is needed, prepare scope-of-work for consultant services. Develop proposed project scopes-of-work to renovate and upgrade building electrical systems for the Building and Utility Renewal Program. • Champion environmental stewardship and sustainability. Be knowledgeable of green building best practices, application of new emerging technologies, and conservation strategies to reduce energy, water, and greenhouse gas emissions. • Participate in business continuity planning and emergency response efforts. Engineering Services performs ATC-20 post-earthquake inspections that are essential for post-earthquake recovery and restoration of services. Engineering Services also provides support for utility outages, critical system failures and other emergency events. • Contribute to the development and update of UW’s Facilities Design Standards. The FDS guides project teams to implement design consistency, maintainability, future flexibility and lowest life cycle costs of new building construction and renovations. Develop standards for products, sequence of operations, setpoints, point naming nomenclature, details, etc. Keep abreast of new controls products and strategies and foresee its impact on maintainability. • Work with Facilities shops and EH&S in efforts to make the Campus a safe work environment. • Perform other duties as assigned.
Core Competencies
• Demonstrate personal integrity and trustworthiness. • Manage stressful situations and change priorities effectively. • Anticipate, recognize, and resolve problems. • Be responsible and accountable. • Use organizational skills and pay attention to details. • Maintain a positive, optimistic, and success-oriented attitude. • Exercise professionalism, which includes being tactful and courteous. • Exhibit a professional work ethic. • Continuously promote a safe work environment.
Requirements include:
• A Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering. • A minimum of 4 to 5 years' work experience in building systems engineering for HVAC, plumbing, controls, lighting, fire alarm, or other communication systems. • Familiarity with applicable building codes. • Excellent oral and written communications and presentation skills. • High degree of professionalism, integrity and ownership needed; must be customer-focused and results-oriented, innovative, creative, highly motivated, and team-oriented. • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, e.g., clients, regulatory agencies and personnel, health/safety professionals, consultants, management, peers, etc., to accomplish goals that are in the best interest of the university. • Familiarity with facilities-related computer software, including design tools, construction management software, computerized maintenance management systems, and the full Microsoft Office suite of applications. • Ability to respond to emergency situations and changing needs. • Record of success in electrical systems design and installation.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
Desired:
• Licensed Mechanical Professional Engineer in the State of Washington. • Experience with Johnson Controls, Alerton by ATS Automation, and Siemens building automation systems. Experience with lighting control systems and software. Experience with BAS integration, including BACnet, Modbus and proprietary protocols. • Experience in the design, operation, and maintenance of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), variable frequency drives, and proprietary equipment controllers. • Understanding of cyber security principles including access control, encryption, and best practices. • Broad experience with converting or integrating vintage or legacy pneumatic or direct digital control systems to current technologies and industry standards. • Experience with institutional/government/public works projects.
Conditions of Employment:
• Must be able to work in mechanical/electrical spaces, utility tunnels, outdoors, confined spaces, around operating equipment such as boilers, pumps, and transformers, and on active construction sites. • While usual hours fall within standard business hours, work may be required during hours beyond standard business hours, including weekends. Position requires flexibility to deal with emergency situations, meetings, or other scheduled work that may fall outside normal work hours. • This position is designated as performing an essential service and is required to report to work during any suspension of university operations, unless specifically notified otherwise. • Operate vehicles such as UW vans and cars from various jobs sites and remote campuses at occasional intervals. • Must have a valid Washington Driver License. • Professional travel may be required. • Must be able to work in a non-smoking environment. • Regular and predictable attendance is required. • Must be able to lift / move 50 pounds.
Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.
University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.