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Sustainable Design Engineer Leader

HKS, Inc

Seattle, WA

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JOB DETAILS
JOB TYPE
Full-time, Employee
SKILLS
Alternative Energy, American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Analysis Skills, AutoCAD, Best Practices, Building Codes, Building Systems, Communication Skills, Construction Design, Cost Analysis, Customer Relations, Data Sets, Delivery Management, Develop and Maintain Customers, EEO Regulations, Economics, Energy Efficiency, Energy Modeling, Environmental Design, Environmental Research, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Fundamental Analysis Software, Instrumentation, Leadership, Materials Analysis, Mechanical Design, Mentoring, Microsoft Office, Performance Management, Performance Modeling, Physics, Plan Meetings, Policy Implementation, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Process Improvement, Project Design, Project/Program Coordination, Project/Program Management, Proposal Development, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Quality Management, Regulatory Compliance, Regulatory Submissions, Reliability Engineering, Requirements Validation/Verification, Research Skills, Resource Management, Rhino, Sales Presentation, Shading, Simulation, SketchUp, Staff Development, Staff Requirements, State Laws and Regulations, Sustainability, System Architecture, Systems Analysis, Technical Leadership, Technical Writing, Technical/Engineering Design, Time Management
LOCATION
Seattle, WA
POSTED
30+ days ago
Overview:

A recognized technical and people leader, and an expert in building energy and performance modeling, who helps project teams translate design ambition into measurable outcomes: healthier, more resilient, low-carbon buildings that improve people's lives. Leads building simulation and engineering analysis across diverse project types and scales, shaping decisions from early concept through delivery and post-occupancy verification. Manages assigned resources (people, processes, and tools) with strong business awareness, mentors staff, and advances enterprise ESG commitments in alignment with the Director's integrated, high-performance design strategy at HKS.

Responsibilities:

Leads whole-building dynamic thermal and energy simulations and detailed engineering analysis to inform design, construction, and operations by optimizing energy use, enabling all-electric solutions within integrated performance goals, integrating renewables, reducing GHG emissions, and improving resilience, reliability, and operational cost outcomes
Directs advanced mechanical systems evaluations and architectural-performance integration, including daylighting strategy, lighting controls impacts, and detailed thermal/moisture response of facade assemblies
Guides design decisions across the lifecycle using analysis of energy efficiency, passive and active strategies, massing, daylight availability, glare and shading, thermal comfort, natural ventilation, mechanical system alternatives, and load conditions
Manages delivery of comfort studies, energy simulation, daylight simulation, solar shading analysis, renewable energy evaluations, and performance-based recommendations that inform decisions by architects, engineers, contractors, and operators
Predicts building energy use and savings versus baseline using whole-building simulation with clear assumptions, verify performance through post-occupancy evaluation using industry-standard calibration procedures
Oversees Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for design alternatives, applying appropriate economic parameters relevant to project context and delivery decisions
Supports DesignGreen and enterprise leadership, strengthening early-stage modeling impact on project outcomes and advancing integration of design-performance, energy-modeling, and operations-modeling practices across firmwide project delivery
Prepares and oversees technically rigorous, graphically compelling reports and client-facing presentation materials that translate analysis into actionable design decisions
Contributes to project pursuits by shaping energy-modeling scope, developing service proposals aligned with business constraints and opportunities, and differentiating teams through performance-based narratives
Collaborates with firm research leadership to leverage complex datasets that support design decisions and research objectives, and lead or supports specialized research in energy, environmental, carbon, and sustainability topics
Supports development and use of indoor environmental sensors and instrumentation for research, diagnostics, and post-occupancy evaluation in collaboration with research teams
Leads technical and project coordination meetings, surfacing risks early and partnering with project leadership to manage performance, scope, and delivery risks tied to building systems outcomes
Manages assigned project workload and staffing with the Director
Contributes to resource planning, process improvements, and quality control across tools, templates, and methodologies
Facilitates enterprise training and knowledge sharing on building science fundamentals and energy analysis software applications by developing and curating modeling content and best practices for consistent delivery
Facilitates team self-evaluation to distill lessons learned and scale best practices across the firm in coordination with sustainability leadership
Invests in staff development through mentoring, performance management, and career planning
Supports the firm's global practice by engaging perspectives from international offices and promoting consistent standards of integrated, high-performance design excellence

Qualifications:

Accredited professional degree in Architecture, Engineering, Sustainable Design or related field; advanced degree preferred
Professional engineering licensure preferred
Typically 10+ 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 manage conflict constructively and build a positive, supportive team environment
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 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

HKS is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and committed to a policy of non-discrimination in all employment practices including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, advancement, compensation, and termination. HKS’ policies, including its Affirmative Action Programs, are designed to not only ensure legal compliance with state and federal anti-discrimination and retaliation laws, but to carry out the principles of equal employment opportunities in all job categories. Deliberate and conscious effort is made to make employment decisions that are consistent with these equal employment opportunity principles. HKS will recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job titles, and ensure that all other personnel actions are administered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status or disability; and ensure that all employment decisions are based only on valid job requirements. Employees and applicants will not be subjected to harassment, intimidation, threats, coercion, or discrimination for filing a complaint, assisting or participating in an investigation, compliance evaluation or hearing, opposing and/or exercising any other right made unlawful by Executive Order 11246, Sections 503 and 38 USC 4212, as amended, or their implementing regulations, or any other Federal, State or local laws requiring equal opportunity.

About the Company

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HKS, Inc