Mechanical Department Manager

Role

SSOE is hiring a Mechanical Department Manager to lead its Mechanical Engineering Department in India, providing technical and people leadership for 20+ FTEs supporting U.S.-based projects across industrial, semiconductor, battery, pharmaceutical, data center, healthcare, institutional, and commercial markets. The role combines department leadership, technical oversight, resource planning, and involvement in client/account activities and business development.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement the Mechanical Practice Leader’s vision and lead Section Managers, Master Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, BIM/VDC professionals, and department staff.
• Manage workforce planning, hiring, professional development, promotions, performance management, and employee relations.
• Ensure quality, schedule, and budget (QBS) delivery across mechanical projects and provide escalation support for complex engineering challenges.
• Oversee technical design of mechanical building and process utility systems (HVAC, plumbing, process piping, industrial ventilation, dust/fume collection, exhaust, hydronic systems, compressed air/gases, etc.).
• Maintain working knowledge of applicable U.S. building, energy, mechanical, and plumbing codes and client/jurisdictional requirements.
• Drive consistent use of standard design tools, calculation methods, quality-control processes, and deliverable templates.
• Champion BIM, VDC, model-based coordination, automation, AI, and other digital technologies to improve efficiency and reduce rework.
• Prepare and monitor department schedules, staffing plans, workload forecasts, and departmental financial KPIs.
• Support client account maintenance, proposals, scope development, fee estimates, qualifications packages, and client presentations.
• Develop and deliver training, mentorship, succession planning, and knowledge-sharing across the department.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• Minimum 20 years of related mechanical engineering experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership or people-management role.
• Demonstrated experience leading mechanical teams delivering projects for U.S.-based clients and supporting large, complex industrial, manufacturing, semiconductor, battery, pharmaceutical, data center, or commercial projects.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical engineering principles, U.S. codes, standards, and design practices.
• Professional Engineer licensure preferred, or ability to support projects under the direction of licensed U.S. mechanical professionals.
• Experience working with remote or geographically distributed teams and collaborating across multiple cultures and time zones.
• Strong verbal and written English communication skills and proven cross-discipline coordination abilities.

Leadership & Competencies

• Proven ability to develop strategic plans supporting practice growth and company goals.
• Change agility, mental agility, and people agility: comfortable with ambiguity, testing improvements, coaching through change, and building high-performing teams.
• Experience recruiting, developing, retaining, and motivating technical staff.

Technology & Tools

• Experience in a virtual design environment using BIM authoring and coordination tools, mechanical calculation/analysis software, and document-management systems.
• Tools explicitly referenced as preferred: Revit, AutoCAD, Navisworks.
• This position requires the use of AI and digital technologies; SSOE provides training and access to AI Large Language Models and vibe-coding platforms to support productivity and innovation.

Scope & Context

• Department leadership for 20+ FTEs supporting U.S. projects; coordination across multiple projects, locations, and time zones is required.
• Role includes involvement in strategic and business-development activities and requires close coordination with process, electrical, structural, civil, architectural, fire protection, and construction teams.