MEP Design Lead/Project Engineer

MEP Design Lead / Project Engineer

Location: Arlington, TX

Experience: 3–5 Years

Travel: Some travel and site surveys required

Position Overview

PDMS Design Group is seeking an experienced MEP Design Lead / Project Engineer to join our team. This position is ideal for an engineering professional who is ready to take greater ownership of projects, client relationships, and team development while remaining actively involved in technical design and production.

The MEP Design Lead / Project Engineer is responsible for producing accurate, high-quality construction documents; coordinating mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and energy code requirements; serving as a day-to-day contact for assigned clients; and helping guide MEP Designers throughout the project lifecycle.

This individual should be able to see the project as a whole, take initiative without prompting, make informed decisions, solve problems, and work closely with the MEP Project Manager to keep projects and the team moving forward.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Architectural Engineering required.
• 3–5 years of experience in MEP design, engineering, or project coordination required.
• Experience producing and coordinating construction documents for commercial projects preferred.
• Experience working directly with clients, consultants, contractors, landlords, and jurisdictions is preferred.

Skills & Qualifications

• Proficiency in AutoCAD.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Working knowledge of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and energy codes.
• Strong understanding of construction documents and interdisciplinary coordination.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with a project team.
• Ability to understand the overall project rather than focusing solely on individual disciplines or tasks.
• Some travel and site surveys are required.

Key ResponsibilitiesClient & Project Management

• Assist the MEP Project Manager in managing assigned client accounts and serve as a day-to-day point of contact for selected clients.
• Develop a thorough understanding of each assigned client's standards, project requirements, schedules, prototypes, templates, and quality expectations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants, contractors, vendors, and internal team members.
• Maintain awareness of the status of all projects for assigned clients, including projects being produced by other team members.
• Track landlord, jurisdictional, and other required approvals and keep the MEP Project Manager informed of project status.
• Communicate project schedules, revisions, outstanding information, and anticipated delivery dates to clients.
• Assist the MEP Project Manager in determining project scopes of work.
• Assist with fee estimates and proposals for new work as requested.
• Create and maintain client-specific procedures, standards, templates, prototypes, and checklists.
• Identify and immediately correct errors in templates, prototype drawings, standards, or distribution information to prevent repeat mistakes.
• Research materials, equipment, code requirements, and design solutions for non-standard project applications.
• Maintain and update project tracking and job lists.
• Provide responsive, professional, and solutions-oriented client service.

Technical Design & Project Production

• Produce accurate, coordinated, and high-quality MEP construction documents within established project schedules.
• Perform the technical responsibilities associated with MEP Designer I and II positions while assuming greater project ownership and leadership.
• Understand and coordinate mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and energy code requirements throughout the project.
• Research and document applicable codes, jurisdictional requirements, landlord criteria, site constraints, and client standards.
• Modify and develop details for project-specific applications and understand the purpose and technical requirements behind those details.
• Coordinate solutions for atypical or complex design conditions.
• Assist in developing new client prototype and template drawing sets.
• Prepare preliminary drawings as required while considering code requirements, client standards, survey information, and site constraints.
• Know the status, schedule, deliverables, and deadlines of assigned projects at all times and take ownership of meeting those deadlines.
• Review and redline drawings produced by MEP Designers and provide clear, timely feedback.
• Coordinate project revisions with the MEP Project Manager and project team.
• Determine whether additional or revised work should be considered billable or non-billable and communicate with the MEP Project Manager as appropriate.
• Independently address routine code, landlord, coordination, and design issues based on experience and training, escalating complex matters when necessary.
• Create project files, folders, job numbers, and supporting documentation for new projects as required.
• Assist the MEP Project Manager with project assignments, scheduling, and prioritization.
• Prepare purchase orders and other project documentation as required.
• Step in to assist with drafting, revisions, redlines, coordination, or problem-solving when needed to ensure project deadlines are met.
• Help maintain project momentum and make appropriate decisions in the absence of the MEP Project Manager.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Provide day-to-day technical guidance and mentorship to MEP Designers.
• Be accountable for the quality and timely completion of work performed by team members under your direction.
• Review project scope, design expectations, schedules, and due diligence requirements with designers at project kickoff.
• Ensure designers gather required project information early and understand the overall design approach before beginning production.
• Teach designers how to independently research and resolve routine project, code, landlord, and jurisdictional issues.
• Help designers effectively manage their workloads and schedules to meet internal redline and client delivery deadlines.
• Check in regularly on project progress and address potential schedule issues before they affect deadlines.
• Explain redlines and technical corrections so designers understand the reasoning behind changes and can reduce repeat mistakes.
• Encourage and support the professional and technical development of team members.
• Assist designers with production, drafting, revisions, or redlines when workloads require additional support.
• Remain accessible, consistent, and patient when answering questions and providing guidance.
• Promote accountability, collaboration, quality, and continuous improvement within the MEP team.

Quality Control & Process Improvement

• Maintain a consistently high standard of construction document quality across all projects, regardless of assigned client.
• Identify recurring errors and develop solutions to prevent them from continuing.
• Maintain and improve client templates, prototypes, drawing standards, and project checklists.
• Help establish efficient workflows and procedures for new and existing clients.
• Look for opportunities to improve project efficiency, drawing quality, coordination, and overall team performance.

Additional Responsibilities

• Perform site surveys as required.
• Represent PDMS Design Group professionally during client meetings, site visits, and other activities outside the office.
• Assist with additional departmental or office responsibilities necessary to support the organization.
• Support other team members and projects as needed, regardless of project assignment.
• Overtime may occasionally be required based on project schedules and workload.



What Success Looks Like

A successful MEP Design Lead / Project Engineer is someone who can design, coordinate, lead, and communicate. This person doesn't simply complete assigned tasks—they understand what needs to happen next and take ownership of moving the project forward.

They are someone clients can rely on, designers can go to for guidance, and the MEP Project Manager can trust to help manage project quality, schedules, and day-to-day execution.

The ideal candidate is ready to grow beyond a traditional MEP Designer role and take the next step toward greater project and client leadership.