Mechanical Engineer & Senior Mechanical Engineer

Design and Engineering

Description

Mechanical engineers and senior mechanical engineers plan, design, build, and evaluate machines and systems that generate and use energy, including both fossil fuel- and electricity-based HVAC/R systems. Entry-level engineers may not need a Professional Engineer (PE) license, but senior engineers do need to be licensed. They have authority to lead the design and development process, sign official project documents, and often supervise more junior engineers.

Mechanical and senior mechanical engineers in the HVAC/R field must think creatively to design or redesign mechanical systems that meet client, project, and safety requirements while ensuring that building codes and industry standards are adhered to. Demand for clean energy HVAC/R systems such as air and ground source heat pumps and variable refrigerant flow systems is increasing, and design engineers need to know the mechanics and efficiency ratings of these modern technologies in order to be comfortable using them in their mechanical layouts. Mechanical and senior mechanical engineers who are unfamiliar with electricity-based HVAC/R systems will need additional training to understand the added complexity of these environmentally friendly technologies (relative to those that use fossil fuels) so they can accurately size and design mechanical systems and select products to maximize efficiency for different building types.

These workers test prototype systems and survey existing building systems that control temperature and air quality, conduct investigations and analyze data to identify inefficiencies or failures, and apply critical thinking and a problem-solving aptitude to remedy any issues. To accomplish this, mechanical and senior mechanical HVAC/R engineers need an understanding of physics concepts (e.g., thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics), familiarity with computer-aided design (CAD) software (e.g., AutoCAD and Revit) to produce technical drawings, strong math skills to perform heating and cooling load calculations, mechanical skills, and attention to detail. They should also be comfortable using word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software (e.g., Microsoft Office applications).

Mechanical engineers and senior mechanical engineers need to communicate well both verbally and in writing. They collaborate with each other and many other team members – explaining technical ideas to mechanical designers who draft diagrams, coordinating with mechanical technicians who test equipment, communicating their needs to manufacturers, and working with members of the sales team to draft project proposals. Engineers working for a consultancy need interpersonal skills to develop strong client relationships with architects, building owners, and trade contractors, and must be comfortable leading client meetings. Mechanical engineers and senior mechanical engineers produce written reports and technical specifications documenting their designs and may contribute content to technical journals.

Senior-level positions also require project management skills, including the ability to prepare cost estimates and project scopes of work, oversee budgets, develop and adhere to project timelines, lead presentations, delegate tasks to junior staff, and manage client relationships. Senior mechanical engineers may mentor and train less experienced members of the engineering design team.

Mechanical engineers and senior mechanical engineers generally spend time at offices and work with computers to design and test systems, but they also visit worksites to conduct surveys and inspections. Most work full-time and longer hours are sometimes required.

Job Outlook

According to the New York State Department of Labor, there are approximately 9,900 mechanical engineers (across all experience levels) in New York State and opportunities for employment are expected to be favorable through 2028 – they project this occupation to grow by 810 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Entering the Field

Mechanical engineers typically need to have a bachelor’s degree in engineering to qualify for entry-level jobs. Licensure is not required, and inexperienced engineers generally work under the supervision of a senior mechanical engineer for a few years before they can work independently. Although it is not common, workers without a bachelor’s degree can begin their career as mechanical designers, mechanical engineering technicians, or even HVAC/R tradespeople who have worked in installation and maintenance and work 5-7 years to become mechanical engineers. Junior mechanical engineers with a few years of experience and who have passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam (a step towards becoming licensed as a professional engineer) can advance to mid-level roles with more autonomy over the design and engineering process and project management responsibilities.

A New York State Professional Engineering (PE) license is usually required to advance to a position as a senior mechanical engineer responsible for leading projects and signing official documents. New York State requires twelve years of combined education and experience credits to become a PE. Professional Engineers must meet continuing education requirements to maintain their license. 

Some employers prefer to hire engineers with additional certifications from industry organizations, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council or specialized certifications from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). An advanced degree in an area of specialization or general business administration also opens more opportunities.

Wages

In New York State, the median wage for mechanical engineers (across all experience levels) is approximately $93,100. Entry-level workers earn about $65,200 and experienced workers earn about $115,100.

Annual Wage (Q1 2021 dollars, rounded to 100s) – Statewide and by Labor Market Region

Region	Entry	Median	Experienced
New York State	$65,200	$93,100	$115,100
Capital Region	$72,000	$102,400	$119,700
Central New York	$64,100	$86,000	$102,800
Finger Lakes	$63,800	$84,500	$100,400
Hudson Valley	N/A	N/A	N/A
Long Island	$64,400	$99,600	$127,500
Mohawk Valley	$45,400	$73,300	$87,600
New York City	$65,600	$93,600	$119,600
North Country	$53,400	$79,900	$93,000
Southern Tier	$65,700	$88,200	$106,700
Western New York	$59,000	$81,500	$96,200

Source: New York State Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Survey, SOC Code 17-2141 (Mechanical Engineers); N/A denotes wage data that is not available.

Employers

Many mechanical engineers and senior mechanical engineers in the HVAC/R field are employed by companies that provide engineering design and consulting services for HVAC/R machinery and systems. Other popular employers include organizations that conduct scientific research and development and manufacturers of HVAC/R equipment and parts. Governments may also hire mechanical engineering personnel.

The top 3 employers with the most online job advertisements in each region in 2020 are listed below. The most common job titles across these postings were mechanical engineer and senior mechanical engineer, but employers sometimes advertise these positions with alternative titles such as lead mechanical engineer, HVAC engineer, mechanical project engineer, or mechanical design engineer.

Capital Region

• Peter Kazella & Associates, Inc.
• CHA Consulting, Inc.
• LaBella Associates

Central New York

• Carrier Corporation
• United Technologies Corporation
• C&S Engineers, Inc.

Finger Lakes

• Acara Solutions
• Bergmann Incorporated
• T.Y. Lin International

Hudson Valley

• Willdan
• Arcadis
• Jones Lang Lasalle Incorporated

Long Island

• Brookhaven National Laboratory
• LiRo Group Incorporated
• Lehigh Technical & Professional Service

Mohawk Valley (Employers did not post any job ads online in 2020.)

New York City

• Arup
• Ecosystem
• Tetra Tech

North Country (Employers did not post any job ads online in 2020.)

Southern Tier

• Stantec, Inc.
• Tetra Tech
• Delta Engineers, Architects, & Surveyors, DPC (Delta)

Western New York

• Stark Technical Group Incorporated
• Buffalo Engineering, P.C.
• Watts Architecture & Engineering

Source: Burning Glass Technologies: Labor Insight™. 2021.

Labor Unions

Workers in architectural and engineering occupations, including mechanical engineers with various levels of experience, are not highly unionized. Engineers who work in the public sector may be more likely to be union members than those who work in the private sector. Check with public unions that represent local or state government workers to see if their members include mechanical engineers.

Education and Training Programs

Schools across New York State offer bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering that prepare students for this work and many also offer graduate degrees for students who want to pursue further study (listed in the table below). Many community colleges offer associate degrees in engineering or engineering science that prepare students to transfer to a bachelor’s program upon graduation. Check with local community colleges for program availability.

Mechanical and senior mechanical engineers who want to expand their HVAC/R skillset can also find training opportunities through equipment providers and industry organizations, including the following:

Some HVAC/R equipment manufacturers and distributors offer training that is targeted to system design professionals (in addition to courses aimed at installation and service workers). See which companies partner with NYSERDA through Clean Heat Connect and check with individual manufacturers and distributors for a complete list of online or in-person offerings.

Steven Winter Associates, Inc.’s Building Electrification Training Series includes design professionals and consultants among the target audience for its courses covering topics such as heat pumps and strategies for implementing clean energy mechanical systems.

ASHRAE offers HVAC/R design training (with online and in-person options) for mechanical design professionals with limited or no experience in the HVAC/R field or for those who want to learn about modern technologies. They also offer a variety of building design and performance certifications.

The U.S. Green Building Council has educational materials available to design engineers pursuing LEED certification.

Educational Institution	Department	Certificate	Associate	Bachelor	Master	PhD
Capital Region
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)	School of Engineering	No	No	•Yes	•Yes	•Yes
Union College	Mechanical Engineering	No	No	•Yes	No	No
Central New York
Syracuse University	Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering	No	No	•Yes	•Yes	•Yes
Finger Lakes
Rochester Institute of Technology	Mechanical Engineering	No	No	•Yes	•Yes	•Yes
University of Rochester	Mechanical Engineering	No	No	•Yes	•Yes	•Yes
Hudson Valley
SUNY New Paltz	Division of Engineering Programs	No	No	•Yes	No	No
Long Island
Hofstra University	DeMatteis School of Engineering & Applied Science	No	No	•Yes	No	No
New York Institute of Technology	College of Engineering & Computing Sciences	No	No	•Yes	•Yes	•Yes
Stony Brook University	College of Engineering and Applied Sciences	No	No	•Yes	•Yes	•Yes
Mohawk Valley
SUNY Polytechnic Institute	Majors & Programs	No	No	•Yes	No	No
New York City
Columbia University in the City of New York	Columbia Engineering	No	No	•Yes	•Yes	•Yes
New York University	Tandon School of Engineering	No	No	•Yes	•Yes	•Yes
SUNY Maritime College	School of Engineering	No	No	•Yes	No	No
The City College of New York (CUNY)	The Grove School of Engineering	No	No	•Yes	•Yes	•Yes
North Country
Clarkson University	Coulter School of Engineering	No	No	•Yes	•Yes	•Yes
Southern Tier
Binghamton University	Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science	No	No	•Yes	•Yes	•Yes
Cornell University	Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	No	No	•Yes	•Yes	•Yes
Western New York
Alfred University	Inamori School of Engineering	No	No	•Yes	•Yes	No
University at Buffalo	School of Engineering and Applied Sciences	No	No	•Yes	•Yes	•Yes

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