Mechanical Building Services Design Engineer

Our Client is a global engineering consultancy specialising in utilities and facilities consultancy, design and support. Established over 25 years ago, the business has become the trusted partner to some of the world s most recognised brands across the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and FMCG sectors.

The organisations multi-disciplinary expertise and flexible client-centric approach allows them to deliver intelligent, future-ready engineering solutions, supporting customers from initial concept through to implementation and ongoing optimisation. The company is currently extremely busy with specialist clean room facilities, laboratories and other controlled environments, often requiring technically complex solutions.

With an busy and exciting order book involving schemes across the UK and overseas, the company is keen to add a talented Mechanical Building Services Design Engineer to the team on a rolling 6 month contract basis. The HVAC Design Engineer will be responsible for the design and delivery of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems across concept, FEED, and detailed design stages. The role focuses on air-side systems, thermal comfort, environmental control, and energy optimisation, with particular emphasis on environments such as laboratories, pharmaceutical, and industrial facilities.

The appointed Engineer will develop robust, compliant, and energy-efficient HVAC solutions, ensuring systems are practical, controllable, and aligned with operational requirements.

Key Responsibilities

HVAC Design & Engineering

• Design HVAC systems including AHUs, MAUs, ventilation, heating/cooling, and humidity control systems.
• Carry out detailed calculations (airflows, heat loads, psychrometrics, coil sizing, pressure drops).
• Size and specify key equipment including fans, coils, filters (HEPA/ULPA), heat recovery systems, and terminal devices.
• Develop air distribution strategies including pressurisation, containment, and cleanroom zoning where required.
• Integrate heat recovery solutions (runaround coils, air-to-air systems) and low-carbon technologies (ASHPs, demand-based control).

Project Delivery

• Produce specifications, schedules, reports, and design documentation.
• Coordinate HVAC design with electrical, process, and architectural disciplines.
• Review contractor designs, shop drawings, and technical submissions.
• Support site activities including surveys, inspections, and technical queries.

Compliance & Risk

• Ensure compliance with relevant standards (CIBSE, ASHRAE, HTM, EU GMP Annex 1 where applicable).
• Identify design risks (e.g. contamination, freezing, condensation, system failure modes) and implement mitigations.
• Consider CDM and health & safety requirements throughout design.

Controls & System Performance

• Develop sequences of operation and control philosophies for HVAC systems.
• Define BMS requirements including sensors, control loops, and system integration.
• Ensure systems are optimised for part-load performance, energy efficiency, and stability (e.g. turndown, diversity, reset strategies).
• Support troubleshooting and optimisation of existing systems.

Commissioning & Validation

• Support commissioning planning, witnessing, and performance verification.
• Define functional testing requirements (airflows, temperature/humidity control, response times).
• Assist in system balancing, seasonal commissioning, and optimisation.
• Contribute to validation activities where required (e.g. GMP environments).

Client & Technical Support

• Engage with clients to understand operational requirements and constraints.
• Support feasibility studies, option appraisals, and energy assessments.
• Present technical solutions clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Key Skills & Experience

Minimum Experience

Professional technical qualifications in Mechanical or Building Services Engineering.

Proven experience in HVAC design within a consultancy or contractor environment.

Strong understanding of air-side systems, psychrometrics, and thermal processes.

Experience in AHU design, ventilation strategies, and humidity control.

Proficient in engineering calculations and use of tools (Excel, IES, Hevacomp, or similar).

Good understanding of BMS controls and system integration.

Desirable Experience

Experience in pharmaceutical, laboratory, or cleanroom environments.

Knowledge of containment, pressurisation cascades, and contamination control strategies.

Experience with heat recovery retrofits and energy optimisation projects.

Familiarity with standards such as EU GMP Annex 1, ISO cleanroom classifications.

Key Attributes

Strong analytical capability with an engineering-first principles approach.

Practical understanding of how systems are installed, commissioned, and operated.

Attention to detail, particularly in calculations and system interactions.

Clear communicator, able to translate complex HVAC concepts into practical solutions.

Typical Deliverables

HVAC load calculations and psychrometric analyses.

Equipment schedules (AHUs, coils, fans, heat recovery systems).

Basis of Design and technical specifications.

Schematics (airflow diagrams, control schematics).

Commissioning and performance verification support documentation.

Feasibility and energy optimisation reports.

Interested Mechanical Engineers must be heavily experienced Building Services Design Engineers who are comfortable working remotely and therefore for largely unsupervised, capable of managing their own time and prioritising tasks to hit deadlines. Along with having the desired experience and professional qualifications, applicants must be fully eligible to work and live in the UK.