Sustainability Engineer

Overview

Join to apply for the Sustainability Engineer role at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM).

At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities and planet. We aspire to create the most sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. We value those who are passionate about excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration. Together we can achieve great things.

This position would be responsible for simulating and advocating for sustainable strategies and technologies that align with project goals, priorities and project deliverables. Must be capable of clear communication among team members, sub-consultants and clients for sustainable design projects. Responsible for monitoring and documenting project progress of sustainable strategies/technologies and all appropriate reporting and communications. Cultivates professional relationships within and outside of SOM and leads/mentors when appropriate.

• Collaborates with the sustainable engineering studio and other design studios in delivering/documenting green building technologies and strategies for their projects.
• Performs detailed energy simulations to assess the impact of energy efficiency measures at all phases of design, including sustainability certification and code compliance.
• Performs analyses of day lighting and solar radiation for building and master planning projects.
• Compares and assesses performance of various HVAC system designs and remains current on latest HVAC technology.
• Performs thermal comfort analysis at the building and master planning scale.
• Performs heat transfer and moisture migration analysis on envelope components.
• Understands the basics of heat transfer and how it impacts envelope design.
• Performs detailed calculations to assess applicability of renewable technologies and relative energy yields.
• Remains current on issues related to sustainable and green building design, US Green Building activities and various versions of the LEED Green Building Rating System.
• Remains current on the development of new sustainability rating systems.
• Remains current on energy savings and renewable technologies.
• Collaborates with contractors, cost estimators and others to ensure specified strategies are cost effective from an early stage and adds to the internal database of cost metrics.
• Performs graphic tasks as required.
• Prepares sustainability presentations and written reports.
• Provides formal verbal presentations to clients.
• Develops and implements an internal sustainability and green building curriculum for the firm as a whole.
• Coordinates work on assigned projects with the architectural team and other disciplines.
• Provides mentorship, guidance and training to junior staff.
• Gains exposure within the industry on issues related to sustainability (publications; participation in networking events, etc.).

• Bachelor or Master’s Degree in Engineering preferred.
• Preferred licensed professional engineer or approaching the final phase of licensing process.
• ASHRAE BEMP accredited preferred.
• Demonstrated extensive experience with building simulation tool IES VE.
• LEED accredited preferred.
• 5 years of experience which reflects increasing responsibility in all phases of whole building energy simulations, from shoebox energy modeling to whole building simulations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of sustainable and green building design and/or construction.
• Demonstrated knowledge and use of the LEED Green Building Rating System and/or other green building rating systems especially in relation to energy and carbon credits/requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to perform independent research on sustainable strategies for building design, construction and operation.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team and provide guidance to junior team members.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and commitment to work within the integrated design team structure.
• Proficiency in Radiance, Diva, THERM, WUFI and/or computational fluid dynamics software programs.
• Proficiency in Rhino, Adobe Creative Suite,…