Mechanical Department Manager

SSOE is seeking an experienced Mechanical Department Manager to lead our Mechanical Engineering Department in India. This role supports a large and dynamic U.S.-based client portfolio, including industrial and manufacturing facilities, semiconductor, battery, pharmaceutical, data center, healthcare, institutional, and commercial projects.

As the Mechanical Department Manager, you will be responsible for leading mechanical engineering teams, staff, and projects across locations while contributing to client account management and business-development activities. You will serve as a coach, mentor, and technical leader for department staff, ensuring high-quality mechanical design solutions are delivered on schedule and within budget.

The successful candidate is a proven leader who communicates effectively across disciplines and cultures. You will serve as a technical liaison for the design of complex mechanical systems for large industrial facilities and fast-paced, team-oriented projects supporting a variety of markets.

At SSOE, we don’t just talk about the future, we build it. As a leader in industry AI adoption, we empower our team to work smarter by providing responsible access to the industry leading AI Large Language Models, vibe-coding platforms, and securely integrating advanced tools into every role. From day one, you’ll receive the training and support needed to leverage AI as a core tool for enhancing productivity, sparking creativity, and streamlining complex workflows.

We are looking for a leader with a clear vision and thoughtful plan to:

• Develop and take care of our people.
• Advance the Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) paradigm within mechanical engineering.
• Continue the Visual Planning component of SSOE’s Lean Operating Strategy and implement additional Lean practices.
• Build and develop teams of mechanical professionals and future leaders in India.
• Evolve mechanical deliverables beyond traditional Instruments of Service, upskilling talent as needed.
• Drive technical excellence, innovation, consistent quality, and continuous improvement across the department.

The ideal leader will demonstrate:

• Change Agility: Actively seeks new approaches and first-time situations; tests and pilots improvements before wider implementation; leads teams confidently through change.
• Mental Agility: Is comfortable navigating complex technical problems and ambiguity; uses critical thinking, curiosity, and sound judgment to develop effective solutions.
• People Agility: Demonstrates emotional intelligence, strong communication, and active listening; builds trust across diverse teams and serves as a steady influence during challenging situations.

Responsibilities

The following duties are typical of the position but are not all-encompassing. Responsibilities include those required to deliver quality mechanical engineering services on schedule and within budget in a collaborative team environment.

Leadership & Supervision

• Implement the Mechanical Practice Leader’s vision within the department.
• Coach, direct, coordinate, facilitate, and supervise Section Manager(s), Master Engineer(s), Mechanical Engineers, BIM/VDC professionals, and department staff.
• Lead people-management responsibilities, including workforce planning, staffing, hiring, professional development, promotions, performance management, and employee relations.
• Provide leadership for a department of 20+ FTEs supporting design for U.S. projects.
• Develop and execute long-term plans for team development, including technical, project-delivery, digital, and leadership skills.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative, accountable, and high-performing department culture.
• Demonstrate multi-market experience in at least two of SSOE’s primary markets, including semiconductor, battery, pharmaceutical, data center, manufacturing, and general building projects.

Technical Oversight

• Ensure the technical competency, quality, and consistency of work performed by mechanical department staff.
• Provide technical leadership for mechanical building and process utility systems, as applicable to project requirements, including HVAC, plumbing, process piping, industrial ventilation, dust and fume collection, exhaust systems, hydronic systems, compressed air, gases, and other mechanical utilities.
• Maintain working knowledge of applicable U.S. building codes, energy codes, mechanical codes, plumbing codes, client standards, jurisdictional requirements, and industry best practices.
• Verify that Mechanical Discipline Captains define appropriate discipline work plans and monitor project progress to ensure Quality, Budget, and Schedule (QBS) measures are achieved.
• Review and guide mechanical calculations, design models, drawings, specifications, equipment selections, and interdisciplinary coordination.
• Support technical problem-solving and provide escalation support for complex mechanical engineering challenges.
• Coordinate closely with process, electrical, structural, civil, architectural, fire protection, and construction teams.

Standards & Process Improvement

• In coordination with the Mechanical Practice Group Lead, develop, organize, implement, and maintain mechanical engineering standards, procedures, recordkeeping, and continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Drive consistent use of standard design tools, calculation methods, quality-control processes, and deliverable templates.
• Ensure teams have appropriate staffing, software, technology, tools, and technical reference materials to support project requirements.
• Champion the effective use of BIM, VDC, model-based coordination, automation, AI, and other digital technologies in mechanical project delivery.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce rework, enhance quality, and strengthen coordination across disciplines.

Project & Resource Management

• Prepare and monitor department work schedules, staffing plans, and projected workload forecasts.
• Coordinate staffing and resource allocation across multiple projects, locations, and time zones.
• Collaborate with Project Managers to establish, monitor, and manage project budgets; adjust plans as needed to meet financial and operational objectives.
• Support the development and maintenance of departmental financial KPIs in collaboration with Strategic Business Unit leadership.
• Ensure mechanical deliverables are completed in accordance with project scope, schedule, budget, quality requirements, and client expectations.
• Manage department capacity and coordinate with other SSOE offices and disciplines to meet workload needs.

Strategic & Business Development

• Implement departmental strategic activities that support operational, practice, and corporate business objectives.
• Support client account maintenance, relationship-building, and business-development initiatives.
• Assist Project Managers and business-development teams with proposals, scope development, fee estimates, qualifications packages, and client presentations.
• Identify opportunities to expand mechanical engineering capabilities, market presence, and service offerings.
• Represent the department’s capabilities in internal and external discussions as needed.

Training & Development

• Assess the strengths, development opportunities, and career goals of department personnel.
• Identify and prioritize technical, leadership, software, quality, and communication training needs.
• Develop and implement mechanical department training programs in coordination with SSOE’s Training and Development team.
• Mentor mechanical engineers and emerging leaders, supporting succession planning and career development.
• Promote knowledge sharing, technical presentations, lessons learned, and best practices throughout the department.

Technology

• Experience working in a virtual design environment with mechanical engineering technology, including BIM authoring and coordination tools, mechanical calculation and analysis software, and document-management systems.
• Experience with tools such as Revit, AutoCAD, Navisworks, and discipline-specific mechanical design and analysis software is preferred.
• This position will require the use of AI or similar digital technologies to perform job functions.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• A minimum of twenty (20) years of related mechanical engineering experience, including a minimum of five (5) years in a leadership or people-management role.
• Demonstrated experience leading mechanical engineering teams delivering projects for U.S.-based clients.
• Experience 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, or the ability to support projects under the direction of licensed U.S. mechanical professionals, is preferred.

Leadership Experience

• Ability to develop and execute strategic plans that support company goals and practice growth.
• Experience leading diverse teams; experience managing remote or geographically distributed teams is preferred.
• Required experience collaborating with an international workforce and working across multiple cultures and time zones.
• Proven ability to recruit, develop, retain, and motivate high-performing technical teams.

Communication

• Demonstrated skill in cross-discipline and multinational coordination and collaboration.
• Strong verbal and written English communication skills.
• Ability to clearly communicate technical requirements, project expectations, strategic priorities, and performance feedback.
• Ability to lead and support multiple teams across locations.