Senior Managing Research Engineer

Groundbreaker. Game changer. Pioneer.

TRC has long set the bar for clients who require more than just engineering, combining science with the latest technology to devise innovative solutions that stand the test of time. From pipelines to power plants, roadways to reservoirs, schoolyards to security solutions, clients look to TRC for breakthrough thinking backed by the innovative follow-through of an industry leader.

TRC's professionals work with a broad range of commercial, industrial and government clients and the communities they serve. We deliver breakthrough solutions that address local needs -- so our clients can better succeed in an ever-changing world.

Working at TRC means tackling interesting, meaningful projects. We pride ourselves on our collaborative spirit, entrepreneurial zeal and agile corporate structure. We recognize that the expertise of our staff is our strongest asset, so we generously reward employees for successful performance and invest in their careers through training and the development of new skills and certifications.

TRC's Research and Consulting (R&C) team, within the Advanced Energy practice, is focused on developing and deploying decarbonization and clean energy solutions for our clients - utilities, non-profits, local governments, and state and federal agencies. R&C is a multi-disciplinary research-based consulting team that helps internal and external clients develop and optimize scaled clean energy solutions grounded in technological, economic, policy, market, and customer insights. Our research consulting projects are focused on how advanced energy solutions like energy efficiency, demand management, distributed energy resources, emerging tech, microgrids, storage, and electrification can help drive the clean energy transformation.

TRC is looking to hire a leader in the HVAC controls industry who wants to advance the industry through high-performance control sequences, control optimization and interoperability, smart buildings technologies, analytics, and innovative utility program design for these strategies. The role is best suited for someone with deep experience in commercial buildings HVAC systems and controls combined with research experience. We are seeking someone who can bridge between innovative emerging technologies and the practical application of controls in new and existing commercial buildings, ideally leveraging direct experience specifying, installing, commissioning, or operating building control systems.

The ideal candidate would be an engineer or building scientist with a minimum of seven years of education and experience with HVAC control systems (more experience encouraged). The ideal candidate will be assertive, personable, and a self-starter, with the capacity to manage multiple tasks across multiple teams. This position requires the ability to communicate effectively and coordinate with internal technical team members and external customers.

Primary Work Area Responsibilities:

• Emerging Technologies Research and Demonstrations
• Market Transformation and Technology Transfer
• Codes and Standards
• Technical Market Research
• Utility Program Evaluation

Key Responsibilities (Duties):

The overall responsibilities of Senior Managing Research Engineers are to:

• Lead project teams on delivery of large, complex projects or portfolios, while managing scope, timeline, and budget.
• Design and lead increasingly complicated research, data collection, and analysis project tasks with minimal oversight from senior team members.
• Provide oversight to more junior staff members for the execution of standard project tasks as well as novel project tasks.
• Act as mentor and coach to develop internal talent for the future of the practice, providing constructive feedback proactively using thoughtful approaches and promoting growth-mindset and open feedback on the team.
• Manage client interactions independently, identifying new opportunities and proactively escalating clients' problems to senior management.
• Develop increasing focus and specialization in HVAC and HVAC controls-related research and technologies, along with other industry area(s) of expertise in consultation with Supervisor and Team Lead.
• Contribute to development of proposals and other business development efforts, including identifying opportunities and leading proposals or other business development activities with oversight from senior team members.
• Identify and implement internal trainings and process improvements in consultation with Supervisor and Team Lead.
• Manage personal and project team's time across multiple projects, proactively seeking support when needed to understand/troubleshoot tasks or balance competing priorities.

While the focus will vary based on project needs, this role will focus on the following tasks:

• Research consulting design and project planning
  • Develop research approaches and project plans that will address clients' needs, incorporating own subject matter expertise and with minimal support from senior team members
  • Design new and complex field demonstrations of HVAC and HVAC controls-related emerging technologies, including specification, implementation, construction administration, field monitoring, data collection, technology commissioning, and operation optimization
  • Lead market research to develop "tech to market" pathways for HVAC and HVAC controls-related emerging technologies
  • Lead technology transfer scope such as workforce education, case studies, tools and resources
  • Collaborate with other subject matter experts from across organization to ensure that projects incorporate industry leading comprehensive, multi-disciplinary solutions
• Project management
  • Manage the delivery (scope, schedule, and budget) of research consulting projects or small portfolios with no oversight, and large portfolios with limited oversight
  • Delegate project tasks to team members, as needed
  • Communicate project status and findings to client
• Research Management
  • Instruct and oversee junior and mid-level team members in the design and implementation of primary and secondary research:
    • Recruitment of organizations and individuals to include in research studies, such as technology providers/designers/implementers and host demonstration site owner
    • Interviews and surveys with a wide range of customers and market actors
    • Field data collection methodologies
    • Technology market assessment, literature reviews, and other secondary research
  • Instruct and oversee junior and mid-level team members in analysis, including:
    • Analyzing technology and building energy use using established M&V methodologies
    • Analyzing technology, system performance, market data
    • Developing and implementing calculations to estimate savings, carbon emissions reductions, cost-effectiveness, and other benefits of emerging technologies, programs, and energy policies.
    • Developing policy requirements such as building energy codes, appliance standards, facility design or O&M standards, and local building ordinances.
  • Coordinate with methodological and domain experts from across the organization to ensure quality of research
  • Develop and implement QA/QC procedures to ensure accuracy of analysis
• Research synthesis and communication
  • Communicate research results verbally, via written reports, and graphically
  • Synthesize information across multiple data sources
  • Inform clients of interim findings throughout the project
  • Translate results of research projects into clear, actionable recommendations for clients
• Industry Expertise and Engagement
  • Collaborate with industry, including universities, mechanical designers, HVAC equipment manufacturers, BAS manufacturers, mechanical contractors, controls contractors, and other stakeholders to develop and demonstrate emerging technologies related to HVAC controls.
  • Demonstrate industry expertise externally through presenting at conferences, publishing papers, leading webinars, etc.
  • Educate internal team about HVAC and HVAC controls, engineering research methodologies and the clean energy industry
  • Identify and implement new approaches to improve and expand our technical research expertise
• Business development
  • Contribute to proposals, including leading development of small proposal efforts and supporting development of larger, complex proposals
  • Identify opportunities to expand work with existing and new clients, as well as partnership opportunities

Minimum Required Qualifications

• PhD with 5+ year of experience, or Masters degree with 6+ years experience, or Undergraduate degree with 7+ years experience
  • Applicable degrees include Architectural Engineering, Engineering, or other relevant fields focused on engineering research,
  • Demonstrated competency and experience in building science, energy codes and standards, distributed energy resources, and/or applied technical research (in years of experience corresponding to degree, as listed above)
• Thorough understanding of the fundamentals of research methods and design.
• Enthusiasm for learning new skills and can-do attitude.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team
• Capable of maintaining a high energy level to handle a dynamic, fast-paced workload.
• HVAC controls skills and experience
  • Experience in HVAC or HVAC controls such as a controls designer, mechanical designer, implementer/systems integrator, controls contractor, commissioning agent, or energy manager.
  • Experience developing and interpreting HVAC sequences of operation and conducting trend reviews.
  • Strong understanding of the programming environment and software flow of at least one leading building automation system platform (ex: Johnson Metasys, Automated Logic Corporation WebCTRL, Tridium Niagara, Siemens Desigo, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications

• Tangible experience in consulting and/or research.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, communication, and organizational skills.
• HVAC controls skills and experience
  • Research experience related to HVAC controls.
  • Familiarity with building networking protocols (BACNET, Modbus, etc) and building automation system integration.
  • Experience with advanced control sequences, including ASHRAE Guideline 36.
  • Expertise in specifying building automation systems, commissioning, developing sequences of operations and controls diagrams.
  • Control logic application development experience including application programming and graphics development.
• HVAC systems skills and experience
  • Strong understanding of commercial building HVAC systems and equipment, including RTUs, air handlers, VAV boxes, heat pumps, chillers, boilers, central plants, etc.
  • Experience in design, analysis and commissioning of HVAC systems.
  • Hands on experience with building systems or construction.
• Smart buildings and building decarbonization skills and experience
  • Familiarity with smart buildings technologies, including supervisory controls, data layers, cloud-based platforms, IoT technologies, interoperability, etc.
  • Familiarity with schema standards such as Project Haystack and BRICK, industry tagging systems, and ASHRAE 231P.
  • Experience in technical market research of energy efficiency or low-carbon building strategies
  • Experience with energy management, auditing, or retro commissioning
• Other skills and experience
  • Familiarity with building energy codes, (CA Title 24 and/or ASHRAE 90.1)
  • Involvement in engineering industry group such as ASHRAE.
  • EIT, PE, LEED AP accreditation

Our Mission

We understand our clients' goals, and embrace them as our own, applying creativity, experience, integrity and dedication to deliver superior solutions to the world's energy, environment and infrastructure challenges.

Our Vision

We will solve the challenges of making the Earth a better place to live - community by community.

TRC is ranked #16 on ENR's list of the Top 500 Design Firms in the United States.

Please watch the video below to learn more:

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Benefits: TRC offers a competitive benefit package consisting of:

• Medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance.
• 401k package that includes both traditional and Roth IRA options and Company match.
• Paid time off contingent upon full time or part time status and level of seniority (ranging from 15 to 25 days per year).
• All full-time employees enjoy a minimum of 8 Paid Holidays per year.
• TRC ensures that all employees, including those that work part-time, receive paid sick, family, and disability leave in accordance with the laws of their state of residence.

*These benefits are applicable to US employees depending on their employment status (full time, part time, or temporary). TRC offers jurisdiction specific benefit packages for International and Puerto Rico employees.

Compensation: In accordance with local law, the below salary range is applicable for the job and location associated with this requisition. Compensation will vary based upon experience, education, skill level, geographical location, and other compensable factors.

Other Compensation: Employee may be eligible for participation in the Company's annual Discretionary Bonus Program which is contingent on Company, Business Segment, and Individual performance against Key Performance Indicators which vary by year and employee.

TRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

The complete job description and application are available on TRC's career site.

TRC accepts applications for this position on an ongoing, rolling basis and reserves the right to cancel this posting at any time.