Senior Project Manager, Mechanical Systems
Mantisinnovation · Hartford, Connecticut, United States · remote
USD 125,000 to 160,000 · period not stated
Mantis Innovation provides managed facility services and turnkey program management with technology-enabled solutions that target the entire building footprint. We look at the entire facility—inside and out—and can impact 70% of what a building operator allocates critical budget dollars toward, including: Strategic electricity and natural gas procurement, renewable energy, and demand response; climate impact reduction and reporting, net zero strategies, and sustainability planning; roofing, solar, HVAC assessment management, pavement, building envelope, data center optimization, and EV charging; lighting/LED retrofits, HVAC/mechanical systems, and BMS/BAS improvements and implementation.
The Senior Project Manager, Mechanical Systems, owns the delivery of mechanical, utility, and energy infrastructure projects from first site visit through closeout. The role turns complex facility needs into well-scoped, financially sound projects, then leads the engineering, contractors, and field execution needed to deliver them safely, on schedule, and within budget.
This is a senior, client-facing role. The Senior Project Manager serves as the primary point of accountability for a portfolio of commercial, industrial, and public-sector projects, guides clients through investment decisions, manages project financials and risk, and mentors project engineers and coordinators. Success in this role directly drives client outcomes, project margin, and repeat business.
OUTCOMES:
- Development quality: Deliver at least 95% of site surveys, feasibility studies, and investment-grade cost estimates by the committed deadline, with less than 5% requiring material rework due to engineering errors or omissions.
- Project pipeline: Develop technical scopes, project economics, and recommendations that generate at least $5 million annually in qualified project opportunities approved for proposal or implementation.
- Schedule and budget: Achieve at least 95% of scheduled milestones on time across assigned projects, and close projects within ±5% of the approved budget and at or above the estimated gross margin.
- Risk and change control: Identify, document, and escalate field issues, safety concerns, contractor delays, and client-impacting risks within 24 hours, and submit priced change orders within 5 business days of a scope change.
- Project records: Keep schedules, RFIs, submittals, action items, meeting notes, change logs, and closeout deliverables complete and current, with updates entered within 2 business days of receipt or occurrence.
- Client and team: Maintain positive client feedback and repeat or follow-on work with assigned clients, and develop at least one project engineer or coordinator toward independent project responsibility.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead site surveys and collect technical, operational, utility, and cost data to establish project baselines and define client needs.
- Analyze facility infrastructure, utility systems, and operating conditions to identify energy, water, reliability, and operational improvement opportunities.
- Direct feasibility studies and technical evaluations for HVAC, central plant, utility modernization, and energy efficiency projects.
- Develop project scopes, engineering assumptions, savings calculations, lifecycle cost analyses, and investment-grade cost estimates.
- Prepare and present technical recommendations, project economics, and business cases that support client decision-making and proposals.
- Identify and integrate applicable utility incentives, rebates, grants, and other funding sources into project economics.
- Lead design engineering for approved projects, ensuring technical quality, code compliance, constructability, and alignment with project objectives.
- Manage internal and external engineering resources to deliver design work on schedule and within scope.
- Review drawings, specifications, scopes of work, RFIs, and submittals to confirm alignment with design intent and project requirements.
- Manage the execution of mechanical construction, retrofit, and infrastructure projects, including HVAC systems, boilers, chillers, piping, controls, and equipment replacements.
- Develop and maintain project schedules, short-term work plans, site logistics, and contractor coordination to meet milestones.
- Select, coordinate, and hold contractors and vendors accountable for scope, quality, safety, and schedule performance.
- Enforce site safety requirements and resolve safety, quality, access, and constructability issues in the field, escalating unresolved concerns with recommended actions.
- Coordinate startup, commissioning, turnover, and closeout activities with clients, contractors, and facility teams.
- Own project budgets, cost forecasts, and margin, and report status and variances to leadership.
- Track field changes, contractor impacts, and cost exposure; negotiate and manage change orders and support accurate billing and financial reporting.
- Monitor project risks, schedule impacts, and open issues, and communicate clear status updates and recommended actions to stakeholders.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for clients from development through closeout, building trusted, long-term relationships.
- Identify follow-on opportunities and support business development, proposals, and client presentations.
- Mentor and guide project engineers and coordinators, and contribute to improving project delivery standards, tools, and processes.
MINIMIM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, construction management, or a related technical field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 8+ years of experience in the design, construction, or delivery of mechanical, utility, energy efficiency, or related infrastructure projects, including at least 5 years managing projects from development through closeout.
- Strong working knowledge of mechanical systems, including HVAC, boilers, chillers, piping, controls, and central plant equipment.
- Demonstrated experience managing project budgets, schedules, change orders, and contractors on commercial and/or industrial projects.
- Experience developing cost estimates, savings calculations, and project economics such as lifecycle cost, simple payback, and ROI.
- Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, and scopes of work.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including presenting technical and financial recommendations to clients and leadership.
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel regularly to client sites.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Professional Engineer (PE) license, Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Energy Manager (CEM), LEED AP, or similar credential.
- OSHA 10-Hour Construction certification.
- Experience with mechanical retrofits in occupied or operating facilities, such as healthcare, transit, higher education, industrial, or public-sector sites.
- Experience with utility incentive programs, performance contracting, or design-build delivery.
- Proficiency with project management, scheduling, and estimating software (for example, Procore, Microsoft Project, or similar tools).
WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Work environment: This role is performed in a combination of office, remote, client-site, and field environments. Field work may occur in mechanical rooms, active Project sites, commercial and industrial facilities, transit facilities, rooftops, equipment areas, and occupied client locations. Employees may be exposed to varying weather conditions, temperature fluctuations, noise, dust, and other typical Project or facility-related conditions when visiting project sites.
- Physical requirements: This role requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, and use a computer for extended periods. The employee must be able to navigate active Project sites and facility environments, including climbing stairs, walking on uneven surfaces, and accessing equipment or mec