salary - $110,000 – $118,000
remote type - Hybrid (on-site required; not fully remote)
location - Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
time type - Full time
deadline - Open until filled
About the Role
This is a hands-on engineering + sustainability execution role embedded within the University of Virginia’s Office for Sustainability.
You will work directly on real buildings, real systems, and measurable emissions reductions—not just policy or strategy.
The mission is concrete:
Help UVA achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 and become fossil fuel-free by 2050.
What You’ll Do
Project & Construction Management
Lead building efficiency projects from concept to completion
Define scope, budgets, timelines, and ROI (energy cost recovery)
Manage contractors, permitting, and stakeholder coordination
Oversee implementation and ensure delivery quality
Engineering & Technical Analysis
Conduct energy audits and retro-commissioning
Diagnose HVAC and building system inefficiencies
Design and implement energy conservation measures
Perform airflow, ventilation, and HVAC control calculations
Develop lighting plans and system upgrades
Systems Optimization
Work with building automation systems (e.g., Metasys, WebCTRL)
Optimize energy use through controls and data analysis
Ensure compliance with green building standards
Stakeholder Collaboration
Act as the technical point of contact for projects
Coordinate with campus stakeholders, occupants, and contractors
Translate engineering insights into actionable decisions
About You
You are a technical problem-solver who likes seeing physical impact.
Strong candidates:
Have 7+ years of experience in HVAC, energy engineering, or building systems
Hold (or are close to) a Professional Engineer (PE) license
Understand building systems deeply (HVAC, controls, lighting)
Have experience with commissioning, energy audits, or performance contracting
Can manage projects while also doing technical analysis
Preferred Edge
Certifications like:
- PE (strongly preferred)
- CEM (Certified Energy Manager)
- LEED Accreditation
- Commissioning certifications (BCxP, CCP)
Experience with:
- Labs or healthcare HVAC systems
- Energy modeling tools
- Building automation systems
What You’ll Gain
Direct, measurable climate impact (buildings, energy savings, emissions)
Ownership over projects affecting dozens of facilities
A strong compensation + benefits package (public sector + university perks)
A role blending engineering, sustainability, and project leadership
Compensation & Benefits Highlights
$110K–$118K salary
22+ days PTO + 13 holidays
Retirement via Virginia Retirement System
Health coverage + wellness incentives
Tuition & professional development support
Why This Role Matters
Unlike policy or advisory roles, this position operates at the implementation layer:
- You reduce emissions by fixing systems
- You save energy through engineering decisions
- You create impact that can be measured in real time
UVA’s Building Efficiency Program has already:
- Upgraded 75+ buildings
- Saved $3.7M in one year alone
You would directly contribute to scaling that impact.
Apply
https://jobs.virginia.edu/us/en/job/R0085484/Senior-Energy-and-Sustainability-Engineer
More Sustainability Careers
Explore more opportunities, insights, and career resources in sustainability and ESG.
📲 Need help tailoring your resume for sustainability roles? We’ve got you covered.
Join our WhatsApp channel for resume tips and fresh job updates straight to your phone:
WhatsApp Career Channel
Stay informed. Stay ready.
