WHAT DOES AN HVAC DESIGN ENGINEER DO?

Published: Aug 4, 2025 - The Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Design Engineer collaborates with internal and external teams to design and support retail and commercial HVAC systems tailored to client requirements. This position is responsible for creating detailed designs using various refrigerants and technologies, conducting site surveys, generating working drawings, and coordinating documentation with CAD and admin teams. The engineer also provides equipment selection, technical support, and participates in meetings, site reviews, and installation audits to ensure system performance and client satisfaction.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for HVAC Design Engineer

1. HVAC Design Engineer Functions

  • HVAC Component Design: Design ownership of HVAC system components across multiple vehicle/powertrain platforms and applications.
  • Design Validation Oversight: Ensure component designs achieve L&C, IPR, performance, function, cost, and timing targets.
  • Engineering Standards Development: Define, maintain, and apply component archetypes, design manuals, and standards.
  • Concept Development Leadership: Lead concept system/component selection.
  • CAD Modeling Proficiency: Create 3D/2D CAD utilizing Siemens PLM TeamCentre and NX software.
  • CAD Resource Management: Manage external resources in the delivery of 3D/2D CAD.
  • Failure Mode Avoidance: Ensure CAD designs achieve failure mode avoidance, design for manufacture, service, and logistical requirements.
  • Bill of Materials Creation: Responsible for generating a bill of materials.
  • Drawing Approval Process: Create, check, and approve engineering drawings.
  • GD&T and Drafting Compliance: Ensure correct application of GD&T/quality and AML drafting standards.
  • Engineering Release Management: Generate prototype and production engineering releases.

2. HVAC Design Engineer Details

  • Data Judgment Analysis: Perform analysis and data judgment in line with final engineering sign-off requirements.
  • Timing Plan Management: Create and maintain system/component timing plans.
  • Cost Tracking Maintenance: Create and maintain system/component costs.
  • Failure Mode Support: Support quality history reviews, failure mode avoidance, and design verification planning activities.
  • Virtual Verification Support: Support all virtual verification activities, including package, CAE analysis, and virtual builds.
  • Supplier Liaison Leadership: Lead cross-functional external supplier liaison through the inclusion of engineering, procurement, and quality teams.
  • Internal Design Leadership: Lead cross-functional internal design reviews.
  • Build Phase Support: Support prototype and production builds.
  • System Testing Support: Support testing of the system and components (virtual/physical).

3. HVAC Design Engineer Roles

  • Site Scope Analysis: Visit the site for analysis and to understand the scope of the project.
  • HVAC Drawing Preparation: Prepare detailed drawings for internal and external HVAC systems.
  • Engineering Calculations Responsibility: Responsible for doing various calculations.
  • System Performance Assurance: Ensure system performance criteria are maintained in the design.
  • Equipment Selection Duty: Responsible for making selections for heaters, firefighting systems, fire suppression systems, etc.
  • AutoCAD Precision Input: Input precise measurements in the AutoCAD system to generate accurate drawings.
  • BIM Compliance Review: Ensure the drawing meets expectations stated in BIM.
  • 3D Modeling Conversion: Convert designed systems into 3D models.

4. HVAC Design Engineer Overview

  • Drawing Approval Coordination: Take approval of drawings from the project head and the clients.
  • Design Variation Handling: Responsible for doing variations in drawings as per client specifications after their review in case of.
  • Design Phase Support: Provide support to the site engineer in the design phase.
  • Design Benchmark Setting: Set benchmarks for designs.
  • Technical Issue Resolution: Resolve any technical problems related to design during project execution.
  • HVAC Design Management: Manage the overall design of HVAC and other systems.
  • Technical Presentation Delivery: Present the technical work to the management.
  • Drawing Quality Review: Check the drawings prepared by the design executive.

5. Senior HVAC Design Engineer Roles

  • HVAC System Design: Design and engineering of HVAC systems for pharmaceuticals and hospitals.
  • Heat Load Estimation: Heat load calculations, preparation of BOQ, duct design, selection of filters.
  • Psychometric Analysis Responsibility: Responsible for psychometric analysis.
  • Tender Documentation Preparation: Prepare tenders for HVAC and building automation systems.
  • Equipment Selection Expertise: Select chillers, cooling towers, and pumping systems.
  • Site Coordination Activities: Visit sites, interact with clients, and coordinate with various other engineering disciplines/vendors.
  • Client Requirement Communication: Communicate directly with customers to understand project requirements, goals, design specifications, and operational environments in order to evaluate cost, feasibility, and implementation of new HVAC equipment.
  • Equipment Selection Using Data: Use calculated data to select equipment that is suitable for a specific job.
  • Chilled Water Calculation: Calculate chilled water pipe size for the chilled water system based on the calculated GPM.

6. HVAC Design Engineer Duties

  • Regulatory Compliance Review: Help create and review HVAC designs to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
  • Schematic Drawing Production: Take the Engineers' designs and create schematics before passing them to the BIM team to model.
  • HVAC Process Management: Use knowledge and experience within the HVAC industry to drive forward the HVAC team, as well as manage the design process.
  • Technical Advisory Support: Work closely with the Business Development team to offer technical advice on areas such as humidity control and HVAC complexity.
  • Innovative Solution Offering: Innovative and offer solutions and ideas.
  • Solution Development Contribution: Help to develop new and existing solutions.
  • Product Excellence Assurance: Ensure the business continues to offer the best products and solutions to its customers.
  • Bid Team Support: Support the estimating and bid teams with bid and quote creations and submissions.
  • Risk Assessment Collaboration: Work alongside the Head of Projects to advise on any key technical or commercial risks associated with projects.
  • Supplier Relationship Development: Develop strong relationships with key HVAC suppliers.
  • Phase Review Scheduling: Attend and schedule regular phase reviews, particularly on larger projects.
  • Customer Needs Assessment: Assess customer needs and amend solutions.

7. HVAC Design Engineer Roles and Details

  • Cross-Team Coordination: Work within a multi-disciplined design department and coordinate with both internal and external teams to help deliver and support retail and commercial HVAC systems for various clients.
  • Site Survey Execution: Conduct site surveys and inspections of installations, including the provision of detailed scopes of work for presentation to the client.
  • Refrigerant System Design: Design variable load systems operating on HFC, HFC/HFO blends, and natural refrigerants, using technologies based on the client's specifications.
  • Client Requirement Understanding: Understand the requirements of installations and provide designs that meet the client's business needs in cooperation with project teams.
  • Documentation Coordination Responsibility: Responsible for full documentation of design and coordination with AutoCAD and Admin teams.
  • Drawing and Manual Delivery: Provide working drawings and final site manuals.
  • HVAC Equipment Selection: Select equipment, including plant, evaporators, display cases, interconnecting pipework, communication networks, and leak detection.
  • Technical Training Support: Provide technical support, guidance, and training within the company, as well as to contractors and clients.
  • Technical Meeting Participation: Attend meetings and take part in technical discussions and site reviews with contractors, suppliers, and clients.
  • Installation Review Audit: Perform reviews and audits on completed installations, requiring documented reviews and discussions.
  • Specification Development Support: Produce and assist with specifications and technical issues.

8. HVAC Design Engineer Key Accountabilities

  • HVAC Engineering Execution: Perform engineering responsibilities including load calculations, Title-24, equipment selection, design documents, specifications, energy analysis, and CAD drafting.
  • Standards Compliance Awareness: Maintain engineering knowledge base and stay current with design standards, applicable engineering codes, and new products and concepts.
  • Field Information Support: Provide technical engineering information to field personnel.
  • Construction Code Compliance: Ensure construction work complies with all engineering standards, codes, specifications, and design instructions applicable to the Mechanical HVAC field.
  • Technical Supervision Delivery: Provide supervision and/or technical direction (i.e., print interpretation, design intent, construction feasibility) to engineers, drafters, and/or other personnel assigned to the area of work.
  • Work Sequence Control: Ensure work is completed in proper sequence.
  • Schedule and Budget Control: Ensure projects are completed on schedule and within the allotted budget.
  • Cross-Departmental Support: Support other departments within the company as a technical resource.
  • Independent Task Handling: Perform required tasks with little or no specific instruction or direction.
  • Additional Assignment Fulfillment: Perform additional assignments per the supervisor’s direction.

9. HVAC Design Engineer Additional Details

  • Concept Design Development: Responsible for developing the concept, basis of design, and technical design solutions.
  • System Operability Maintenance: Maintain operability of assigned systems and components.
  • Technical Document Preparation: Develop plans, drawings, technical specifications, processes, procedures, functional and data requirements analysis, system analysis, and documentation preparation.
  • Cost-Effective Engineering: Apply cost-effective repairs, upgrades, or replacements.
  • Problem Resolution Engineering: Apply fundamental engineering principles to develop, design, and resolve solutions to a variety of technical problems related to industrial HVAC and facility mechanical systems and processes.
  • Industrial HVAC Expertise: Possess knowledge and experience in the layout, selection, sizing, and design of various types of industrial HVAC systems and components, including multiple-zone VAV systems, simple constant volume systems, distribution systems (pumps, pipe, control valves, ductwork, diffusers and registers), air handlers (with coils and economizers), fan systems, central plant systems (boilers, chillers, cooling towers), chilled water systems, packaged HVAC units, fume hoods, and dust collection systems.
  • Field Inspection Execution: Perform field inspections of HVAC and other mechanical systems and attend system start-up field activities.
  • Team Leadership Role: Assume a team lead role for the work group, as well as train and guide other engineers.
  • Cross-Functional Coordination: Coordinate with and support other Design Engineers, Operations, and Maintenance staff.

10. HVAC Design Engineer Role Purpose

  • Configuration Management Support: Support the Configuration Management (CM) group to include the evaluation and monitoring of all modifications to configured systems and the generation of Engineering Change Requests to improve interoperability, reliability, and maintainability.
  • CM Standards Compliance: Adhere to applicable CM standards.
  • Drawing Modification Updates: Update existing configured drawings to incorporate system modifications.
  • Project Completion Oversight: Ensure that assigned projects are completed on time and within approved scope and budget.
  • Schedule Communication Maintenance: Keep all involved personnel informed of schedule status.
  • Customer Coordination Interface: Interface and coordinate with internal and external customers from project initiation and requirements development.
  • Design Review Facilitation: Design review and working group meetings are held in order to ensure compliance with project requirements.
  • Technical Estimation Support: Provide technical support to ROM (Rough Order of Magnitude) estimates for projects, as well as risk assessments to support proper project prioritization.
  • Technical Presentation Preparation: Prepare, deliver, and submit technical presentations in support of planning efforts.
  • Documentation Standards Verification: Verify and comply with engineering documentation standards and test procedures.

11. HVAC Design Engineer Roles and Responsibilities

  • HVAC System Design: Provide HVAC, Plumbing, and Fire Protection design for High Performance Facilities for a variety of projects.
  • Engineering Calculation Responsibility: Responsible for engineering calculations, equipment selection and layout, ductwork and piping sizing and layout, LEED documentation and calculations, interdisciplinary coordination, and participation in QA/QC process.
  • Site Inspection Oversight: Responsible for devoted to site inspection and construction administration.
  • Design Leadership Role: Primarily a leadership role and will be part of a design team environment.
  • Team Direction Management: Work in a design team environment, including directing the work of junior engineers and designers, and delegating work as well as taking design direction from senior-level engineers.
  • Interdisciplinary Coordination Duty: Responsible for interdisciplinary coordination.
  • Diagram Development Expertise: Develop flow diagrams and control diagrams.
  • Duct and Pipe Sizing: Responsible for sizing and laying out ductwork, hydronic, and plumbing piping systems.
  • QA/QC Process Leadership: Responsible for leading QA/QC processes.
Relevant Information
What Does A HVAC Engineer Do?