Senior Mechanical Engineer - Team Lead, Calgary
Alternates: Team Lead, Senior Engineer - Calgary Office Launch | Senior Engineer / Alberta Team Lead - HVAC and Energy Recovery Systems | Senior Mechanical Engineer - Team Lead, Alberta Market Launch
Location: Calgary, AB (hybrid / flexible)
Employment type: Full-time
Seniority Level: Senior Level
Compensation: CAD $150,000 - $220,000 total compensation (base + team-performance bonus)
Join us to lead the way in engineering Alberta’s energy efficiency and greener future
We're young, fast moving, and we enjoy taking on new challenges every day. On top of building an energy efficient Alberta and BC, we're also engineered the CO2 refrigeration systems for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) and the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMTO), two of the largest telescopes ever attempted.
Who We ArePolar Engineering is an engineering, design, project management and commissioning consultancy. We specialize in recreation facilities and industrial refrigeration, and we're experts at engineering large custom heat pumps and energy recovery systems.
That combination is the whole point. In an arena or an industrial plant you have a refrigeration system throwing away heat, and a building, a pool or a process that needs it. We design large custom heat pump and energy recovery systems that capture that waste heat, shut down the natural gas boilers, and cut greenhouse gas emissions, while lowering our clients' operating costs.
These aren't catalogue units. They're engineered around each facility, which is where the interesting work is.
We've been recognized for it too. Danfoss named us EnVisioneer of the Year in the Engineering Consultant category for a heat pump project that cut natural gas use by 90% at a BC recreation centre, and we're a longtime award winner and sponsor with the Recreation Facilities Association of BC (RFABC), including their Climate Action Award. Ian (Polar’s CEO) was named to Canadian Consulting Engineer's Top 10 Under 40.
Over the last year our clients have reduced their carbon emissions by more than 3,000 tonnes of CO2. That's the equivalent of planting over 150,000 trees :)
Our clients are arenas, curling clubs and aquatic centres, along with industrial food processing facilities, large buildings like hospitals, and developments running district energy systems. We help them lead, choosing low global warming potential refrigerants and putting in large heat recovery systems.
We're growing more than 30% a year, and we're 17 people with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, and Victoria.
How We OperateWe run on EOS, the Entrepreneurial Operating System (the one from the book Traction, if you've read it). That means a real accountability chart instead of a fuzzy org chart, clear quarterly priorities, and no guessing where you stand. If you've ever wanted to build something with actual structure behind it instead of chaos dressed up as hustle, you'll feel right at home.
We also hire, and run the whole company, around five core values:
- Do what you say you're going to do
Nothing complicated. We just want people who genuinely live these, and we screen hard for them before anyone joins the team. As Calgary's Team Lead, you'd get to build your own team around these same five values from day one, which is a pretty rare thing to be handed.
The RoleWe're looking for a Senior Engineer to lead our new Calgary office. This is a founding seat, not a spot on an existing team. You'd build the Calgary team, backed by four years of relationships Ian has already built in Alberta.
This is a player-coach role, not a pure design chair. You'd own the technical work, lead the team as you hire, and grow the book of business, with a fast track to Principal Engineer at Polar.
What You'll Own- Your team's book of work, its revenue and its profitability
- Selling and growing that book of work across Calgary and Alberta
- Stamping drawings as Engineer of Record, and leading design and deliverables
- Being the main point of contact for your clients, and owning their satisfaction
- Team and project resource management
- Hiring, managing and growing the project managers and engineers you bring on
Early on, that means personally leading HVAC projects from first site visit through commissioning and getting out into the Alberta market to win the work that builds your team. You won't be doing this alone: Ian leads Polar's heat pump and refrigeration work, and the rest of the senior team covers HVAC design and energy studies.
You'll also get to work with our recreation clients, and they're some of the best clients you'll ever have. The arenas, curling clubs and aquatic centres we work with have real buy-in on these projects, and they genuinely love working with us. They don't make things complicated, and they'll often let you take the lead and direct the project, instead of coming back asking for round after round of cost reductions.
What We're Looking For- Senior experience in energy recovery, HVAC, boilers, and building mechanical systems
- A track record of leading people and running projects, not just designing them
- Comfortable in front of clients, and genuinely interested in winning work rather than waiting for it
- Strong team leadership and team building
- Strong written and verbal communication
- Genuinely cares about leaving the world a better place
Nice to have: experience with energy studies and grant applications.
How We WorkWe're a lifestyle company and we mean it. We like a real work/life balance, which means flexible hours and flexible days, and when the work allows, we knock off early for our favourite outdoor activities. Ian's is kiteboarding.
At 17 people, this isn't a rung on someone else's ladder. You'd have a real seat at the leadership table, helping set the direction of the company as we grow into Alberta, instead of having that direction set for you. You'd be working closely with the leadership team to expand the Alberta market and shaping how we do it, not inheriting someone else's playbook.
Compensation and BenefitsTotal compensation: CAD $150,000 – $220,000, made up of a base salary plus a performance bonus tied to your sales, team's revenue, and margin.
Plus a real road to Principal Engineer.
Benefits:
- Leaving the world a better place
- Set your own direction and find wins for your clients and team
- Flexible work hours and flexible work days
- Remote work for 3 days a week
- Medical, dental, vision, and massage
- International conferences and exposure
Start date: Within the next 6 months
How to ApplyApply through LinkedIn. Or reach out to Ian (Founder and CEO Directly) at ian@polareng.ca. If you're curious but not sure, a short conversation costs you nothing, I'm based in Victoria but I'm over in Vancouver constantly.
