Build your career and get on track to becoming a licensed professional engineer or engineering specialist

Engineers can take multiple career paths like many professions and still call themselves “an engineer.”

There are structural engineers who help build buildings.
There are civil engineers who design bridges and infrastructure.
And there are dozens of others working focused on specialties and sub-specialties.

MEP engineers are easy to overlook, but it’s a growth industry with many benefits.

You should consider becoming an MEP engineer if:

You’re detail-oriented
Like the idea of working with lots of different systems and disciplines, and
Have a real interest in tackling complex problems

MEP engineering allows you to flex parts of your mind interested in technology, engineering, mathematics, physics, artistry and craft, and much more.

What’s an MEP engineer and why would I want to become one?

MEP engineers focus on the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems of a building. This means MEP engineers combine many of the skills necessary from mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, and plumbing designers and engineers. MEP engineers might work in all of these specializations or focus entirely on one of them.

MEP systems are critical systems in a building design. They keep ventilation systems running, maintain building comfort, find ways to conserve natural resources, install fire suppression systems, and build in the “heart” of a modern building.

At R.E. Dimond and Associates, we go further than the average MEP engineering firm by working with advanced technology like security systems and smart sensors that enhance a building’s design and functionality.

We also go beyond merely installing wiring or plumbing systems. We design solar panel systems, advanced electrical systems, plumbing systems for hazardous waste and medical gas systems, alarms, infection control systems, and other critical infrastructure that often goes unnoticed when done well.

There are benefits to becoming an MEP engineer:

MEP engineers command a diverse skill set and a broad knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems in the construction industry. This means we can work on many various projects and types of construction.
MEP engineers are paid incredibly well because they’re in demand and sought after in construction and engineering firms, architecture firms, facility management, and consulting firms like ours. MEP engineers frequently save people money, which is what makes us a sound investment for hiring.
MEP engineers work together in small teams from a lot of different disciplines. This means you’ll be exposed to work in architecture, construction administration, or dozens of other professional consulting services.

To become an MEP engineer, start thinking about your career in high school

A solid MEP career path begins in high school and leads to a great university. MEP engineers need a bachelor’s degree at a minimum. That means high school-age students should set themselves up for success at a university.

Take as many math and advanced science courses your high school offers. This includes physics and chemistry because mechanical engineers need to know how to manage heating or ventilation. Plumbing engineers need to understand fluid dynamics. Electrical engineers have to understand arcing and wattages.
Consider on-the-job experience with internships or job shadows. Even in high school, you can get a sense of what life will be like on the job. If you’re around Indianapolis, contact us and just ask to job shadow for a few days this summer.
Considering engineering schools you want to attend and pursue admission based on their requirements. Most of our engineers at R.E. Dimond and Associates are Purdue University graduates, but there are other great engineering schools around the country.

MEP engineers focus on a discipline in undergraduate studies

Once you’re in a great engineering school, you’ll focus your coursework toward one or a few disciplines, but you’ll still have a broad understanding of engineering principles.

Takes courses that advance your understanding of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and advanced technology like green energy systems, plumbing systems, or other advanced topics. Your advisors can help you find a path right for you.
Take more internship and job shadow opportunities at many firms, not just MEP engineering firms. Work with architects, building contractors, construction company engineers, and more. Now is the time to check them all out.
Take classes in REVIT and AutoCad to learn how to plan and design buildings and projects around recognizable blueprints, schematics, and models. BIM (Building Information Modeling) is also highly valuable and provides 3D renderings clients and colleagues can “walk through.”
Ultimately, you’ll need a degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related discipline.

Get your Professional Engineering (PE) license

After your undergraduate career, you might need to become a licensed Professional Engineer (PE). Your PE license means you’ve had on-the-job work experience, like through internships as an engineer in training, passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, and then passed the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. These exams assess an engineer’s competency in their chosen discipline.

There are options to become an MEP engineer without a PE license. This usually requires:

Working under a licensed engineer, like how new doctors train under senior physicians.
Getting other industry certifications, like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional, Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Plumbing Designer (CPD), or Certified Commissioning Professional (CCP). These all enhance your qualifications and open up opportunities in the MEP field.

LEED certification is the most widely accepted certification for MEP engineers and is administered by the Green Building Council.

LEED certification demonstrates a professional’s knowledge and expertise in designing and implementing sustainable building practices, including energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor environmental quality, and materials selection. MEP engineers are critical when designing and implementing energy-efficient systems, making the LEED AP certification highly relevant to the field.

The LEED AP certification is available in different specialty areas, too, including Building Design + Construction (BD+C), Interior Design + Construction (ID+C), Operations + Maintenance (O+M), and Homes. MEP engineers typically pursue the LEED AP BD+C specialty, which aligns with their involvement in the building design and construction phases of a project.

Like LEED certification, plumbing engineers can also get certified to become a Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Plumbing Designer (CPD), and Certified Commissioning Professional (CCP).

Electrical engineers often pursue one of dozens of certifications. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) offers several popular certifications, including Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP), Certified Biometrics Professional (CBP), Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE), Certified Network Professional (CNP), and many more.

And some MEP engineering roles don’t require a PE license since they aren’t responsible for signing off on certain legally-required permits or documents. For example, you could work as a design engineer, drafting technician, project coordinator, or technical consultant, focusing on designing, coordinating, and implementing MEP systems.

You could also become an expert in energy modeling, sustainable design, or building automation systems, which usually don’t require a PE license.

This is why job shadows and internships are so vital early in the MEP engineering world: there are a lot of specializations and sub-specialties to explore.

Consider a master’s degree to specialize your MEP engineering experience

A Bachelor’s degree is the minimum future MEP engineers need. But you should consider a master’s degree or a Ph.D., enabling you to specialize in a single aspect of MEP engineering. They’re not always required, but they’ll catapult you up the MEP engineering career ladder and give you autonomy and control over where and how your work.

A master’s degree will accelerate your credentials in environmental quality, project management and research, building controls and automation, computer modeling, simulations, and energy-efficient design practices.

Explore MEP engineering with an internship at R.E. Dimond and Associates

We’ve worked with dozens of interns over the years, and many have gone on to work with us or in other teams around the country.

MEP interns get a lot of on-the-job experience helping with all sorts of MEP engineering design work like:

Project support for the team, from assisting with drafting or modeling in CAD software to conducting research and gathering research.
Design review and documentation, which helps the team identify potential issues, collaborate in design meetings, and make suggestions for improvements to MEP designs.
Conducting field visits and inspections, where you’ll help observe and install equipment, identify problems, and implement process improvements.
Review code compliance standards, such as building codes and ensuring mechanical engineering services are up to code.
Documenting projects and record-keeping, like managing drawings, cost estimates, designing specifications, equipment documentation, and more. You’ll likely work closely with the project manager and may also help create new documents and templates for future use.

If you’re looking for an internship, many MEP engineering firms likely don’t always advertise the positions but will gladly accept resumes and schedule interviews if you contact them first.

Always be learning with professional designation and development opportunities

Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineers always continue learning because the industry always keeps evolving. New technology, equipment, energy-efficient systems, and ideas influence our industry every day.

Ready to get hands-on experience? See our current openings and internship opportunities at R.E. Dimond and Associates.

If you’ve got more questions and are interested in pursuing a career as an MEP engineer, call or email us. We’re always ready to help the MEP industry grow with talented future professionals like you.