Sr. Solutions Engineer

About R-Zero R-Zero offers smart building technology that delivers real‑time occupancy and energy insights, helping buildings reduce energy costs, improve net operating income, and increase asset value. R-Zero’s occupancy‑based demand‑control ventilation solutions include IAQ and comfort monitoring, high‑efficiency HVAC filtration, space‑utilization sensors, occupancy‑based building controls, and real‑estate performance analytics. R‑Zero’s intuitive, secure and scalable platform enables owners, operators and tenants to cut operating expenses and carbon emissions at zero upfront costs. About The Role R‑Zero is hiring a Senior Solutions Engineer to drive the technical pre‑sales motion for our Physical AI solution – a portfolio of occupancy sensors and intelligence that unlocks meaningful HVAC energy reduction in commercial buildings. This customer‑facing, sales‑forward role pairs strong communication skills with mechanical engineering judgment. You will be the technical voice in early‑stage customer conversations, leading pitches alongside Sales Directors, qualifying buildings against R‑Zero’s occupancy‑based demand‑controlled ventilation criteria, and translating HVAC, BMS and controls complexity into clear, compelling value for executive and engineering audiences alike. This is a startup role, and we mean it. R‑Zero is a fast‑moving company building a category that doesn’t have a textbook playbook yet – which means the right person here gets to help write it. You won’t just execute against an established pre‑sales motion; you’ll own the evolution of the tools, qualification frameworks and processes the Solutions team runs on. You will operate as a senior pre‑sales engineer on the Solutions team, partnering closely with the rest of the team to scale qualification velocity and feed a growing sales pipeline. You’ll get hands‑on with our internal tools, scope buildings from drawings and BMS data, and develop ROI narratives that move deals forward. The ideal candidate is a mechanical, controls or energy engineer at heart who is energized by customer conversations – someone who can hold their own in a technical discovery call, walk a CFO through energy savings logic, turn a stack of mechanical drawings into a qualified opportunity by end of day, and spot the broken process they want to fix while they’re at it. Key Responsibilities Customer‑facing pre‑sales Lead technical discovery: Run discovery calls with facilities directors, energy managers and BMS controls staff to capture HVAC system architecture, BMS configuration, occupancy profiles and existing DCV strategies. Pitch and demo: Co‑pitch with Sales Directors and deliver high‑impact demos of R‑Zero’s occupancy‑based DCV platform, savings models and M&V approach – flexing message and depth based on audience. Translate to business value: Convert HVAC and controls detail into ROI narratives, energy savings ranges and implementation pathways that resonate with executive decision‑makers. Sales partnership: Partner with Sales on opportunity strategy, multi‑stakeholder navigation and objection handling – especially around BMS write‑access, IT/security review and capex versus EaaS commercial models. Building qualification and scoping Building qualification: Use internal tooling and engineering judgment to assess buildings against the qualification criteria (AHU specs, OA strategy, BMS readiness, occupancy patterns, energy recovery, existing DCV). Scope of work development: Develop technical scopes, sensor counts, sequence‑of‑operation strategies and integration approaches from mechanical drawings, BMS point lists and trended data. Site surveys: Conduct remote and occasional in‑person surveys to validate AHU configuration, BAS points and field conditions. End‑to‑end ownership Pre‑sales to handoff: Own the technical journey from first call through clean handoff to implementation, ensuring scope accuracy and customer expectations are aligned. Implementation support: Stay engaged through deployment as needed – supporting BMS integration questions, validation visits and customer escalations. Expansion opportunities: Surface portfolio expansion opportunities post‑deployment by validating performance and equipping Sales to upsell additional buildings. Team and tooling Tooling contribution: Provide structured feedback on R‑Zero’s internal Solutions Engineering tooling and propose process improvements. Cross‑functional partnership: Partner with Product, Engineering and Sales to channel field insights into roadmap priorities and competitive positioning. Knowledge sharing: Author and maintain technical collateral, qualification heuristics and customer‑facing FAQs that scale the team’s capability. Required Qualifications 3+ years in a Solutions Engineering or Sales Engineering role with demonstrated success leading technical discovery, delivering pitches and demos and supporting enterprise sales cycles with multiple stakeholders. 5+ years of hands‑on experience in HVAC system design, BMS/controls engineering, mechanical engineering, energy engineering or building automation – with depth sufficient to read mechanical drawings and BMS point lists without supervision. Working knowledge of HVAC systems (AHUs, VAV, terminal units), BMS/BAS architectures, controls integration and ventilation strategies. Experience working with internal AI/LLM‑based qualification or scoping tools. Familiarity with ASHRAE 62.1, Title 24 and demand‑controlled ventilation (DCV) approaches. Comfort reading mechanical drawings, BMS point lists and trended controls data. Strong written and verbal communication – equally credible in front of a CFO, an energy manager and a controls technician. Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Building Science, Controls Engineering, Energy Engineering or related field. Nice‑to‑haves Background working at an MEP consultancy, energy consultancy, cleantech or HVAC technology company, and/or early‑stage startup – environments where you’ve owned ambiguous problems and seen how buildings actually get designed, commissioned or retrofitted. Hands‑on experience with BACnet integrations and Niagara/Tridium supervisors. Exposure to DCV, IAQ or smart building product categories. Industry credentials such as CEM, CBCP or CCP, CEA, and PE. Familiarity with energy modeling tools and M&V frameworks (IPMVP). Travel Requirements Up to 25% travel for site surveys, key customer meetings and occasional deployment support. Travel may include occasional overnight work or physical site tasks (e.g., walkdowns, mechanical room access). Why R‑Zero Join a purpose‑driven team tackling one of the biggest challenges facing the built environment – energy and carbon reduction. Work with innovative technologies at the intersection of health, energy and smart building automation. Competitive compensation, equity and benefits. A culture of collaboration, taking ownership and innovation. Compensation Information The salary range for this position will vary based on candidate level, experience and location. The base salary contemplates a range of $165,000 – $185,000 USD. Certain roles may be eligible for incentive compensation, equity and benefits. Proof of eligibility to work in the United States and a background check is required upon employment. Physical Requirements Seeing: Must be able to read reports & computer monitors. Hearing: Must be able to hear well enough to communicate with others. Sitting: Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time. Standing: Must be able to stand for prolonged periods of time. Reaching/Climbing/Stooping/Kneeling: Must be able to reach, climb, stoop or kneel as required. Grasping/Feeling: Must be able to write & use a keyboard, tablet or phone system. Lifting/Pulling/Pushing: Must be able to lift, pull and push at least 75 lbs. EEO Statement R‑Zero is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. We welcome all qualified applicants and strive to select the best qualified applicant for each position in our organization. Applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic data, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or other legally protected status, or any other classification protected by federal, state or local law. R‑Zero complies with all laws and regulations relating to employment discrimination and is always committed to doing what’s right. 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