What is your current position? What are your areas of focus?
My current position is Department Head - Plumbing and Fire Protection. My main focus is leading HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection system designs for transportation hubs and industrial facilities to schools, healthcare centers, commercial buildings, and apartment complexes.
What are your career journey highlights?
I kicked off my career in MEP design right after finishing Master’s in Mechanical Engineering at NJIT back in 2007. I spent my early years mastering the design and technical work from manual hand calculations to utilizing software for HVAC load calculations, sprinkler hydraulic calculations, modeling atrium smoke control calculations, and precise equipment sizing.
Over the last two decades, I’ve built a career that bridges the US and Canada. As a licensed Professional Engineer in both countries, I’ve transitioned from an engineer to a technical leader leading engineering teams, setting the technical standards, and acting as a trusted advisor on complex MEP systems.
I have always believed that buildings should be efficient, not just functional. To back that up, I picked up my Certified in Plumbing Design (CPD) and LEED Green Associate credentials, which helps me ensure our designs are as sustainable and forward-thinking as possible.
For me, engineering is as much about community as it is about design. I regularly share my insights by publishing articles in major industry publications like the ICC Building Safety Journal, ASPE Pipeline, and Plumbing Engineer Magazine, while dedicating my time to mentoring the next generation of engineers.
What first got you interested in the plumbing engineering field?
For me, it boils down to three things: applying physics to the real world, protecting public health, and saving lives.
Most people don't think twice about the water they drink or the air they breathe in their buildings, but designing safe sanitation, clean water and efficient building infrastructure is literally the foundation of public health.
Designing fire suppression systems, running hydraulic calculations, or modeling smoke control isn't just an engineering puzzle. It’s about building systems that protect people when a worst-case scenario happens.
I love finding ways to make huge building systems run as efficiently as possible. Focusing on water conservation and smart design lets me do work that actually protects the environment.
What are the most exciting or rewarding aspects of your work?
I really love seeing my work come to life from software/paper/model to a real structure and working systems.
What value have you gained from participating in ASPE Connect?
The best thing about ASPE Connect is having a go-to spot where everyone speaks the exact same language.
If I run into a bizarre code issue or a unique design quirk on a project, I don't have to guess. I can throw a question out to the community and get real, battle-tested answers from engineers who have been in those exact same trenches. It is also just as rewarding to jump in and share my own experiences to help someone else out.
What is one of the most interesting plumbing design challenges you have encountered?
One of the most unique challenges I ever had to tackle was a bit of a forensic engineering mystery at a school project in Brooklyn. The school was dealing with a bizarre "blue water" condition where the water coming out of the taps was literally turning blue. I was brought in to develop the design to replace the entire hot and cold water piping system and the main equipment, but we couldn't just put in new pipes without figuring out what was causing the reaction in the first place. I ended up teaming up with environmental engineers to do some deep-dive detective work. After a thorough investigation, we traced the root cause all the way out to the city's street connection. It turned out that a chemical reaction was happening right where the copper piping met the iron water main at the street, which was discoloring the entire system. It was a great project because it reminded me that plumbing engineering isn't just about running numbers and following code, sometimes you have to be part chemist and part detective to truly solve a problem.
What is your favorite hobby or pastime outside of work?
Outside of work, I am into fitness and weight training. After a busy day of handling complex engineering designs and managing teams, hitting the gym is my favorite way to disconnect and recharge.
I am also a big fan of hitting the golf course whenever I get the chance. It is the perfect way to get outside, enjoy some downtime, and challenge myself with a totally different kind of focus than what I use at the engineering desk.
Be sure to connect with @Sahil Mahajan and say hello!