Chief Engineer

Chief Engineer - Job Description

Position Summary

The Chief Engineer is the senior on site technical leader responsible for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of all building mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), and life safety systems. This role oversees day to day engineering operations, supervises building engineers and vendors, ensures compliance with all regulatory requirements, and maintains the highest standards of building performance, tenant satisfaction, and operational uptime.

Core Responsibilities

1. Operations & Maintenance

• Direct daily operation of HVAC, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, controls, and life safety systems.
• Perform and oversee preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance activities.
• Maintain equipment logs, rounds, and operational documentation.
• Ensure optimal system performance, energy efficiency, and uptime.
• Respond to building emergencies, alarms, and critical system events.

2. Leadership & Supervision

• Lead, train, and schedule building engineers and maintenance staff.
• Assign work orders, oversee task completion, and ensure quality standards.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers.
• Coordinate with property management, ownership, and tenant representatives.

3. Compliance & Safety

• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal codes (FDNY, DOB, DEP, EPA, OSHA).
• Maintain all required logs, permits, certifications, and inspection records.
• Enforce safety protocols, lockout/tagout, and hazard communication procedures.
• Support environmental and sustainability initiatives.

4. Vendor & Contractor Management

• Oversee third party service providers (HVAC, elevators, fire/life safety, water treatment, etc.).
• Review scopes of work, monitor performance, and verify completion.
• Support procurement of materials, equipment, and contracted services.
• Ensure adherence to site rules, safety requirements, and operational standards.

5. Capital Planning & Technical Support

• Assist in identifying capital needs and system upgrades.
• Provide technical input for budgeting, project planning, and lifecycle forecasting.
• Support commissioning, retro commissioning, and system optimization efforts.
• Participate in RFP development and review of engineering proposals.

6. Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain accurate records of equipment, maintenance activities, and system performance.
• Prepare operational reports, incident summaries, and compliance documentation.
• Track KPIs such as energy usage, work order completion, and system reliability.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 7-10 years of experience in building engineering or facilities operations.
• Strong knowledge of HVAC, boilers, chillers, pumps, electrical distribution, and controls.
• FDNY certifications (S 95, S 12, S 13, S 14, F 01, FLSD & Q-01Refrigerant Operator etc.)
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical/electrical drawings and O&M manuals.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem solving skills.
• Ability to work in a 24/7 environment with rotating on call responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Trade school, technical degree, or union apprenticeship.
• Experience in Class A commercial, mixed use, or mission critical environments.
• Familiarity with CMMS platforms, BMS/EMS systems, and energy management strategies.
• Universal EPA 608 certification.

Performance Expectations

• Maintain zero unplanned downtime for critical systems.
• Deliver high tenant satisfaction and timely work order completion.
• Ensure 100% regulatory compliance and documentation accuracy.
• Drive continuous improvement in energy efficiency and operational reliability.
• Build a high performance engineering team with strong safety culture.