Sr. Chief Engineer

About the Role

The Sr. Chief Engineer provides overall leadership and supervision of engineering and maintenance personnel, overseeing hiring, training, development, and performance evaluations for large commercial properties exceeding 500,000 square feet. This role ensures that building systems—including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire/life safety, and environmental compliance—are efficiently operated and maintained while staying current with industry technology and best practices. Key responsibilities include conducting inspections, energy audits, and compliance surveys; supporting property management with preventive maintenance, hazardous materials communication, and life safety programs; and developing both operational and capital budgets with accurate cost estimates and variance analysis. The engineer also coordinates career development for engineering staff, manages relationships with contractors and tenant finish teams, and oversees rehabilitation projects from feasibility studies through final inspections. • Lead and supervise engineering and maintenance staff, handling hiring, training, development, and performance reviews. • Manage properties of 500,000+ sq ft. • Conduct inspections, surveys, energy audits, and ensure HVAC, electrical, plumbing, environmental, and ADA compliance. • Review technical operations and third‑party surveys for systems and acquisitions. • Support property management with preventive maintenance, hazardous materials communication, fire safety, life safety, water quality, and indoor air quality programs. • Develop operations budget, providing cost estimates for service contracts, repairs, utilities, payroll, and compliance with EPA/OSHA. • Assist capital budgeting, long‑term planning, and analytics. • Coordinate engineer career development and conduct performance evaluations. • Oversee building systems (fire/life safety, plumbing, HVAC, electrical) and stay current on HVAC technologies and maintenance methodologies. • Coordinate maintenance with contractors, tenant finish personnel, and engineers. • Review and approve construction documents, ensuring adherence to building standards. • Develop specifications and manage maintenance/repair service contracts. • Contribute to marketing proposals, acquisition start‑up processes, and tenant construction coordination. • Ensure compliance with codes, regulations, and company directives. • Support rehabilitation projects: feasibility studies, budget estimates, scheduling, contract docs, bidding, approvals, construction monitoring, coordination, documentation, final inspections, and corrective actions. • Maintain universal technician certification for refrigerants where required.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸hvac maintenance
• ▸preventive maintenance
• ▸energy audits
• ▸building systems
• ▸budget development
• ▸contract coordination

What You Bring

Candidates must have at least ten years of engineering experience with significant supervisory responsibility in a commercial property setting, a high school diploma or GED, vocational/technical training, and appropriate trade licenses such as a Journeyman or Master Electrician. Additional qualifications include certifications for refrigerant handling, knowledge of EMS, fire alarm, and building management systems, strong financial reporting skills for maintenance and utility expenses, and proficiency with Outlook, Excel, and Word. • Communicate effectively both orally and in writing. • Demonstrate strong interpersonal, organizational, technical, and leadership skills. • Hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent. • Possess 10+ years engineering experience with supervisory responsibility in commercial property settings. • Have vocational/technical training certificates and appropriate trade licenses (e.g., Journeyman or Master Electrician). • Knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, project controls, and environmental standards. • Familiarity with EMS, fire alarm, and building management systems. • Ability to schedule staff, manage preventive maintenance, and prioritize urgent needs. • Understand property management financial reporting for R&M, utility, and capital expenses and explain budget variances. • Proficient in Outlook, Excel, and Word.

Requirements

• ▸10+ years
• ▸trade license
• ▸ems
• ▸fire alarm
• ▸excel
• ▸financial reporting

Benefits

The position operates in a professional office environment with regular travel between properties and includes physical demands such as climbing stairs and occasional outdoor work. Cushman & Wakefield offers a competitive salary ranging from $114,750 to $135,000, comprehensive benefits, and a commitment to equal employment opportunity for all protected groups.

Work Environment

Field