Head of Engineering

Aedes; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

38-hour work week

Permanent contract after probation

Competitive salary

Education and seminars

Collegial working atmosphere

Great coffee and lunch

Annual team outings

Job summary

Aedes is seeking a proactive Head of Engineering to support our growing hospitality business and property portfolio in Amsterdam.

You will lead the engineering team, shape building systems for our next hotel, and ensure safe, efficient operations across assets. This role demands hands‑on problem solving, ownership, and collaboration with development teams and contractors.

Qualifications

• Solid experience in hotel engineering and maintenance.
• Ability to review development plans and hotel systems.
• Experience with hotel openings is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support daily hotel operations and troubleshoot technical issues.
• Help shape the next hotel by reviewing building systems with developers and contractors.
• Prepare for opening by coordinating commissioning and establishing maintenance routines.
• Lead and develop the engineering team and set priorities.
• Provide technical advice across assets to maintain safety and efficiency.
• Oversee preventative maintenance, budgets and replacement plans.
• Coordinate contractors and ensure high-quality work with minimal disruption.
• Improve energy use and sustainability across properties.

Skills

Hotel engineering

Maintenance

Team leadership

Problem solving

Job description

About Aedes

Aedes began in 1995 as a real‑estate firm focused on the investment in - and development of - properties in and around Amsterdam. Working with integrity and wholeheartedly leaning into each challenge, has allowed us to handle projects of great complexity, untangling aspects of heritage, inner‑city neighbourhoods and sustainability.

From Burgerziekenhuis, a former hospital turned into ‘The Manor’ hotel, to the Bungehuis, a striking 1930s trading office that now hosts Soho House Amsterdam, our expansive portfolio creates a tangible link between past and present. And gives each building new meaning and substance.

Our involvement with the hotels we’ve created has never ended when the doors opened. Working alongside our operating partners, we’ve remained closely engaged as investors and asset managers, concerned not only with how a place is built, but with how it works, feels and performs over time. That involvement taught us hospitality from the inside and paved the way for what came next.

With Hotel De Durgerdam and Restaurant De Mark, we became operators under our own name for the first time. Everything we’d learned about giving an old building back its purpose and sense of place came together on the shores of the IJmeer. By running it ourselves, those ideas became something guests could experience every day.

It’s a warm, unfussy luxury, expressed through how a place is cared for rather than how loudly it announces itself. The same goes for our practical approach to sustainability: considered, embedded and never self‑righteous.

These principles will guide the projects that follow, as we continue to invest, develop and manage distinctive real estate while taking a more active role in operating the places we create.

We are more than property developers. We are historians, curators and storytellers. And now, we’re hoteliers too.

Why Aedes?

Good question. It would be interesting if we have a few things in common. So, let’s talk about you. And us. Together. We love what we do. That’s why we always go the extra mile and have a strong sense of responsibility.

We tackle the tough stuff without ever taking ourselves too seriously. It’s our real interest that moves us forward and motivates us to develop new ways of thinking. When you work for us, we work for you. We want you to be confident, creative, and share our passion for excellence. And we aim to give you the power to succeed. We do this by making you feel welcome, supported, heard and safe in your working environment.

As the Head of Engineering, you will work closely with the Hospitality and Asset department. In this role you will be part of the hospitality team and report to the Head of Hospitality.

What you will be doing

We are looking for a proactive, hands‑on Head of Engineering to support our growing hospitality business and wider property portfolio.

With solid experience in hotel engineering and maintenance, you will be someone who rolls up their sleeves, supports the team and takes ownership. You will contribute to the technical operations of our existing hotel and join the pre‑opening team for our next hotel, helping shape its building systems, maintenance approach and engineering team, from development through to daily operations after opening. Alongside these responsibilities, you will provide technical expertise across our other assets, helping keep our buildings safe, efficient and thoughtfully maintained for the long term.

Key responsibilities

• Support daily hotel operations by working alongside the team, troubleshooting technical issues and stepping in where needed to keep the hotel running smoothly.
• Help shape our next hotel by reviewing development plans and building systems with our development team, consultants and contractors, bringing a practical hotel operations perspective.
• Prepare for opening by coordinating technical commissioning and handover, establishing maintenance routines and helping build an engineering team ready for opening and beyond.
• Lead and develop the team by setting clear priorities, sharing your knowledge and encouraging a proactive approach to caring for our buildings.
• Care for our wider portfolio by providing technical advice and support across our other assets, helping resolve issues and identify improvements.
• Plan maintenance and investments by overseeing preventative maintenance, budgets and longer‑term replacement plans to protect the quality and value of our properties.
• Coordinate contractors and specialist service providers, ensuring work is completed safely, to a high standard and with minimal disruption.
• Keep our buildings safe and efficient by overseeing inspections and technical compliance, and finding practical ways to improve energy use, system performance and sustainability.

You in a nutshell

• You bring solid experience in hotel engineering and maintenance, with a practical understanding of building systems and technical operations.
• You enjoy rolling up your sleeves, solving problems and helping colleagues when they need you.
• You take ownership, spot what needs attention and follow through.
• You are comfortable reviewing technical plans and working with development teams, consultants and contractors; experience with hotel openings is a plus.
• You approach challenges with sound judgment, curiosity and a strong sense of ownership.
• You lead by example, communicate clearly and enjoy helping others develop their skills.
• You stay organised and calm under pressure, balancing immediate needs with longer‑term priorities.
• You care about quality and sustainability, and understand how well‑maintained buildings contribute to a great guest experiences, sharing our interest in creating places that respect their history and work well for the future.
• You communicate clearly with both technical and non‑technical colleagues and enjoy working across disciplines.

What’s in it for you?

• 38‑hour work week.
• Annual contract with the prospect of permanent employment.
• Competitive salary and favorable benefits
• Opportunities to further develop your skills through education, training, and seminars.
• Collegial and fun working atmosphere.
• Great coffee and a healthy and fresh lunch.
• Annual team outings