Chief Building Engineer

CBRE; Petersburg (VA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

401(k)

PTO & Holidays

Professional Development

Career Advancement

Job summary

CBRE is seeking a Chief Building Engineer to manage complex preventive maintenance, oversee engineering staff, and coordinate with clients to minimize downtime and maximize system reliability. This role demands strong leadership, technical knowledge, and the ability to train coworkers and subcontractors.

Responsibilities include leading operations, inspecting systems, responding to emergencies, and driving process improvements aligned with CBRE RISE values.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or trade schooling; 5–8 years of related experience.
• Prior supervisory experience preferred.
• Strong communication and training abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead operations, assign work orders, and provide training to coworkers and subcontractors.
• Consult with clients to schedule preventive maintenance and minimize downtime.
• Inspect building systems (fire alarms, HVAC, plumbing) to meet design specs.
• Oversee and inspect engineering staff work to ensure quality and space readiness.
• Respond to emergencies and coordinate with teams as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Training

Analytical thinking

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Prior supervisory experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Facilities mgmt software

Job description

About the Role:

As a CBRE Chief Building Engineer, you will perform complex preventive maintenance and corrective repairs of buildings, industrial systems, vehicles, equipment, and grounds.

This job is part of the Engineering and Technical Services job function. They are responsible for providing support, preventive maintenance, and repairs on equipment and systems.

What You’ll Do:

• Follow all applicable codes, regulations, governmental agency, and company directives related to building operations and work safety.
• Lead operations, assign work orders, and provide technical and procedural training of coworkers and subcontractors. Arranges for subcontractors as needed.
• Consult with clients to schedule preventive maintenance during downtime to cut business interruption and inconvenience. Plan a preventive maintenance program to ensure that building machinery and systems meet or exceed their rated life.
• Check building systems including fire alarms, HVAC, and plumbing to ensure the operation of equipment is within design capabilities and achieves environmental conditions prescribed by the client.
• Oversee and inspect the work performed by engineering staff to make sure the work is complete; equipment is functioning properly, and client space is in great working condition.
• Respond to emergency situations and ask for help when needed.
• Apply advanced knowledge to seek and develop new, better methods for accomplishing both individual and department objectives.
• Showcase expertise in own job discipline and in-depth knowledge of other job disciplines within the organization function.
• Coach others to develop in-depth knowledge and expertise in most or all areas within the function.
• Lead by example and model behaviors that are consistent with CBRE RISE values. Anticipate potential objections and persuades others, often at senior levels and of divergent interest, to adopt a different point of view.
• Impact the achievement of customer, operational, project, or service objectives across multi-discipline teams. Work is guided by functional policies which impact the design of procedures and policies.
• Contribute to new products, processes, standards, and/or operational plans in support of achieving functional goals.
• Communicate difficult and complex ideas with the ability to influence.

What You’ll Need:

• High School Diploma, GED, or trade school diploma with 5-8 years of job-related experience. In lieu of a diploma, a combination of experience and education will be considered. Prior shift manager or supervisory experience preferred.
• Meet the physical requirements of this role including stooping, standing, walking, climbing stairs/ladders, and the ability to lift/carry heavy loads of 50 lbs. or more.
• The innovative mentality to develop methods that go beyond existing solutions.
• Ability to solve unique problems using standard and innovative solutions having a broad impact on the business.
• In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Office products. Examples include Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.
• Expert organizational skills with an advanced inquisitive mindset.
• Highly sophisticated math skills. Ability to calculate somewhat complex figures such as percentages, fractions, and other financial-related calculations.

Why CBRE?

• CBRE provides medical, dental, vision insurance, life insurance, disability coverage, and 401(k) from your start date including 15 days of PTO and 11 holidays.
• Professional Development: We are committed to investing in our employees' growth and development through training programs, certifications, and mentorship opportunities.
• Career Advancement: CBRE is a global leader in commercial real estate services, providing ample opportunities for career progression and advancement within the company!

AI Use Disclosure

We value human interaction to understand each candidate's unique experience, skills, and aspirations. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to make hiring decisions, and we ask that candidates disclose any use of AI in the application and interview process.

CBRE carefully considers multiple factors to determine compensation, including a candidate’s education, training, and experience. The minimum salary for this position is $38.00 per hour and the maximum salary for the position is $41.00 per hour. The compensation that is offered to a successful candidate will depend on the candidate’s skills, qualifications, and experience. This role will provide the following benefits: 401(K), Dental insurance, Health insurance, Life insurance, and Vision insurance.

Equal Employment Opportunity: CBRE is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. We have a long-standing commitment to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, veteran status, political belief, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

Candidate Accommodations: CBRE values the differences of all current and prospective employees and recognizes how every employee contributes to our company’s success. CBRE provides reasonable accommodations in job application procedures for individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request via email at [e-mail] or via telephone at [phone] (U.S.) and [phone] (Canada).

CBRE, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity and Affluent Action Employer (Women/Minorities/Persons with Disabilities/US Veterans)