Chief Building Engineer

CBRE; Petersburg (VA); On-site; USD 105,389,000 - 117,110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(K)

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Life insurance

Vision insurance

Job summary

CBRE is seeking a Chief Building Engineer to oversee hospital facilities operations, ensuring safe, reliable performance of HVAC, electrical, plumbing and critical systems around the clock. You will lead day-to-day engineering activities, mentor staff, and coordinate preventive maintenance while guiding subcontractors and internal teams.

You will manage on-call rotations, respond to emergencies, and drive continuous improvement in a mission-critical healthcare environment, leveraging strong

Qualifications

• Requires 5-8 years of job-related experience and leadership/ supervisory experience preferred.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs and meet physical requirements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Experience coordinating maintenance and training staff or subcontractors.

Responsibilities

• Lead operations and assign work orders for building systems.
• Plan and execute preventive maintenance to minimize downtime.
• Inspect fire alarms, HVAC, plumbing to ensure design/spec compliance.
• Coach and develop engineering staff and subcontractors.

Skills

Leadership

Troubleshooting

Preventive Maintenance

Subcontractor Coordination

Staff Training

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About The Role

Join CBRE as a Chief Building Engineer supporting a premier healthcare client in a hospital setting where your leadership and technical expertise directly support critical patient care operations. In this role, you will oversee the performance, reliability, and maintenance of essential building systems while leading day-to-day engineering operations. The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of utility infrastructure, including HVAC, chilled and hot water systems, plumbing, electrical distribution, generators, and other critical facility equipment. Your ability to troubleshoot complex issues, coordinate maintenance activities, and drive operational excellence will be key to ensuring an environment that operates safely and efficiently around the clock. This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced building engineering professional looking to take ownership of a highly visible facility while developing and mentoring a skilled team. Working a Monday-Friday day shift schedule with participation in an on-call rotation, you will play a vital role in supporting hospital operations, including occasional weekends, evenings, and holidays as needed. At CBRE, you'll be part of a world-class organization that values technical expertise, leadership, innovation, and continuous growth while making a meaningful impact in a mission-critical healthcare environment every day.

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?

When you join CBRE, you become part of a global leader in commercial real estate and investment services that help businesses and people thrive. We are dynamic problem solvers and forward-thinking professionals who create significant impact! Our collaborative environment is built on our shared values — respect, integrity, service, and excellence — and we value the varied perspectives, backgrounds, and skills of our people. At CBRE, you have the opportunity to chart your own course and realize your full potential!

Disclaimers

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Applicant 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. These updates reflect our commitment to clarity, inclusivity, and a consistent candidate experience across all postings.

Our Values in Hiring

At CBRE, we are committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels they belong. We value diverse perspectives and experiences, and we welcome all applications.

CBRE carefully considers multiple factors to determine compensation, including a candidate’s education, training, and experience. The minimum salary for the Chief Building Engineer position is $36.78 per hour and the maximum salary for the Chief Building Engineer position is $40.87 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).