Chief Building Engineer

CBRE; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 115,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

PTO

401k

Job summary

CBRE is seeking a Chief Building Engineer to lead complex maintenance and repairs of buildings, equipment, and grounds in the DC area.

You will supervise operations, train staff and subcontractors, and coordinate preventive maintenance programs to minimize downtime while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance. The role requires strong leadership, problem solving, and communication with clients.

Qualifications

• Experience in building operations and preventive maintenance.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and coordinate maintenance teams.
• Strong communication to coordinate with clients and staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead operations and assign work orders; provide technical training to coworkers and subcontractors.
• Schedule preventive maintenance to minimize downtime and extend equipment life.
• Inspect and verify building systems (fire alarms, HVAC, plumbing) meet design specs.
• Oversee engineering staff and ensure space is in optimal condition; respond to emergencies.
• Coach colleagues to develop expertise; share best practices across teams.

Skills

Leadership

Team training

Problem solving

Communication

Education

High School Diploma or GED or trade school

Tools

Microsoft Office

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

Why CBRE?

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

• Benefits start 1st of the month: Medical, dental vision, PTO, 401k, etc.
• Internal advancement available after 6 month mark
• Competitive Pay

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.

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 $115,000 annually [$55.28 hourly] and the maximum salary for the position is $130,000 annually [or $62.50 per hour]. The compensation that is offered to a successful candidate will depend on the candidate’s skills, qualifications, and experience.

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 Aff…