Chief Building Engineer Supervisor - Water Treatment Operations

CBRE Group, Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

CBRE Group, Inc. is seeking an experienced Chief Building Engineer Supervisor to lead facility operations at a world-class technology campus in San Jose, CA.

This role oversees critical building infrastructure, ultrapure water systems, and 24/7 production support, combining technical expertise with strong leadership and safety commitment. The position manages maintenance staff and contractors, develops preventive programs, budgets, and safety procedures while driving reliability and business

Qualifications

• High School Diploma, GED, or trade school with 5–8 years of related experience. In lieu of a diploma, a combination of experience and education will be considered.
• 3–5 years in facilities maintenance or water treatment operations, ultrapure water knowledge, and deionized/reverse osmosis preferred.
• Licensing/Certificates: Valid driver’s license, forklift, confined space (entrant, attendant, supervisor, rescue) 40-hour HAZWOPER, chemical spill containment, and clean up/disposal. Water treatment certificate preferred.
• Meet the physical requirements of this role including stooping, standing, walking, climbing stairs/ladders, and lifting 50 lbs or more.
• Innovative mentality to develop methods beyond existing solutions.
• Ability to solve unique problems with broad business impact.
• In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Office and CMMS.
• Expert organizational skills with an advanced inquisitive mindset.
• Strong math skills for percentages, fractions, and related calculations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee training, performance evaluations, and hiring of new staff.
• Coordinate daily team activities, set schedules, and cross-train staff.
• Develop and implement preventive maintenance programs and safety manuals.
• Ensure crews have information and materials to complete tasks on time.
• Develop cost estimates for work orders, maintenance, and projects.
• Set and maintain budgets for facilities maintenance.
• Respond to emergencies and seek help when needed.
• Apply advanced knowledge to develop better methods and solutions.
• Demonstrate expertise across disciplines and mentor others.
• Lead by example and align with CBRE RISE values.
• Influence across multi-discipline teams to meet objectives.
• Contribute to new processes, standards, and operational plans.
• Communicate complex ideas effectively to stakeholders.

Skills

Staff leadership

Facilities management

Budgeting

Project management

Water treatment

Safety compliance

CMMS

Microsoft Office

Education

High School Diploma or trade school

Tools

CMMS

Microsoft Office

Job description

About the Role:

CBRE is seeking an experienced Chief Building Engineer Supervisor to lead facility operations for a world-class advanced technology manufacturing and engineering campus in San Jose, CA. This highly visible leadership role supports a global leader in data storage and technology innovation, overseeing critical building infrastructure, ultrapure water systems, utility operations, and facility maintenance programs that are essential to a 24/7 production environment. The successful candidate will combine strong technical expertise, operational leadership, and a commitment to safety while managing maintenance teams and contractors to ensure reliable facility performance and business continuity.

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:

• Track the training and development of staff. Conduct performance evaluations and provide coaching opportunities. Oversee the recruiting and hiring of new employees.
• Coordinate and manage the team's daily activities. Establish work schedules, assign tasks, and cross-train staff. Set and track staff and department deadlines. Mentor and coach as needed.
• Develop, implement, and communicate preventive maintenance programs and safety procedure manuals.
• Ensure that the mechanics and technicians have the proper information and materials about assignments to complete work activities in a high-quality and timely fashion.
• Develop material and labor cost estimates for work orders, preventative maintenance activities, systems, and construction projects.
• Establish and maintain budgets for facilities maintenance.
• 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. Anticipates 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.
• 3 to 5 years in facilities maintenance or water treatment operations, ultrapure water knowledge, and deionized/ reverse osmosis preferred.
• Licensing/Certificates: Valid driver's license, forklift, confined space (entrant, attendant, supervisor, rescue) 40-hour HAZWOPER spill response, chemical spill containment, and clean up/disposal. Water treatment certificate 1 preferred and relevant safety training
• 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. and experience in a CMMS.
• 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.

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.

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.