Chief Engineer

Sonesta Hotels International Corporation in; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

401(k) with Company Match

Paid Vacation & Sick Time

Parental Leave

Company-Paid Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Sonesta Hotel Discounts

Job summary

Sonesta International Hotels is seeking a hands-on Chief Engineer to lead all technical operations, safety, and facility management across our properties. You will manage engineering teams, oversee preventive maintenance, and collaborate with hotel leadership to ensure guest-ready operations and exceptional service.

The role emphasizes strong leadership, technical expertise in HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems, and a focus on safety, compliance, and cost efficiency in a dynamic hospitality

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; technical certification, trade school, or degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, HVAC, Electrical, or related field preferred.
• 5+ years of engineering, facilities maintenance, or hotel maintenance experience preferred.
• Knowledge of HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, life safety systems, and preventative maintenance programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day hotel engineering, maintenance, and facilities operations across all building systems.
• Supervise and develop engineering staff to support efficiency and service standards.
• Oversee preventive maintenance for HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, boilers, chillers, life safety systems, and general infrastructure.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, fire and life safety, and building codes.
• Support capital projects, vendor management, and facility upgrades.
• Monitor budgets, expenses, inventory, energy usage, and costs to drive efficiency.

Skills

Leadership

Facility management

HVAC systems

Electrical systems

Plumbing

Life safety

Budget management

Vendor management

Education

High school diploma

Engineering degree (preferred)

Technical certification (preferred)

Tools

Blueprints reading

Electrical testing tools

Job description

We're People People. Are you?

We're Sonesta International Hotels - the 8th largest hotel company in the U.S. (and growing fast).

With a dynamic mix of full-service and focused hotels across major cities, our diverse portfolio of owned, managed, and franchised properties means we're everywhere our guests need us to be.

But here's the thing - we're not just in the business of hotels, we're in the business of people. We bring service with passion, loyalty with purpose, and create experiences that genuinely connect - delivering quality, value, and memorable stays across 1,000+ properties in eight countries (and counting).

What this role is all about

Great hospitality experiences rely on more than what guests see - they depend on safe, efficient, and well-maintained hotels operating seamlessly behind the scenes. As the Chief Engineer, you'll lead all aspects of hotel engineering, maintenance, safety, and facility operations to ensure our property remains fully operational, guest-ready, and running at its best every day.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in fast-paced hospitality environments and enjoys balancing technical expertise, preventative maintenance, team leadership, and operational strategy. You'll oversee building systems, repairs, maintenance programs, capital projects, life safety systems, and engineering team operations while partnering closely with hotel leadership to support guest satisfaction and operational excellence.

If you're solutions-focused, technically skilled, highly organized, and passionate about hospitality operations - we'd love to meet you.

What you'll be doing

• Lead all day-to-day hotel engineering, maintenance, and facilities operations across guest rooms, public spaces, back-of-house areas, and building systems.
• Supervise, train, schedule, and develop engineering and maintenance team members to support operational efficiency and exceptional service standards.
• Oversee preventative maintenance programs for HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical systems, boilers, chillers, kitchen equipment, elevators, life safety systems, and general hotel infrastructure.
• Respond to maintenance requests, guest concerns, equipment repairs, and operational issues quickly and professionally to minimize downtime and ensure guest satisfaction.
• Manage building systems, property inspections, maintenance schedules, and operational compliance programs.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, fire and life safety requirements, environmental standards, building codes, and hotel safety procedures.
• Support capital improvement projects, renovations, vendor management, contractor coordination, and facility upgrades.
• Monitor engineering department budgets, maintenance expenses, inventory levels, energy usage, and operational costs to drive efficiency and profitability.
• Partner closely with Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Front Office, and Operations teams to support seamless hotel operations and guest experiences.
• Maintain accurate maintenance logs, engineering documentation, compliance records, inspections, and reporting requirements.
• Lead emergency response efforts related to building systems, weather events, power outages, or operational disruptions as needed.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, sustainability, preventative maintenance, and operational excellence.
• Help create a safe, efficient, and welcoming environment aligned with Sonesta's People People culture.
• Any other duties as assigned.

What great looks like

• High school diploma or equivalent required; technical certification, trade school, or degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, HVAC, Electrical, or related field preferred. College Degree Preferred.
• 5+ years of engineering, facilities maintenance, or hotel maintenance experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of: Plumbing codes, Electrical codes, National/Local fire codes, Local Mechanical codes, Water treatment program, Blue prints, and plumbing and wiring schematics, Power and hand tools, meters, etc. as it relates to the technical trade.
• Previous leadership or supervisory experience within hotels, resorts, commercial buildings, or hospitality operations preferred.
• Strong knowledge of HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical systems, boilers, refrigeration, life safety systems, and preventative maintenance programs.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Compute basic arithmetic to include percentages.
• Experience managing hotel engineering operations, vendor relationships, maintenance scheduling, and capital projects.
• Knowledge of OSHA regulations, fire and life safety standards, building codes, and hospitality maintenance compliance requirements.
• Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, and technical diagnostic skills.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to respond to operational emergencies as needed.
• Valid Driver's License.
• Flexible availability including evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call support as required in hospitality operations.
• A passion for hospitality, operational excellence, teamwork, and creating safe and exceptional guest experiences behind the scenes.

Anticipated Pay Range & Additional Job Information

How we reward you

At Sonesta, we know showing up for our guests starts with showing up for our people. That means supporting your health, your financial future, and everything in between.

Here's a snapshot of what we offer:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with Company Match
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match
• Paid Vacation & Sick Time
• Paid Parental Leave
• Company-Paid Life Insurance
• Company-Paid Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness & Accident Insurance
• Educational AssistanceSonesta Hotel Discounts (yes, you'll want to use these)
• Additional Perks & Employee Discounts

Our Commitment to You

Sonesta is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.