Chief Engineer

Newport Hospitality Group; West Orange (NJ); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid time off

401(k) retirement plan

DailyPay access to wages

Hotel staff rates

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Newport Hospitality Group is seeking a Chief Engineer to lead the hotel’s engineering and maintenance operations, ensuring safety, efficiency, and top‑notch guest experiences. You will stay hands‑on with critical systems while developing a capable team and aligning with Marriott standards and Newport expectations.

You will oversee HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and life‑safety systems, drive preventive maintenance, and partner with hotel leadership to minimize downtime and protect assets.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in engineering, maintenance, or facilities roles.
• Strong knowledge of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and general building systems.
• Hands-on leader who mentors and collaborates with the team.
• Experience with preventive maintenance programs, life-safety systems, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to prioritize competing needs, make sound decisions, and stay calm during issues.

Responsibilities

• Lead the engineering team and foster accountability, teamwork and pride in the property.
• Maintain overall condition, safety and appearance of the hotel, from guest rooms to public areas.
• Oversee major building systems (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, life-safety) while staying hands-on when needed.
• Develop and execute preventive maintenance programs and regular property inspections.
• Respond quickly to maintenance concerns and emergencies, coordinating with departments to minimize guest disruption.
• Ensure compliance with brand standards and safety/building regulations, including inspections and documentation.
• Manage contractors, vendors, work orders, parts, tools and supplies to ensure timely, quality repairs.
• Oversee engineering expenses and support capital projects, balancing operations with asset protection.
• Identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency, equipment performance and operating costs.

Skills

Engineering experience

People leadership

HVAC systems

Preventive maintenance

Job description

No two days in hotel engineering are exactly the same. You may start your morning reviewing the preventive maintenance schedule and walking the property, spend part of your afternoon troubleshooting an HVAC issue or coordinating with a contractor, and later help resolve an unexpected maintenance concern before it impacts a guest’s stay. As Chief Engineer, you’re the person who helps keep the hotel running safely, efficiently, and at its best, taking ownership of the physical condition of the property, anticipating problems before they become emergencies, and working closely with hotel leadership and department teams to support an exceptional guest experience.

This is a hands‑on leadership role. You won’t just oversee the work, you’ll be involved in it, developing your team, solving problems, protecting the hotel’s assets, and making sure Marriott brand standards and Newport Hospitality expectations are reflected throughout the property.

What You’ll Own

As Chief Engineer, you’ll lead the hotel’s engineering and maintenance operations, including:

• Leading, coaching, and developing the engineering team while creating a culture of accountability, teamwork, and pride in the property
• Maintaining the overall condition, functionality, safety, and appearance of the hotel, including guest rooms, public areas, back-of-house spaces, grounds, and exterior areas
• Overseeing the hotel’s major building systems, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and life-safety systems, while remaining hands‑on in troubleshooting and repairs when needed
• Developing and executing preventive maintenance programs and regular property inspections to identify concerns early, extend equipment life, and minimize unexpected downtime
• Responding quickly to maintenance concerns and emergencies, partnering with hotel leadership, Housekeeping, Front Office, and other departments to minimize disruption and protect the guest experience
• Ensuring compliance with Marriott brand standards and applicable safety, fire, environmental, and building requirements, including required inspections, logs, and documentation
• Managing contractors, vendors, work orders, parts, tools, and supplies to ensure repairs and projects are completed properly, efficiently, and on time
• Managing engineering expenses and supporting capital projects, balancing immediate operational needs with long‑term asset protection and return on investment
• Identifying opportunities to improve energy efficiency, equipment performance, and operating costs while continuously looking for better ways to maintain and operate the hotel

About You

You’re someone who sees a problem and starts thinking about the solution. You understand that great hotel engineering is about much more than fixing what breaks—it’s about taking care of the property, preventing problems before they happen, and creating an environment where guests feel comfortable and hotel teams can do their best work.

You’ll be a strong fit for this role if you:

• Have 5+ years of engineering, maintenance, or facilities experience, preferably within the hospitality industry
• Have strong working knowledge of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and general building systems
• Are a hands‑on leader who is comfortable troubleshooting problems and working alongside your team
• Have experience with preventive maintenance programs, life‑safety systems, and regulatory compliance
• Can prioritize competing needs, make sound decisions, and remain calm when unexpected issues arise
• Know how to effectively manage contractors, vendors, expenses, and projects
• Can coach, develop, and hold team members accountable while creating a positive working environment
• Understand the connection between a well‑maintained hotel and an exceptional guest experience
• Are comfortable working a flexible schedule and responding when urgent property needs arise

Experience working within a Marriott‑branded hotel and familiarity with Marriott engineering and brand standards are strongly preferred.

Why Newport?

At Newport Hospitality Group, hospitality starts with our people. As Chief Engineer, you’ll have the opportunity to make a visible impact every day—not only on the condition and performance of the hotel, but on the guests and team members who depend on it.

We’re looking for someone who takes pride in their property, their team, and the work happening behind the scenes to create a great hotel experience. If you enjoy solving problems, developing people, and seeing the results of your work throughout the building, we’d love to hear from you.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and other insurance options
• Paid time off
• 401(k) retirement plan
• DailyPay access to earned wages when needed
• Special team member hotel rates for travel enthusiasts
• Opportunities for professional growth and career development

Duties and responsibilities may evolve based on the needs of the hotel and business. All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of applicable background screening. Team members are expected to follow Newport Hospitality Group policies and standards.

Newport Hospitality Group is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.