Chief Engineer, Critical Systems

JLL; Round Rock (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

JLL is seeking a Chief Engineer for Critical Systems to lead safe, reliable operation of mission-critical building infrastructure. You will oversee engineering personnel, set technical direction, and act as the escalation point for complex system issues.

Day-to-day duties include managing HVAC, electrical distribution, central plants, and building automation; ensuring regulatory compliance with OSHA/NFPA/EPA; and coordinating with facilities management, project teams, vendors, and clients to

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive facility engineering experience involving complex mechanical and electrical systems including HVAC, central plants, electrical distribution, and emergency power
• 3+ years of lead, supervisory, or senior engineering experience demonstrating ability to provide technical direction and develop engineering teams
• Strong technical knowledge of commercial HVAC systems, electrical distribution, building automation systems, central plant operations, and emergency power infrastructure
• Proven ability to lead complex troubleshooting efforts and serve effectively as a technical escalation point during critical system events
• Solid understanding of MOP/SOP/EOP execution, Lockout/Tagout procedures, and electrical safety requirements including NFPA 70E compliance
• Excellent communication skills with ability to collaborate across facilities management, engineering leadership, vendors, and client stakeholders

Responsibilities

• Provide technical oversight for daily operation of critical mechanical, electrical, HVAC, and controls systems while maintaining awareness of system capacity, redundancy, and operational risk
• Serve as the senior technical escalation point for abnormal system conditions and equipment failures, leading complex troubleshooting and providing direction during startups, shutdowns, load transfers, and emergency response
• Lead and mentor operating engineers, plant technicians, electricians, and maintenance personnel by establishing work priorities, providing technical coaching, and reinforcing expectations for safety and operational discipline
• Oversee preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs by validating procedures, reviewing equipment performance and system trends, and ensuring maintenance activities are properly planned and risk-assessed
• Champion safe work practices and ensure compliance with OSHA, NFPA, EPA, and local requirements including proper application of Lockout/Tagout, NFPA 70E electrical safety, confined space protocols, and hot work procedures
• Review recurring equipment failures to support root-cause analysis, identify equipment requiring lifecycle replacement or capital investment, and drive continuous improvement initiatives
• Ensure accurate documentation of maintenance activities within the CMMS and maintain appropriate SOPs, MOPs, EOPs, and engineering procedures that support operational readiness

Skills

Facility engineering leadership

HVAC systems

Electrical distribution

Troubleshooting leadership

Safety & compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Corrigo CMMS

Job description

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way.

Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented peopleand empowering them tothrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong. Whether you've got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you're looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward.

Chief Engineer, Critical Systems- JLL

As Chief Engineer for Critical Systems, you'll serve as the senior technical and operational leader ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of mission-critical building infrastructure. This role places you at the heart of maintaining systems where equipment reliability, environmental conditions, and continuity of operations are absolutely essential - from central chilled water and heating systems to electrical distribution, emergency generators, and building automation platforms. At JLL, we are collectively shaping a brighter way - for our clients, ourselves and our fellow employees - and you'll do exactly that by providing technical leadership and strategic direction that keeps operations running seamlessly. You'll oversee engineering personnel while serving as the escalation point for complex system issues, abnormal operating conditions, planned shutdowns, and infrastructure risks. What sets JLL apart is our culture of collaboration, locally and across the globe, which you'll experience firsthand as you work closely with Facilities Management, Engineering leadership, project teams, vendors, and client stakeholders to maintain operational continuity and drive consistent engineering standards across your assigned facilities.

What this job involves:

As Chief Engineer for Critical Systems, you will serve as senior technical and operational leader ensuring safe, reliable, efficient operation of mission-critical building infrastructure. This role places you at the heart of maintaining systems where equipment reliability, environmental conditions, and continuity of operations are absolutely essential - from central chilled water and heating systems to electrical distribution, emergency generators, and building automation platforms. At JLL, we are collectively shaping a brighter way - for our clients, ourselves and our fellow employees - and you'll do exactly that by providing technical leadership and strategic direction that keeps operations running seamlessly. You'll oversee engineering personnel while serving as the escalation point for complex system issues, abnormal operating conditions, planned shutdowns, and infrastructure risks. What sets JLL apart is our culture of collaboration, locally and across the globe, which you'll experience firsthand as you work closely with Facilities Management, Engineering leadership, project teams, vendors, and client stakeholders to maintain operational continuity and drive consistent engineering standards across your assigned facilities.

What your day-to-day will look like:

• Provide technical oversight for daily operation of critical mechanical, electrical, HVAC, and controls systems while maintaining awareness of system capacity, redundancy, and operational risk
• Serve as the senior technical escalation point for abnormal system conditions and equipment failures, leading complex troubleshooting and providing direction during startups, shutdowns, load transfers, and emergency response
• Lead and mentor operating engineers, plant technicians, electricians, and maintenance personnel by establishing work priorities, providing technical coaching, and reinforcing expectations for safety and operational discipline
• Oversee preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs by validating procedures, reviewing equipment performance and system trends, and ensuring maintenance activities are properly planned and risk-assessed
• Champion safe work practices and ensure compliance with OSHA, NFPA, EPA, and local requirements including proper application of Lockout/Tagout, NFPA 70E electrical safety, confined space protocols, and hot work procedures
• Review recurring equipment failures to support root-cause analysis, identify equipment requiring lifecycle replacement or capital investment, and drive continuous improvement initiatives
• Ensure accurate documentation of maintenance activities within the CMMS and maintain appropriate SOPs, MOPs, EOPs, and engineering procedures that support operational readiness

Required qualifications:

• 7+ years of progressive facility engineering experience involving complex mechanical and electrical systems including HVAC, central plants, electrical distribution, and emergency power
• 3+ years of lead, supervisory, or senior engineering experience demonstrating ability to provide technical direction and develop engineering teams
• Strong technical knowledge of commercial HVAC systems, electrical distribution, building automation systems, central plant operations, and emergency power infrastructure
• Proven ability to lead complex troubleshooting efforts and serve effectively as a technical escalation point during critical system events
• Solid understanding of MOP/SOP/EOP execution, Lockout/Tagout procedures, and electrical safety requirements including NFPA 70E compliance
• Excellent communication skills with ability to collaborate across facilities management, engineering leadership, vendors, and client stakeholders

Preferred qualifications:

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Engineering, HVAC, Electrical Technology, Facilities Management, or related technical discipline
• Experience supporting laboratories, technology environments, data centers, healthcare facilities, or other mission-critical operations where system reliability is paramount
• Familiarity with CMMS platforms such as Corrigo and leveraging maintenance data to drive performance improvements
• Experience participating in design reviews, commissioning activities, and infrastructure upgrade projects