Chief Engineer- Perlen House

Perlen House; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Perlen House is seeking a Chief Engineer to lead all engineering operations for a luxury hotel. You will oversee asset management, preventative maintenance, and regulatory compliance, ensuring safety and reliability across HVAC, electrical, life-safety, and building automation.

You will manage budgets, drive capital projects, and mentor a team of supervisors and technicians while partnering with hotel leadership to deliver exceptional guest experiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Construction Management, or related field.
• Minimum 7 years progressive engineering or facilities management experience.
• Minimum 3 years managing engineering or facilities personnel.
• Experience in luxury hospitality, guest-facing operations preferred.
• Strong knowledge of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, life safety, and building automation.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operation, maintenance, repair, and optimization of building systems.
• Develop and refine preventative maintenance programs to maximize asset life.
• Monitor performance, analyze trends, and improve reliability and efficiency.
• Provide advanced troubleshooting for complex equipment failures and emergencies.
• Manage work orders, records, inspections, and documentation for compliance.
• Coach and develop engineering supervisors and technicians.
• Maintain safety culture and ensure regulatory compliance across all systems.
• Oversee budget, capital plans, and vendor relationships.
• Partner with other departments to support guest experiences and events.

Skills

Leadership

Facilities Management

Budgeting

HVAC

Regulatory Compliance

Project Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

7+ years in engineering/facilities management

3+ years leading engineering/maintenance teams

CFM/CMRP or related certifications preferred

Job description

The Chief Engineer serves as the strategic and technical leader responsible for maintaining the physical assets, infrastructure, and engineering operations of the hotel. This role ensures all building systems, equipment, and facilities operate safely, efficiently, and reliably while supporting the exceptional guest experience that defines the property. The Chief Engineer leads preventative maintenance programs, capital improvement initiatives, regulatory compliance efforts, and engineering team development while fostering a culture of safety, accountability, and service excellence.

As a member of the hotel leadership team, the Chief Engineer partners closely with operational departments to ensure the property's infrastructure supports both current business needs and long‑term asset preservation. The role requires a proactive leader who can balance technical expertise, financial stewardship, team leadership, and luxury hospitality standards.

Essential Functions

Engineering Operations and Asset Management

• Lead the daily operation, maintenance, repair, and optimization of all building systems, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, life safety, building automation, water systems, and related infrastructure.
• Develop, implement, and continuously refine preventative maintenance programs designed to maximize asset life, minimize downtime, and support uninterrupted hotel operations.
• Monitor system performance, analyze trends, and identify opportunities to improve operational reliability, efficiency, sustainability, and guest comfort.
• Provide advanced troubleshooting and technical guidance for complex equipment failures, facility emergencies, and critical infrastructure issues.
• Oversee engineering work orders, maintenance records, inspections, and documentation to ensure accuracy, compliance, and operational transparency.

Leadership and Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop engineering supervisors, technicians, and support personnel through clear expectations, accountability, and professional development opportunities.
• Foster a high-performing culture centered on safety, responsiveness, technical excellence, collaboration, and guest service.
• Conduct regular team meetings, performance discussions, and training initiatives to ensure team members have the skills and resources required to succeed.
• Provide leadership during emergency situations while maintaining composure and directing appropriate response efforts.

Safety, Compliance, and Risk Management

• Maintain a safety-first culture by ensuring compliance with all federal, state, local, and company safety standards.
• Lead routine inspections of equipment, facilities, and work environments to identify risks and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with fire and life safety requirements, environmental regulations, permits, and operating standards.
• Develop and maintain emergency preparedness plans and ensure engineering team readiness for operational disruptions and critical incidents.

Financial and Vendor Management

• Develop and manage the departmental operating budget, capital expenditure plans, and long‑range asset replacement strategies.
• Review and manage vendor relationships, service contracts, and contractor performance to ensure quality, cost effectiveness, and compliance with company standards.
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs, improve efficiencies, conserve resources, and support sustainability initiatives without compromising service quality.
• Support capital projects and renovations through planning, execution, vendor coordination, and operational integration.

Guest Experience and Cross‑Functional Partnership

• Partner closely with Rooms, Food & Beverage, Security, Housekeeping, and other operating departments to ensure engineering services support exceptional guest experiences.
• Respond promptly and professionally to engineering‑related guest concerns and service recovery opportunities.
• Support hotel events, activations, and special operational needs by ensuring facility readiness and reliability.
• Build strong partnerships across departments while serving as a trusted technical resource for hotel leadership

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Minimum of seven years of progressive engineering, facilities management, or building operations experience with increasing leadership responsibility.
• Minimum of three years managing engineering, maintenance, or facilities personnel.
• Luxury hotel, resort, full‑service hospitality, or lifestyle hospitality experience strongly preferred. Experience supporting guest‑facing operations while maintaining exceptional service standards is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated expertise in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, life safety, and building automation systems.
• Experience developing preventative maintenance programs, managing capital projects, and overseeing vendor relationships.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing departmental budgets and long‑term asset planning.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Facility Manager (CFM), Facility Management Professional (FMP), Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP), HVAC certification, or related trade licenses preferred.
• Strong communication, leadership, project management, and problem‑solving skills with the ability to influence across departments.

Core Competencies

• Engineering Leadership and Team Development
• Asset Management and Reliability
• Technical Expertise and Troubleshooting
• Financial Stewardship and Project Management
• Safety and Regulatory Compliance
• Strategic Planning and Decision Making
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
• Service Excellence and Hospitality Mindset
• Accountability and Results Orientation
• Change Management and Continuous Improvement

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Preventative Maintenance Completion: Scheduled preventative maintenance activities are completed accurately and on time.
• Asset Reliability: Building systems operate consistently with minimal unplanned downtime and operational disruption.
• Safety Performance: Engineering operations maintain compliance with safety standards and achieve targeted inspection scores.
• Budget Management: Department expenses, contracts, and capital projects are effectively managed within approved budgets.
• Work Order Execution: Service requests are completed within established response and completion standards.
• Team Performance and Retention: Engineering team members demonstrate growth, engagement, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Guest and Stakeholder Satisfaction: Engineering services contribute positively to guest satisfaction and operational success.

Safety Responsibilities

Must learn and comply with all Company safety rules; must use appropriate safety equipment at all times; must immediately report all unsafe conditions; must be familiar with all safety features or equipment, machinery, or materials encompassed by job duties; and must check with supervisor if there is a question as to the safe procedure to be used for any job function.