Chief Hospital Engineer

Vassar Brothers Medical Center; City of Poughkeepsie (NY); On-site; USD 72,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

Vassar Brothers Medical Center seeks a Hospital Chief Engineer to lead all engineering operations within a healthcare facility, ensuring safety, compliance and operational excellence. You will supervise teams, manage budgets, and oversee design, maintenance and medical equipment upgrades.

The role requires a Bachelor's in engineering, 5–7 years in healthcare facility engineering, and on-site presence for inspections and emergencies. Travel to facilities may be needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (mechanical, electrical) or related field.
• 5-7 years of experience required.
• Extensive experience in healthcare facility engineering, preferably in a hospital or complex medical center setting.
• Strong leadership, project management, and budgeting skills.
• Knowledge of healthcare engineering standards, safety protocols, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders.
• On-site presence required for inspections, audits, and emergency response.
• May involve travel for facility visits, training, and project coordination.
• Works in a high-stakes environment where engineering decisions directly impact patient safety and operational continuity.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement engineering strategies aligned with hospital operations and safety.
• Project Management: Plan, design, and oversee engineering projects, renovations, and facility upgrades.
• Team Leadership: Supervise and train engineering staff, ensuring safe and efficient operation of all plant systems.
• Compliance & Standards: Ensure adherence to safety, environmental, and healthcare regulations; assist in policy development for pollution control, quality assurance, and maintenance.
• Maintenance & Operations: Coordinate maintenance schedules, inspections, and repairs; test and commission new equipment.
• Budget & Resources: Prepare and manage budgets for engineering projects and facilities.
• Collaboration: Work with facility operations, clinical engineering, and other departments to integrate engineering solutions into patient care environments.
• Innovation: Drive the adoption of new technologies and engineering practices to improve efficiency and patient safety
• Maintains and models the organization�s values.
• Demonstrates regular, reliable and predictable attendance.
• Performs other duties as required.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Budgeting

Communication

Healthcare engineering

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Job description

Northwellis the largest not-for-profit health system in the Northeast, serving residents of New York and Connecticut with 28 hospitals, more than 1,000 outpatient facilities, 22,000 nurses and over 20,000 physicians. Northwell cares for more than three million people annually in the New York metro area, including Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Connecticut and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Northwell is New York State’s largest private employer with over 104,000 employees — including members ofNorthwell Health Physician Partners— who are working to change health care for the better.

Summary:

The Hospital Chief Engineer is the senior technical leader responsible for all engineering operations, infrastructure, and equipment within a healthcare facility, ensuring safety, compliance, and operational excellence. The Chief Engineer oversees the design, construction, modification, and maintenance of all engineering systems in a hospital, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and medical equipment. They lead engineering teams, manage budgets, and ensure compliance with healthcare standards such as The Joint Commission and applicable codes.

Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement engineering strategies aligned with hospital operations and safety.
2. Project Management: Plan, design, and oversee engineering projects, renovations, and facility upgrades.
3. Team Leadership: Supervise and train engineering staff, ensuring safe and efficient operation of all plant systems.
4. Compliance & Standards: Ensure adherence to safety, environmental, and healthcare regulations; assist in policy development for pollution control, quality assurance, and maintenance.
5. Maintenance & Operations: Coordinate maintenance schedules, inspections, and repairs; test and commission new equipment.
6. Budget & Resources: Prepare and manage budgets for engineering projects and facilities.
7. Collaboration: Work with facility operations, clinical engineering, and other departments to integrate engineering solutions into patient care environments.
8. Innovation: Drive the adoption of new technologies and engineering practices to improve efficiency and patient safety
9. Maintains and models the organization�s values.
10. Demonstrates regular, reliable and predictable attendance.
11. Performs other duties as required.

Education Skills Experience:

• Bachelors degree in engineering (mechanical, electrical) or related field.
• 5-7 years of experience required
• Extensive experience in healthcare facility engineering, preferably in a hospital or complex medical center setting.
• Strong leadership, project management, and budgeting skills.
• Knowledge of healthcare engineering standards, safety protocols, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders.
• On-site presence required for inspections, audits, and emergency response
• May involve travel for facility visits, training, and project coordination.
• Works in a high-stakes environment where engineering decisions directly impact patient safety and operational continuity.

Other Information:

Working Conditions:

Manual: significant manual skills/motor coord & finger dexterity

Occupational: Significant occupational risk

Physical Effort: Very Heavy effort. May exert up to 50 lbs. force

Physical Environment: Significant exposure to dirt, odors, noise, human waste, etc.

Company: Vassar Brothers Medical Center

Org Unit: 1005

Department: Plant Operations

Exempt: Yes

Salary Range: $52.03 - $96.62 Hourly