Commercial Chief Engineer

C&W Services; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement savings plans

Life insurance

Job summary

Cushman & Wakefield is seeking a Commercial Chief Engineer in San Mateo, CA to lead the engineering staff, oversee maintenance programs, and manage budgets. The role emphasizes safety, regulatory compliance, and high-quality customer service for assigned properties.

The Chief Engineer will coordinate with asset management, HVAC teams, and external contractors, ensuring 100% compliance and efficient operations. A strong background in building systems and leadership is required.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• 7+ years of related work in commercial property settings.
• Vocational/technical training certificate preferred.
• Licenses for trade such as Journeyman/Master Electrician if applicable.
• Familiar with EMS programming and fire alarm systems.
• Strong budgeting and reporting skills; proficiency in Excel.

Responsibilities

• Supervise engineers and maintenance staff, including hiring and development.
• Coach team and enforce HR processes and disciplinary actions.
• Coordinate safety program and ensure 100% site compliance.
• Manage operating accounts, budgets and variance reporting.
• Oversee utility management, sub-metering, and cost tracking.
• Inspect building systems; identify and resolve issues.
• Plan and improve preventive maintenance programs and schedules.
• Maintain procedures manuals and operations document library.
• Coordinate with contractors, tenants, and engineers for maintenance.
• Respond to emergencies promptly and manage vendor relations.
• Ensure compliance with codes and company directives.

Skills

Leadership

Facilities management

HVAC systems

Budgeting

Building systems

Safety program

Communication

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

MS Excel

EMS programming

Fire alarm systems

Job description

Job Title

Commercial Chief Engineer

Job Description Summary

Chief Engineer is responsible for the effective daily leadership of his/her staff, managing the engineering program to the highest level of quality work and customer service as well as the administration of the engineering department in alignment with the management team, the C&W engineering platform, and client expectations.

The Chief Engineer will perform at the highest ethical standards, reflecting the core values of C&W as defined in its Business Code of Conduct, Policies and Procedures Manual, and other related policies. Responsible to plan, implement, coordinate, and supervise all mechanical operations, maintenance, communications, energy management, and manpower development programs for assigned properties. The Chief Engineer may be required to perform limited hands‑on operational duties and is not precluded from performing Watch Activity.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:

• Supervise engineers and maintenance staff including hiring, training, personnel development, etc.
• Ensure performance management, coaching, and development of team members through established HR processes and disciplinary actions.
• Participate and coordinate annual scheduling and execution of the C&W Safety Program as directed by Asset Services, Engineering Leadership, EH&S Administration, and so forth. Responsible for 100% Compliance at his/her site.
• Manage operational accounts for building, including variance reporting, as required and assist in development of operating and capital budgets
• Utility Management such as tracking use, consumption, cost, reporting, comparison models, sub‑metering, budgeting, variances as directed by Management and/or Leadership.
• Conduct regular inspections of building systems and equipment; identify and resolve issues.
• Assist in maintenance/engineering issues as required
• Recommend and implement improvements for preventive maintenance programs on an ongoing basis.
• Develop, implement, and maintain an effective preventive and predictive maintenance program for task scheduling, routines, and performance. Program to include procedures for annual, semi‑annual, quarterly, monthly and other scheduled maintenance as provided by the manufacturer’s recommendations and/or industry best practices.
• Develop and maintain effective building‑specific maintenance and safety procedure manuals.
• Coordinate development of and/or maintain an Operations Document Library, including but not limited to construction plans, structural plans, as‑built drawings, MEP schedules, line diagrams and schematics, equipment and operation manuals, start up and commissioning documents, and equipment warranties.
• Formulate and conduct building‑related systems and equipment training.
• Coordinate maintenance efforts with outside contractors, tenant finish personnel, and engineers.
• Oversee all building systems including fire/life safety, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical issues; must remain current with latest HVAC technology trends.
• Maintain ongoing communication with tenants, clients, property management, and vendors
• Develop specifications and assist in solicitation, administration, execution and performance of maintenance/ repair service contracts.
• May assist in solicitation and acquisition of new management contracts
• Respond to all emergency situations quickly (fire, evacuation, equipment failure etc.) and customer concerns
• Implement and administer inventory control programs, purchase parts and supplies.
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes, requisitions, government agency, and company directives as related to building operations.
• Duties are inclusive of approximately 50% operating engineer responsibilities;
• May be only maintenance staff member on duty during certain shifts; may require shift work and/or on‑call or stand‑by duties

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Communication Proficiency (oral and written)
• Interpersonal Skills
• Organization Skills
• Technical Proficiency
• Leadership

EDUCATION:

High School Diploma, GED, Trade, Technical, or Vocational school

IMPORTANT EXPERIENCE:

7+ years of related work experience in a commercial property setting or any similar combination of education or experience

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY QUALIFICATIONS:

• Vocational/Technical training certificate
• Appropriate license/permit for trade as may be required, i.e. Journeyman or Master Electrician License or City Licenses
• Universal Technician for CFC’s depending on market licensure requirements
• Financial knowledge necessary for reading and understanding budgets, budget variances and basic reporting as required by management
• Familiar with Energy Management System (EMS)/programming and fire alarm systems
• Basic Computing Skills in Outlook, Excel & Word

Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on factors such as whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

The company will not pay less than minimum wage for this role.

C&W Services is an Equal Opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position at C&W Services, please call the ADA line at 1-888-365-5406 or email [e-mail] . Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us.

INCO: “C&W Services”