Hampton Inn I75 Lexington/Hamburg Area - Chief Engineer

RAINMAKER TEAM LLC; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Hampton Inn is seeking a Chief Engineer to oversee the maintenance and operation of the hotel, with a primary focus on plumbing systems. This leadership role ensures all guest rooms, public areas, and back-of-house operations meet brand standards while maximizing guest satisfaction and asset preservation.

The ideal candidate has hands-on plumbing expertise, strong troubleshooting skills, and experience managing a maintenance department in an aging property.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of hotel maintenance or engineering experience preferred.
• Minimum 2 years supervisory or leadership experience preferred.
• Strong background in commercial plumbing systems preferred.
• Experience with older buildings and aging infrastructure highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and maintain hotel plumbing systems including domestic water lines, drainage, water heaters, and guest room fixtures.
• Coordinate emergency plumbing repairs and minimize disruption during outages.
• Develop and implement preventive maintenance schedules for aging plumbing and overall systems.
• Ensure compliance with safety regulations and maintain maintenance logs and records.

Skills

Plumbing systems

Leadership

Troubleshooting

Blueprint reading

Job description

Chief Engineer – Hampton Inn

Position Description

Position Summary

The Chief Engineer is responsible for the overall maintenance, repair, safety, and operational integrity of the hotel property. This leadership role ensures all guest rooms, public areas, mechanical systems, plumbing infrastructure, and back-of-house operations are maintained to Hilton brand standards while maximizing guest satisfaction, operational efficiency, and asset preservation.

The Chief Engineer must possess extensive hands‑on experience in plumbing systems, preventative maintenance, troubleshooting aging infrastructure, and responding quickly to facility‑related guest concerns. The ideal candidate is both a working manager and a technical expert who can independently diagnose and repair complex maintenance issues while leading the maintenance department with professionalism and urgency.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Plumbing Systems Management (Primary Focus)

• Oversee and maintain all hotel plumbing systems including:
  • Domestic water lines
  • Drain and waste systems
  • Sewer lines
  • Water heaters and boilers
  • Circulation pumps
  • Guest room fixtures
  • Commercial laundry plumbing
  • Kitchen and food service plumbing systems
• Perform advanced troubleshooting and repair of:
  • Leaks
  • Low water pressure
  • Clogged drains and sewer backups
  • Valve failures
  • Corroded piping
  • Aging plumbing infrastructure
  • Water temperature inconsistencies
• Conduct regular inspections of guest rooms and mechanical areas to proactively identify plumbing deficiencies before they impact guests.
• Coordinate emergency plumbing repairs and minimize operational disruption during outages or failures.
• Develop and implement preventative maintenance schedules specifically targeting older plumbing systems and high‑use guest room fixtures.
• Monitor water usage and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
• Maintain inventory of plumbing parts, tools, and supplies to ensure timely repairs.
• Coordinate with outside contractors and vendors for major plumbing renovations, pipe replacements, and code compliance projects.

General Maintenance & Engineering Operations

• Maintain all hotel systems including HVAC, electrical, mechanical, life safety, and structural components.
• Ensure all guest rooms, corridors, public spaces, meeting rooms, and exterior areas are properly maintained and operational.
• Respond to maintenance requests promptly and professionally.
• Perform repairs involving drywall, painting, carpentry, tile work, lighting, appliances, doors, locks, and flooring.
• Oversee preventative maintenance programs to extend the life of hotel equipment and infrastructure.
• Monitor and maintain swimming pool systems, pumps, filters, and chemical balance (if applicable).
• Conduct routine inspections of roofs, parking lots, walkways, elevators, and building exteriors.
• Ensure all maintenance activities comply with local, state, and federal safety regulations.

Safety & Compliance

• Maintain compliance with OSHA regulations, fire safety standards, health department requirements, and brand standards.
• Ensure proper operation of fire alarms, sprinkler systems, emergency lighting, and safety equipment.
• Maintain accurate maintenance logs, repair records, inspection reports, and equipment documentation.
• Participate in emergency response procedures and after‑hours on‑call coverage as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of hotel maintenance or engineering experience preferred.
• Minimum 2 years supervisory or leadership experience preferred.
• Strong background in commercial plumbing systems preferred.
• Experience working with older buildings and aging infrastructure highly preferred.
• Knowledge of HVAC, electrical, mechanical, and general building systems.
• Ability to read blueprints, schematics, and technical manuals.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem‑solving abilities.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work flexible schedules including nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Valid driver’s license preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb ladders, and lift up to 75 pounds.
• Ability to work in mechanical rooms, crawl spaces, rooftops, and confined areas.
• Ability to safely operate hand tools, power tools, and maintenance equipment.

Desired Characteristics

• Hands‑on leader with strong technical expertise.
• Strong sense of urgency and ownership.
• Guest‑focused mindset with attention to detail.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure during emergency repairs.
• Self‑motivated, dependable, and highly organized.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively with all hotel departments.

Work Environment

This position operates in a fast‑paced hotel environment with frequent interaction with guests, team members, contractors, and vendors. Due to the age of the property, the role requires a proactive maintenance approach and significant focus on plumbing infrastructure reliability and preventative maintenance planning.