Lead Building Engineer | North/West Baltimore

Thomas Park; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 41,328 - 48,216; Full time

Job summary

J. Thomas Property Services seeks a Lead Building Engineer to manage and mentor a team of Building Engineers across office, retail, and medical facilities.

This hands-on role combines advanced maintenance expertise with leadership, guiding technicians, troubleshooting complex issues, and ensuring reliable operations for high-profile properties. The successful candidate will supervise daily activities, coordinate with vendors, and uphold safety standards while delivering excellent service.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of commercial property maintenance experience.
• 1–2 years of lead or supervisor experience in a commercial setting.
• Strong HVAC troubleshooting experience including rooftop units, VAVs, boilers, chillers.
• Experience mentoring and guiding maintenance technicians or engineers.
• Strong knowledge of HVAC, electrical, plumbing, life safety systems.
• Experience managing work orders and preventive maintenance schedules.
• Ability to coordinate with vendors, contractors, and internal stakeholders.
• Willingness to participate in an on-call rotation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support a team of Building Engineers with daily direction, guidance, and operational support.
• Oversee day-to-day activities of assigned engineers, including workload coordination and accountability.
• Serve as a technical resource for troubleshooting, repairs, and complex maintenance issues.
• Maintain a portfolio of high-profile commercial properties with leadership responsibilities.
• Perform preventive maintenance, repairs, and troubleshooting of building systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, life safety).
• Review work orders and ensure accurate tracking and communication.
• Assist the Director of Engineering with follow-up items and priorities.
• Coach and mentor engineers to improve skills and performance.
• Identify training opportunities and provide hands-on guidance.
• Coordinate with vendors, contractors, and internal teams to resolve issues efficiently.
• Support hiring, onboarding, and integration of new engineers.
• Promote safety, accountability, and customer service.
• Participate in on-call rotation and emergency maintenance when required.

Skills

Lead Engineer experience

HVAC troubleshooting

Team mentoring

Facilities maintenance

Vendor coordination

Education

EPA HVAC certification

Tools

CMMS software

Job description

About the role

The Lead Building Engineer is a hands-on technical leader responsible for maintaining a portfolio of commercial properties while providing leadership, guidance, and support to a team of Building Engineers.

This role combines advanced commercial maintenance expertise with team leadership responsibilities. The Lead Engineer will oversee direct reports, provide technical support, assist with escalated issues, and help develop and mentor engineers while continuing to support assigned high-profile commercial properties.

The ideal candidate is an experienced commercial engineer who enjoys leading others, solving complex maintenance issues, and helping build a strong engineering team.

Portfolio types include retail, office buildings, and outpatient medical facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support a team of Building Engineers by providing daily direction, technical guidance, and operational support.
• Oversee day-to-day activities of assigned engineers, including workload coordination, follow-up, and accountability.
• Serve as a technical resource for engineers by assisting with troubleshooting, repairs, and complex maintenance issues both remotely and onsite.
• Maintain a portfolio of high-profile commercial properties while balancing leadership responsibilities.
• Perform and oversee preventive maintenance, repairs, and troubleshooting of commercial building systems including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and life safety systems.
• Review work orders, documentation, and completion status to ensure work is accurately tracked and properly communicated.
• Assist the Director of Engineering with follow-up items, operational priorities, and addressing performance or maintenance concerns.
• Coach, mentor, and support new and existing engineers to improve technical skills, workflow, and overall performance.
• Help identify training opportunities and provide hands‑on guidance to improve team capabilities.
• Coordinate with vendors, contractors, and internal teams to resolve maintenance issues efficiently.
• Support hiring, onboarding, and integration of new engineering team members as needed.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, responsiveness, and excellent customer service.
• Participate in the on‑call rotation and assist with emergency maintenance situations when required.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of commercial property maintenance experience in office, retail, medical, mixed‑use, or other commercial facilities.
• 1–2 years of Lead Engineer, Chief Engineer, supervisor, or team leadership experience within a commercial environment.
• Strong commercial HVAC troubleshooting experience, including rooftop units, VAV systems, boilers, chillers, and other commercial mechanical equipment.
• Experience supporting, mentoring, and providing technical guidance to commercial maintenance technicians or engineers.
• Strong knowledge of commercial building systems, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and life safety systems.
• Experience managing work orders, preventive maintenance schedules, and maintenance documentation within a commercial property environment.
• Strong communication, leadership, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to coordinate with vendors, contractors, property teams, and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to participate in an on‑call rotation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with complex commercial mechanical systems and equipment.
• Experience using CMMS/work order management systems.
• HVAC certifications or licenses (EPA, Journeyman, Master HVAC, etc.).
• Experience supporting high‑profile or mission‑critical commercial facilities.

Salary range for this position is $30.00 - $35.00, based on experience

About the company

J. Thomas Property Services specializes in commercial small projects, including tenant improvements, interior build‑outs, renovations, and property repairs. Our team partners with contractors and property managers to deliver reliable, high‑quality work through strong communication, accountability, and efficient project execution.