Lead Building Services Engineer - CSUMB Internal Only

California State University, Monterey Bay; Monterey (CA); On-site; USD 84,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

California State University, Monterey Bay invites applications for a Lead Building Service Engineer. The role covers operation, maintenance and repair of boiler, HVAC and refrigeration systems, with the ability to lead a small crew and coordinate preventive maintenance activities.

The position requires journey-level expertise, strong knowledge of building automation and energy management, and the ability to oversee safety and compliance while delivering reliable campus services.

Qualifications

• Two years journey-level experience in operation, maintenance and repair of boiler, HVAC and refrigeration equipment.
• Ability to lead and coordinate a small crew of skilled workers.
• Knowledge of building automation systems and energy management practices.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain boilers, HVAC and refrigeration equipment and related systems.
• Provide lead direction and assign work orders to staff; ensure safety and quality.
• Use CMMS to schedule preventive maintenance and document activities.
• Coordinate with other departments on projects and operational needs.

Skills

HVAC systems

Boilers

Maintenance planning

Supervisory skills

Emergency response

Tools

CMMS

Johnson Controls EMS

Job description

Classification: Lead Building Service Engineer

Hours: Full-time / 40 hours per week

FLSA: Non-exempt

Anticipated Hiring Salary Range: $7,551 - $7,702* mo.

CSU Salary Schedule

• CSUMB provides pay scales representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for this position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, and CSU systemwide pay for comparable jobs.

Priority Screening Date: November 12, 2026

Recruitment Status: Open Until Filled - CSUMB Internal Only Recruitment

Employment with the California State University System

California State University, Monterey Bay is a mid‑sized university in California’s Central Coast that grants undergraduate and graduate degrees. Powered by an inspiring Founding Vision Statement, CSUMB is part of the nation’s largest four‑year public university system, California State University, which educates nearly 460,000 students every year. With a vibrant, diverse student body of over 7,000 students, CSU Monterey Bay is both a Minority Serving Institution and a Hispanic Serving Institution. Our staff and faculty transform students’ lives with a focus on student success and engagement through experiential learning, service learning, and a strong emphasis on multicultural and global perspectives. CSUMB’s sustainability goal is to be carbon neutral by 2030. The university’s Strategic Plan prioritizes inclusive excellence through recruiting and investing in developing a diverse body of faculty, staff and administrators. Many appreciate living and working close to the shores of beautiful Monterey Bay, with easy access to recreational areas from Big Sur to Santa Cruz. Nearby opportunities for collaborative research include working in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Silicon Valley, and with colleagues at local research universities, including UC Santa Cruz and Stanford University. As one of the 22 campuses in the CSU system, CSUMB offers excellent benefits, including access to below‑market‑rate rental housing on East Campus, and competitive salaries for faculty and staff. With proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area and San Jose, opportunities for faculty, staff and students are as endless as the shores of the nearby Pacific Ocean.

Purpose

Under general supervision of the Associate Director of Maintenance & Operations, the Lead Building Service Engineer is responsible for performing the full range of skilled journey‑level operation, maintenance and repair work on boiler, HVAC and refrigeration equipment and related building automation systems. Additionally, the incumbent provides lead work direction, project planning, prioritization and coordination of the repair and preventive maintenance work of a small work group or crew.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Operates, tests, calibrates, repairs, installs, and performs preventive maintenance on a wide range of buildings and equipment including: Boilers and HVAC, pneumatic and microprocessor controls, plumbing and sewer systems; mechanical and electrical systems, shop equipment, domestic and industrial water systems, food service appliances. Tests and chemically treats boiler and cooling tower water and water from other specialized systems. Analyzes efficiency on a wide range of heating, ventilating, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and water systems. Uses building automation systems to diagnose and troubleshoot problems in HVAC systems while optimizing energy use. Monitors building automation systems data and adjust systems accordingly. Must be capable of instructing less skilled trades in proper operation and maintenance of such systems.
• Responds to, or directs assigned staff to respond to, service requests to adjust airflow, temperature, and humidity balances for individual rooms, building areas or buildings. Troubleshoots, locates, diagnoses and repairs equipment malfunctions or directs others to perform same. Performs major overhauls involving disassembly, inspection and re‑assembly of all parts, or directs others in performance of same. Tests, or directs others to test equipment for proper functioning.
• Uses computerized maintenance systems, including preventive maintenance systems to ensure maintenance department objectives are met. Maintains, retrieves and creates records or schedules for buildings and pieces of equipment, including work performed and future work required, using manual and computerized record‑keeping systems. Reviews and makes changes in computerized systems to the frequency of required preventive maintenance based on equipment condition and available resources. Maintains logs of maintenance and repair records and retrieves data related to work performed using manual and computerized record keeping systems. Prepares standard reports of maintenance activity, labor and parts consumed.
• Manages assigned staff in the performance of repairs and preventive maintenance to buildings and equipment using computerized system to include assigning work orders to individuals, balancing workload between assigned staff, and ensuring that needed parts are available to complete workload in a timely way. Inspects work to ensure it meets quality requirements and specifications. Uses computerized maintenance management systems to account for labor, materials and purchasing. Cooperates with other FSO functional area leaders, sharing assigned resources to maximize overall departmental capabilities and productivity. Informs supervisor of project status and deviation from goals. Prepares and submits reports as requested and required. Ensures completeness, accuracy and timeliness of all operational functions.
• Provides direction for work sequencing, technical expertise and leadership; instructs staff on work and safety rules and ensures that they are observed; provides input on performance evaluations; establishes and maintains effective working relationships. On specific projects, work may involve coordinating with other departments and coordinating the work of other skilled crafts workers. Makes decisions based upon sound operating and maintenance practices.
• Recommends initiatives and changes to improve quality of services. Identifies and determines cause of problems; develops and presents recommendations for improvement of established processes and practices. Maintains contact with customers and solicits feedback for improved services. Maximizes productivity through use of appropriate tools; planned training and performance initiatives. Researches and develops resources that create timely and efficient workflow. Develops and recommends budget, as assigned. Implements guidelines to support the functions of the unit. Properly represents yourself and your team (Shop/FS&O/Division/University). Follows and promotes the University’s Vision Statement, Quality Policy and Core Values. Contributes, participates, and functions in a team environment. Acts with consideration towards others when working in their areas, operating equipment, tools, and vehicles, etc. Communicates and conducts business in a professional manner.
• Maintains a safe and clean work environment, to include assigned tools, equipment, and vehicle in good working order, and enters equipment and service information into computer maintenance management system. Provides instruction and direction to skilled and semi‑skilled workers. Inspects completed work for conformance with specifications, requirements and compliance with applicable building and safety codes and regulations. Performs all work in accordance with established safety procedures.

Other Functions

• As assigned, safely and effectively monitors, operates, maintains, and adjusts all pool mechanical systems including recirculation pump, filters and backwash, boilers, and associated controls to achieve proper pool operations. May require obtaining and maintaining a CPO (Certified Pool Operator Certification) or an AFO (Aquatic Facility Operator Certification).
• Consults with and provides support to, and engages in cross training with other Skilled Crafts workers.
• Rotates call back shifts (after-hours) with other Facilities Maintenance staff.
• Safely analyzes and responds to emergency situations, participates in decisions that lead to safe resolution of situations, and participates in planning for potential future situations.
• Communicates through computer e‑mail, central computer calendar system, telephone voice mail systems and two‑way radio systems.
• May monitor contractor performance and work progress.
• Operates and maintains: computer-controlled HVAC system and computer-based maintenance management system.
• Reads, interprets and works from drawings and specifications, Equipment manuals, and provides design development input on capital projects.
• As assigned on a de minimis basis, safely and effectively monitors, operates, maintains, and adjusts all pool mechanical systems including recirculation pump, filters and backwash, boilers, and associated controls to achieve proper pool operations. May require obtaining and maintaining a CPO (Certified Pool Operator Certification) or an AFO (Aquatic Facility Operator Certification).
• Performs other duties and special projects as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge: Work requires high level of mechanical and technical knowledge of high and low-pressure boilers, and heating, pneumatic, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration and other mechanical equipment; thorough knowledge of the methods, tools and materials used in the operation, maintenance and repair of such equipment; general knowledge of ventilation principles, thermal dynamics, and closed water systems; working knowledge of energy management systems including the ability to understand and use system features; and a general knowledge of the applicable state and federal safety codes and regulations pertaining to mechanical and HVAC systems. Work requires a more thorough mechanical and technical knowledge; working knowledge of effective supervisory practices and techniques; working knowledge of project sequencing; and a thorough knowledge of the applicable state and federal safety codes and regulations pertaining to mechanical and HVAC systems.

Abilities: Must be able to install, operate and repair HVAC equipment and systems; demonstrate a high degree of mechanical skill equivalent to journey-level in one or more related trades such as plumbing, pipe fitting, electrical, or air conditioning; read, interpret and work from blueprints, plans, drawings and specifications; make rough sketches; estimate cost, time and materials of mechanical work; maintain records and retrieve data related to work performed using manual and/or computerized record-keeping systems; prepare standard reports; provide instruction to unskilled and semi-skilled assistants; analyze and respond appropriately to emergency situations; read and write at a level appropriate to the position; and perform arithmetic calculations as required by the position. Ability to lead, instruct, and coordinate the work of a small group or crew of skilled and semi-skilled workers; provide direction or interpretation and use of blueprints, plans, drawings, and specifications to the work crew, accurately estimate costs supplies and materials needed for jobs and projects; prepare materials lists; ensure work is performed in sequence; inspect and assess work to ensure it meets requirements and specifications; analyze and respond appropriately to emergency situations; and maintain computerized maintenance management systems and records and prepare more complex reports.

Minimum Qualifications

These abilities normally would be acquired through two years of journey-level experience in the operation, maintenance and repair of boiler, heating, ventilating, refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and systems or the equivalent combination of formal course work in mechanical technology and hands‑on experience to include some work or project coordination responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

Strong knowledge and experience with: CMMS maintenance management software systems and Johnson Controls energy management systems. Valid certification (s