Museum Maintainer – Engine Room

Brooklyn Museum; New York (NY); On-site; USD 56,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

The Brooklyn Museum is seeking a Museum Maintainer – Engine Room to operate and maintain the museum's central plant and building mechanical systems. You will service chillers, pumps, boilers, and associated HVAC equipment to ensure safe, reliable facility operations.

Responsibilities include preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs, plus documenting work and coordinating with management during emergencies.

Qualifications

• Experience operating and maintaining electrical and centrifugal refrigeration equipment, pumps, HVAC systems, and related controls.
• Must hold NYC Refrigeration Machine Operator license (Q-01/Q-99) or be eligible for licensing.
• Willingness to obtain and maintain required licenses and safety certifications.

Responsibilities

• Operate, repair, test, and maintain pumping and refrigeration equipment including chillers and cooling towers.
• Perform preventive maintenance and document equipment conditions and work performed daily.
• Respond to emergency situations, coordinate with Fire and Life Safety teams, and perform after-hours repairs.
• Maintain logs, order supplies, and uphold safety and PPE requirements in all areas.

Skills

HVAC systems

Pumps & chillers

Electrical repairs

Preventive maintenance

Education

High school diploma

NYC Refrigeration Machine Operator License (Q-01/Q-99)

Tools

Pneumatic controls

Electronic controls

Variable frequency drives

Climate control system software

Job description

Museum Maintainer – Engine Room

Museum Overview

The Brooklyn Museum is a world-renowned cultural institution dedicated to preserving and showcasing art, history, and heritage. Our mission is to bring people together through art and experiences that inspire celebration, compassion, courage, and the will to act. Our vision is to serve as an institution where art is a powerful force for personal transformation and social change. Celebrating our differences and learning about our diverse communities through our collections, exhibitions, and programming is the core of who we are and what we do.

We are committed to creating and cultivating a community of talented, passionate people who are inspired to make the Museum an important hub of community activity and a great global destination. Our staff have the opportunity to grow their professional skills and work collaboratively with colleagues they admire and respect.

About the role

The Museum Maintainer – Engine Room operates and maintains the museum’s central plant and building mechanical systems, including chillers, pumps, cooling towers, boilers, and associated refrigeration and HVAC equipment to ensure safe and reliable facility operations. The role performs preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs on building systems while monitoring environmental conditions that support gallery spaces, collections, and public areas. The position requires strong knowledge of air conditioning and refrigeration systems, the use of specialized tools such as soldering and brazing equipment, adherence to PPE requirements, and a valid FDNY Refrigeration Machine Operator Certificate of Fitness (Q-01/Q-99). New license holders with HVAC Mechanic experience are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Operate, repair, test, and maintain all pumping and refrigeration engineering equipment (e.g. chillers, pumps, vacuum condensate pumps, condensate systems, and cooling towers), as well as low pressure boilers, heat exchangers, and domestic water heaters
• Properly align motors, pumps, shafts, gearboxes, and couplings; repack pump seals; and replace mechanical seals
• Perform responsible, independent work in all Museum mechanical and non-gallery areas (including fabrication, installation, and removal of HVAC and plumbing fixtures)
• Prepare and update logs and documentation on a daily basis, including those related to shifts and equipment, HVAC and Museum environmental conditions. Document work performed, inspections, and equipment conditions using the institution’s work order or maintenance management system.
• Order supplies and equipment, working with the Supervising Museum Maintainer, and maintain an adequate inventory of supplies for daily operations, preventive maintenance, and planned activities
• Maintain an overall knowledge of facility operations and report status to management
• Ensure that equipment functions according to a given schedule, and operate software associated with existing automation systems
• Stay up to date on the Museum’s emergency procedures; coordinate information with other shops, staff, clients, and management during emergencies; and interact with outside municipal agencies, including the Fire Department
• Make critical emergency repairs in all construction trade fields and take appropriate stopgap measures when complete repairs cannot be immediately made
• Perform electrical repairs in emergency situations, after hours, and on weekends such as changing electric fuses, switches, light bulbs, and breakers
• Take responsibility for the safety and protection of all related Museum buildings, collections, personnel, Museum visitors, and equipment
• Carry out appropriate fire and safety team functions as deemed necessary by the Fire and Life Safety Director
• Conduct daily work such as plumbing, roof weatherization, after-emergency cleanup, cleaning of mechanical equipment rooms, cleaning and repair of boilers/pumps and related equipment, painting, and repairs to the fire suppression systems.
• Maintain mechanical equipment rooms (MERs) and electrical/mechanical rooms (EMRs) in a clean, orderly, and safe condition. Ensure equipment areas remain accessible, free of debris and unauthorized storage, and compliant with applicable safety and operational requirements.
• Wear required safety equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriate to the task being performed

Requirements

• High school diploma or its equivalent plus three years of experience operating and maintaining electrical and centrifugal refrigeration equipment, pumps, cooling towers, HVAC systems, chiller plant control systems, steam and hot water systems, sprinkler and standpipe systems, and fire alarm systems
• New York City Fire Department Refrigeration Machine Operator’s License (Q-01/Q-99)
• The following certifications are strongly recommended to support safe operations and regulatory compliance: FDNY Certificates of Fitness S-12, S-13, S-14, S-15, S-95, A-35, P-98, P-99, F-89, F-60, and G-60, along with completion of OSHA 30-Hour. If not already obtained, the museum will sponsor the required training.
• Experience and training in pneumatic, electronic, and electric controls, as well as variable frequency drives
• Capacity to receive Museum training on our computerized climate control system and any other equipment
• Willingness to secure and maintain all necessary licenses and certificates as required by New York State, New York City, and the Museum
• Ability and willingness to climb on, or work from, ladders or scaffolding
• Ability to lift and transport heavy parts or equipment, up to 100 pounds
• Knowledge of electrical motors is a plus

Department:

Museum Operations

Reports to:

Supervising Museum Maintainer

Position Type:

Full-time

Union Status:

Union-DC37 Local 1502

FLSA Status:

Non-exempt

Salary:

$62,097

Schedule:

Five shifts per week, 11:30 pm-8 am, 7:30 am-4 pm, or 3:30 pm-12 am, with flex days off