Senior Building Engineer

Energy Vault; Omaha (NE); On-site; Full time

Job summary

Join Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium as a Senior Building Engineer overseeing all building systems including HVAC and plumbing. You will lead a talented engineering team, ensure safety compliance, and focus on energy efficiency projects. This role presents opportunities for advancement and is ideal for someone passionate about mechanical systems and leadership.

Qualifications

• 5 years of hands-on experience in building systems maintenance.
• Experience with HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, and life safety systems.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor engineering team.
• Troubleshoot and repair HVAC and life safety systems.
• Optimize building systems for efficiency.

Skills

Team Leadership

Problem Solving

Energy Management

Safety Compliance

Interpersonal Skills

Critical Thinking

Education

Third Grade Stationary Engineer’s license

Tools

Building Management Systems

Job description

Job Details

Omaha Zoo - Omaha, NE

Full Time

Description

Job Title: Senior Building Engineer

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Hours: Full-Time (Sunday - Thursday; 6:30 AM - 3:30 PM)

Pay Rate: Starts at $24.16/hour

Summary:

As the Senior Building Engineer, you will be responsible for the oversight, maintenance, and optimization of all building systems, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and life safety systems, at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. You will manage a team of engineers and technicians, work on high-priority mechanical systems, and lead projects that support both the infrastructure and daily operations of the zoo. Your technical expertise and leadership will ensure the zoo’s mechanical systems are running efficiently and safely, contributing to the exceptional guest and animal experiences the zoo provides. If you're passionate about mechanical systems, energy efficiency, leadership, and continuous professional development, this is a unique opportunity to join a dynamic team and make a meaningful impact on the daily operations of one of the top zoos in the world. Join us at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium and play an integral role in maintaining the infrastructure that supports our animals, staff, and visitors.

This position reports directly to the Supervisor of Building Engineering and provides a clear pathway for advancement within the engineering department.

Duties and Responsibilities (include but not limited to):

• Lead & Mentor Engineering Team – Provide technical leadership to engineers and technicians, ensuring proper maintenance, troubleshooting, and system optimization. Foster a collaborative and safe working environment.
• Troubleshoot & Repair Critical Systems – Perform advanced diagnostics and repairs on HVAC, pneumatic, electrical, plumbing, life safety systems, emergency power systems, and other critical systems.
• Optimize Building Systems – Focus on improving system efficiency and performance by utilizing advanced strategies such as predictive maintenance, energy optimization, and system upgrades. Analyze system data to identify inefficiencies and implement solutions.
• Manage Preventative & Reactive Maintenance – Oversee both preventive and emergency maintenance activities to ensure the zoo’s systems are operating safely and without interruptions. Develop and manage maintenance schedules.
• Work with Building Management Systems (BMS) – Utilize Building Management Systems (BMS) to monitor, optimize, and troubleshoot HVAC, electrical, and other critical systems. Experience with Schneider products preferred.
• Project Management & Oversight – Lead building system projects, from installation and upgrades to retrofits. Work with vendors, contractors, and other internal departments to ensure successful project completion on time and within budget.
• Collaborate Across Departments – Work closely with other departments to ensure building systems meet operational needs, including animal care and guest services.
• Safety Compliance & Reporting – Ensure all systems and projects comply with safety regulations (OSHA, EPA) and local codes. Maintain thorough documentation of system performance, maintenance work, and compliance audits.
• Emergency Response – Be the primary responder for urgent system failures, troubleshooting and repairing under pressure to restore operations swiftly and efficiently.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• At least 5 years of hands-on experience in building systems maintenance, with a deep understanding of HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, life safety systems, and energy management.
• A Third Grade Stationary Engineer’s license (or the ability to acquire one within one year) and any other relevant certifications.
• Proven ability to lead a team, with experience in mentoring and training staff. Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Advanced knowledge of complex building systems, including chillers, boilers, cooling towers, air handling units, VRF systems, HVAC systems, pumps, motors, elevators, and life safety systems.
• Experience with energy management, green building systems, and sustainability initiatives aimed at optimizing energy use and reducing the zoo's environmental footprint.
• Familiarity with BMS (Schneider preferred), including system monitoring, diagnostics, and optimization.
• Strong critical thinking skills to quickly identify and resolve complex technical issues across multiple systems.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate with team members, contractors, and management.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, work in a physically demanding environment, and navigate the zoo grounds as needed.
• A valid driver’s license is required for driving zoo vehicles on-site.
• Ability to work weekends and extended hours for priority/emergencies, including overtime assignments.

DISCLAIMER

The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, nor is it to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees assigned to this job.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer as defined by the EEOC.