Senior Chief Engineer: Building Systems & Energy Leader

cw; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

cw is seeking a Senior Chief Engineer to lead engineering and maintenance operations across a large campus and portfolio, ensuring reliable, safe, and efficient building systems. You will oversee HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire/life safety, BAS, and related infrastructure, driving preventive maintenance, capital planning, and major projects.

The role requires strategic leadership of engineering staff, partnership with facilities management, and delivery of long-term reliability and energy

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and direction for engineering and maintenance operations.
• Lead, supervise, coach, train, and develop engineering and maintenance personnel.
• Establish performance expectations and accountability for quality, productivity, customer service, and safety.
• Direct day-to-day engineering operations, including preventive maintenance, repairs, inspections, work orders, and vendor services.
• Develop engineering standards, procedures, and performance metrics.
• Provide advanced technical leadership for HVAC, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, hydraulic, fire/life safety, and building automation systems.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing engineering organization focused on continuous improvement.
• Oversee operation and maintenance of HVAC, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire/life safety, BAS, and related systems.
• Lead preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs.
• Manage CMMS operations, work orders, inspections, equipment history, and reporting.
• Conduct facility inspections, condition assessments, technical audits, and engineering analyses.
• Maintain asset management and equipment lifecycle programs.
• Develop recommendations for replacement, modernization, and rehabilitation of aging infrastructure.
• Stay current with building technologies, maintenance methodologies, and industry best practices.
• Partner with Property/Facility Management on short- and long-term engineering strategies.
• Assist in development and management of capital budgets and replacement plans.
• Identify operational risks, infrastructure needs, and investment opportunities.
• Support feasibility studies and business cases for infrastructure projects.
• Provide technical leadership for major capital projects, including HVAC, roofing, plumbing, electrical, and BAS upgrades.
• Support project planning, bidding, contractor selection, commissioning, and closeout.
• Participate in building acquisitions, transitions, and startup activities.
• Assist with operating, capital, and extraordinary expense budgets.
• Monitor labor, maintenance expenses, utilities, and project costs.
• Develop technical scopes of work and specifications.
• Support procurement activities, RFP development, contractor evaluations, and bid analyses.
• Manage contractor and vendor performance.
• Review invoices and ensure expenditures align with approved budgets and contracts.
• Identify opportunities for lifecycle cost reduction and operational efficiencies.
• Lead engineering safety programs and site-specific safety plans.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA requirements, fire/life safety standards, environmental regulations, and building codes.
• Maintain emergency action plans and hazardous materials programs.
• Support emergency preparedness, disaster response, and environmental compliance initiatives.
• Promote a strong safety culture and safe work practices.
• Ensure required inspections, certifications, permits, and compliance documentation are maintained.
• Drive efficient operation of building systems and building performance.

Job description

cw is seeking a Senior Chief Engineer to lead engineering and maintenance operations across a large campus and portfolio, ensuring reliable, safe, and efficient building systems. You will oversee HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire/life safety, BAS, and related infrastructure, driving preventive maintenance, capital planning, and major projects.

The role requires strategic leadership of engineering staff, partnership with facilities management, and delivery of long-term reliability and energy