Temporary Task Force Chief Engineer — Hotel Pre-Open

HHM Hospitality; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

HHM Hotels seeks a Task Force Chief Engineer for a temporary 30–60 day assignment to lead on-site engineering during pre-opening and opening phases. You will prepare building systems, coordinate inspections, and supervise vendor activity to ensure readiness for opening and long-term operation.

You will recruit and train the engineering team, establish preventive maintenance, and collaborate with hotel leadership to prioritize needs while meeting safety and brand standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years in hotel engineering or facilities management with leadership responsibility.
• Experience supporting hotel pre-opening, opening, renovation, or property transition preferred.
• Experience in lifestyle, boutique, luxury, or full-service hotel environments preferred.
• Strong knowledge of HVAC, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, life-safety, and building systems.
• Proven ability to lead engineering teams and coordinate contractors, inspections, and preventive maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering and maintenance operations during pre-opening and opening phases.
• Prepare building systems, equipment, guest rooms, and public areas for readiness.
• Coordinate inspections, permits, testing, and vendor activity with contractors and authorities.
• Identify and resolve facility-related issues across mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and life-safety domains.
• Establish preventive maintenance schedules, documentation, and inventory controls.
• Support turnover and commissioning of building systems from construction teams.
• Recruit, onboard, train, and direct the engineering team on site.
• Collaborate with hotel leadership to prioritize opening-related needs and resolve concerns.
• Monitor vendor performance, maintenance costs, and project timelines.
• Ensure compliance with brand standards and applicable safety and regulatory requirements.
• Provide status updates and document outstanding items for transition to permanent staff.
• Travel as required and adapt quickly to the hotel's needs.

Skills

HVAC systems

Electrical systems

Plumbing systems

Life-safety systems

Building management systems

Leadership experience

Contractor coordination

Troubleshooting

Tools

Building Management Systems (BMS)

Job description

HHM Hotels seeks a Task Force Chief Engineer for a temporary 30–60 day assignment to lead on-site engineering during pre-opening and opening phases. You will prepare building systems, coordinate inspections, and supervise vendor activity to ensure readiness for opening and long-term operation.

You will recruit and train the engineering team, establish preventive maintenance, and collaborate with hotel leadership to prioritize needs while meeting safety and brand standards.