Chief Building Engineer Jobs
Chief Building Engineer jobs are open across commercial real estate, healthcare facilities, and corporate campuses, at every level from lead engineer to director of engineering, with specializations in HVAC systems, preventive maintenance, and energy management. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 50+ Chief Building Engineer jobs
Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) Local is a hard services-led, tailored facility management solution. We self-perform hard services while partnering with best-in-class soft service providers to offer custom facility and project management solutions to our clients. We focus on empowering our team with a high-level of downstream accountability, resulting in an agile and efficient service delivery.
- Follow all applicable codes, regulations, governmental agency, and company directives related to building operations and work safety.
- Lead operations, assign work orders, and provide technical and procedural training of coworkers and subcontractors. Arranges for subcontractors as needed.
- Consult with clients to schedule preventive maintenance during downtime to cut business interruption and inconvenience. Plan a preventive maintenance program to ensure that building machinery and systems meet or exceed their rated life.
- Check building systems including fire alarms, HVAC, and plumbing to ensure the operation of equipment is within design capabilities and achieves environmental conditions prescribed by the client.
- Oversee and inspect the work performed by engineering staff to make sure the work is complete; equipment is functioning properly, and client space is in great working condition.
- Respond to emergency situations and ask for help when needed.
- Apply advanced knowledge to seek and develop new, better methods for accomplishing both individual and department objectives.
- Showcase expertise in own job discipline and in-depth knowledge of other job disciplines within the organization function.
- Coach others to develop in-depth knowledge and expertise in most or all areas within the function.
- Lead by example and model behaviors that are consistent with CBRE RISE values. Anticipate potential objections and persuades others, often at senior levels and of divergent interest, to adopt a different point of view.
- Impact the achievement of customer, operational, project, or service objectives across multi-discipline teams. Work is guided by functional policies which impact the design of procedures and policies.
- Contribute to new products, processes, standards, and/or operational plans in support of achieving functional goals.
- Communicate difficult and complex ideas with the ability to influence.
- High School Diploma, GED, or trade school diploma with 5-8 years of job-related experience. In lieu of a diploma, a combination of experience and education will be considered. Prior shift manager or supervisory experience preferred.
- Meet the physical requirements of this role including stooping, standing, walking, climbing stairs/ladders, and the ability to lift/carry heavy loads of 50 lbs. or more.
- The innovative mentality to develop methods that go beyond existing solutions.
- Ability to solve unique problems using standard and innovative solutions having a broad impact on the business.
- In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Office products. Examples include Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.
- Expert organizational skills with an advanced inquisitive mindset.
- Highly sophisticated math skills. Ability to calculate somewhat complex figures such as percentages, fractions, and other financial-related calculations.
Equal Employment Opportunity: CBRE has a long-standing commitment to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, veteran status, political belief, or any other basis protected by applicable law.
Candidate Accommodations: CBRE values the differences of all current and prospective employees and recognizes how every employee contributes to our company’s success. CBRE provides reasonable accommodations in job application procedures for individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request via email at recruitingaccommodations@cbre.com or via telephone at +1 866 225 3099 (U.S.) and +1 866 388 4346 (Canada).
Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) Local is a hard services-led, tailored facility management solution. We self-perform hard services while partnering with best-in-class soft service providers to offer custom facility and project management solutions to our clients. We focus on empowering our team with a high-level of downstream accountability, resulting in an agile and efficient service delivery.
- Follow all applicable codes, regulations, governmental agency, and company directives related to building operations and work safety.
- Lead operations, assign work orders, and provide technical and procedural training of coworkers and subcontractors. Arranges for subcontractors as needed.
- Consult with clients to schedule preventive maintenance during downtime to cut business interruption and inconvenience. Plan a preventive maintenance program to ensure that building machinery and systems meet or exceed their rated life.
- Check building systems including fire alarms, HVAC, and plumbing to ensure the operation of equipment is within design capabilities and achieves environmental conditions prescribed by the client.
- Oversee and inspect the work performed by engineering staff to make sure the work is complete; equipment is functioning properly, and client space is in great working condition.
- Respond to emergency situations and ask for help when needed.
- Apply advanced knowledge to seek and develop new, better methods for accomplishing both individual and department objectives.
- Showcase expertise in own job discipline and in-depth knowledge of other job disciplines within the organization function.
- Coach others to develop in-depth knowledge and expertise in most or all areas within the function.
- Lead by example and model behaviors that are consistent with CBRE RISE values. Anticipate potential objections and persuades others, often at senior levels and of divergent interest, to adopt a different point of view.
- Impact the achievement of customer, operational, project, or service objectives across multi-discipline teams. Work is guided by functional policies which impact the design of procedures and policies.
- Contribute to new products, processes, standards, and/or operational plans in support of achieving functional goals.
- Communicate difficult and complex ideas with the ability to influence.
- High School Diploma, GED, or trade school diploma with 5-8 years of job-related experience. In lieu of a diploma, a combination of experience and education will be considered. Prior shift manager or supervisory experience preferred.
- Meet the physical requirements of this role including stooping, standing, walking, climbing stairs/ladders, and the ability to lift/carry heavy loads of 50 lbs. or more.
- The innovative mentality to develop methods that go beyond existing solutions.
- Ability to solve unique problems using standard and innovative solutions having a broad impact on the business.
- In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Office products. Examples include Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.
- Expert organizational skills with an advanced inquisitive mindset.
- Highly sophisticated math skills. Ability to calculate somewhat complex figures such as percentages, fractions, and other financial-related calculations.
Equal Employment Opportunity: CBRE has a long-standing commitment to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, veteran status, political belief, or any other basis protected by applicable law.
Candidate Accommodations: CBRE values the differences of all current and prospective employees and recognizes how every employee contributes to our company’s success. CBRE provides reasonable accommodations in job application procedures for individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request via email at recruitingaccommodations@cbre.com or via telephone at +1 866 225 3099 (U.S.) and +1 866 388 4346 (Canada).
See All 50 Chief Building Engineer Jobs
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Find Chief Building Engineer JobsChief Building Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
- CBRE18
- Able Services4
- Lincoln Property Company4
- JLL2
- COPT Defense Properties2
Top Industries Hiring
- Construction & Real Estate
- Government & Public Sector
- Investment & Asset Management
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in chief building engineer jobs.
- Five or more years of hands-on experience managing commercial building systems
- Universal CFC certification for handling refrigerants in HVAC systems
- Stationary or operating engineer license where required by state or local law
- Demonstrated knowledge of electrical, plumbing, fire suppression, and HVAC systems
- Experience with computerized maintenance management systems such as CMMS platforms
- High school diploma or equivalent required, with trade apprenticeship or associate degree preferred
Tips for Your Chief Building Engineer Job Search
Tailor your resume to building systems
List every major system you've managed, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and fire suppression, by square footage and building class. Hiring managers for chief building engineer roles compare your system experience against their portfolio before reading anything else.
Lead with your certifications upfront
Put your CFC, Stationary Engineer license, or BOMA certifications in a dedicated header line, not buried in a skills section. Many applicant tracking systems screen for these credentials before a human reviewer ever opens your file.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists chief building engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by building class and use
Filter openings by property type, Class A office, hospital, or mixed-use, since the technical demands differ sharply. Your resume and cover letter should mirror the building type in the posting so the match is obvious without explanation.
Prepare a system-failure walk-through story
Interviewers for chief building engineer roles consistently ask how you handled a critical system failure under pressure. Prepare one specific example with a clear timeline, what broke, what you did, and what you changed afterward to prevent recurrence.
Negotiate scope before you negotiate pay
Before accepting an offer, clarify the size of the engineering team you'll supervise, the deferred maintenance backlog, and the capital budget you control. These factors define the actual difficulty and visibility of the role far more than the job title does.
Chief Building Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most chief building engineers?
CBRE, Able Services, and Lincoln Property Company are hiring the most chief building engineers right now, with openings concentrated in Texas, California, and District of Columbia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Property management firms, hospital networks, and large corporate real estate owners tend to post the most volume consistently.
How many chief building engineer jobs are remote?
About 8% of chief building engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that most of the role requires on-site presence to manage physical systems and supervise engineering staff. Administrative functions like vendor coordination, budget reporting, and preventive maintenance scheduling are the tasks most likely to be done off-site.
How do you become a chief building engineer?
Start by completing a trade apprenticeship or vocational program in HVAC, electrical, or mechanical systems, then accumulate hands-on experience as a building engineer or lead engineer across increasingly complex properties. Earning your Universal CFC certification and any state-required stationary engineer license strengthens your candidacy significantly. Moving into a supervisory role that includes budget and staff responsibility is typically the final step before the chief-level title.
Can you get hired as a chief building engineer with limited experience?
Getting hired at the chief level with limited experience is difficult, but candidates who have managed a full building system independently, even in a smaller property, are often competitive. Demonstrating direct responsibility for preventive maintenance schedules, vendor contracts, or emergency repairs carries more weight than years alone. Earning relevant certifications before applying signals readiness to employers who might otherwise pass on a shorter resume.
What does the chief building engineer interview process look like?
Most employers conduct an initial phone screen focused on certifications and system experience, followed by an in-person or video interview with the property or facilities manager. A site walk-through is common, where you may be asked to identify maintenance issues or describe how you would approach the building's systems. Final rounds often include a conversation with the asset management or ownership team about budget philosophy and capital planning priorities.
Where can I find and apply to chief building engineer jobs?
You can find and apply to chief building engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the roles available, find the ones that match your experience and target property type, and apply directly to each listing that fits your background.
See All 50 Chief Building Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Chief Building Engineer Jobs