Entry Level Operating Engineer Jobs
New grad operating engineer jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where a strong internship record or hands-on project work often carries more weight than a lengthy resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Media & Entertainment, Healthcare & Medical Services, and Education, with employers like Qualcomm, American University, and CommonSpirit Health hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 7+ Entry Level Operating Engineer jobs
Overview
The Plant Operating Engineer is responsible for completing basically mechanical oriented projects involved in plant operations.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: NIGHT SHIFT RESPONSIBILITIES
- Prepares, fires, repairs and operates gas-fired, oil-fired, coal-fired and/or dual-fuel boilers to meet ASME and ANSI codes.
- Controls generation of a continuous supply of steam for heating hospital and related buildings, supplying power to machinery and auxiliary equipment, and sterilizing equipment.
- Tours boiler room to observe boilers, their appurtenances, and other operating equipment to ensure operation is in accordance with specified instructions.
- Responsible for assuring that all boiler room and related steam generation equipment is operating normally, that proper pressures and temperatures are developed and maintained, that water in the boiler is at the proper level, that combustion requirements for efficient and economical operation are being met, and that the boiler room area is clean and maintained in an orderly state.
- Inspects, repairs, and maintains boiler area equipment such as pumps, coal conveyors, boilers, water heaters, valves, traps, and related equipment.
- Makes entries in boiler room and mechanical area logs, which are official journals of machinery operation and related activities.
- Prepares boiler, chiller, and heating water chemical tests and adjusts feeding solutions to proper amounts based on test results.
- Tours entire facility grounds and mechanical areas for fire and safety checks, observes operations, and records specified data.
- May make adjustments to heating and/or cooling controls and adjust, clean, or replace items such as belts, strainers, and related components to ensure normal equipment operation.
- Inspects oxygen supply systems, records specified data, and notifies approved sources in the event of malfunction or need for additional oxygen.
- Connects oxygen cylinders to emergency supply systems when required.
- Locks and unlocks interior and exterior doors for security purposes and operates exterior lighting as programmed.
- Inspects operation and records specified data on sewage lift stations, sewage plants, flood wall pumps, and related equipment.
- Operates, tests, and logs emergency power systems according to schedule and performs basic maintenance or adjustments as required.
- Performs start-up of plant equipment following normal power failures.
- May perform minor repairs to patient-related equipment including wheelchairs, beds, nursing call systems, oxygen and medical gas systems, and other patient room equipment.
- Completes preventive maintenance assignments within the scope of specific training.
- Remains alert to indications of faulty operation or equipment malfunction and ensures all safety precautions are observed.
- Maintains familiarity with the location and operation of fire detection systems.
- Performs assigned tasks using hand or power tools in accordance with written or oral instructions.
- Completes service requests, work requests, and project forms, including time and date started, time and date completed, and materials used.
- Selects stock, tools, and supplies for assigned tasks.
- Stores stock, tools, and supplies in assigned locations.
- Advises and monitors stock levels of materials for efficient operation of plant and building equipment.
- Maintains ongoing knowledge of applicable fire, safety, and boiler operation codes from available sources.
- Notifies supervisor when major repairs or assistance are required.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
AND Must have a background in the electrical/mechanical or plant operators field which includes either:
- One (1) year of training in a technical school in the electrical/mechanical or plant operators field and one (1) year of experience.
OR Three (3) years of documented experience from previous employer(s) performing electrical/mechanical or plant operators duties.
Experience
- Six (6) months to one (1) year on-the-job training is required to attain proficiency of performance of assigned duties.
Overview
The Plant Operating Engineer is responsible for completing basically mechanical oriented projects involved in plant operations.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: NIGHT SHIFT RESPONSIBILITIES
- Prepares, fires, repairs and operates gas-fired, oil-fired, coal-fired and/or dual-fuel boilers to meet ASME and ANSI codes.
- Controls generation of a continuous supply of steam for heating hospital and related buildings, supplying power to machinery and auxiliary equipment, and sterilizing equipment.
- Tours boiler room to observe boilers, their appurtenances, and other operating equipment to ensure operation is in accordance with specified instructions.
- Responsible for assuring that all boiler room and related steam generation equipment is operating normally, that proper pressures and temperatures are developed and maintained, that water in the boiler is at the proper level, that combustion requirements for efficient and economical operation are being met, and that the boiler room area is clean and maintained in an orderly state.
- Inspects, repairs, and maintains boiler area equipment such as pumps, coal conveyors, boilers, water heaters, valves, traps, and related equipment.
- Makes entries in boiler room and mechanical area logs, which are official journals of machinery operation and related activities.
- Prepares boiler, chiller, and heating water chemical tests and adjusts feeding solutions to proper amounts based on test results.
- Tours entire facility grounds and mechanical areas for fire and safety checks, observes operations, and records specified data.
- May make adjustments to heating and/or cooling controls and adjust, clean, or replace items such as belts, strainers, and related components to ensure normal equipment operation.
- Inspects oxygen supply systems, records specified data, and notifies approved sources in the event of malfunction or need for additional oxygen.
- Connects oxygen cylinders to emergency supply systems when required.
- Locks and unlocks interior and exterior doors for security purposes and operates exterior lighting as programmed.
- Inspects operation and records specified data on sewage lift stations, sewage plants, flood wall pumps, and related equipment.
- Operates, tests, and logs emergency power systems according to schedule and performs basic maintenance or adjustments as required.
- Performs start-up of plant equipment following normal power failures.
- May perform minor repairs to patient-related equipment including wheelchairs, beds, nursing call systems, oxygen and medical gas systems, and other patient room equipment.
- Completes preventive maintenance assignments within the scope of specific training.
- Remains alert to indications of faulty operation or equipment malfunction and ensures all safety precautions are observed.
- Maintains familiarity with the location and operation of fire detection systems.
- Performs assigned tasks using hand or power tools in accordance with written or oral instructions.
- Completes service requests, work requests, and project forms, including time and date started, time and date completed, and materials used.
- Selects stock, tools, and supplies for assigned tasks.
- Stores stock, tools, and supplies in assigned locations.
- Advises and monitors stock levels of materials for efficient operation of plant and building equipment.
- Maintains ongoing knowledge of applicable fire, safety, and boiler operation codes from available sources.
- Notifies supervisor when major repairs or assistance are required.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
AND Must have a background in the electrical/mechanical or plant operators field which includes either:
- One (1) year of training in a technical school in the electrical/mechanical or plant operators field and one (1) year of experience.
OR Three (3) years of documented experience from previous employer(s) performing electrical/mechanical or plant operators duties.
Experience
- Six (6) months to one (1) year on-the-job training is required to attain proficiency of performance of assigned duties.
See All 7 Entry Level Operating Engineer Jobs
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Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Media & Entertainment
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Education
- Telecommunications
- Technology & Software
Entry Level Operating Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level operating engineer job?
Start by targeting postings that explicitly welcome zero to two years of experience or list internships as qualifying background. Hands-on experience with building systems, HVAC equipment, or stationary machinery stands out at this stage. A vocational certificate, an apprenticeship completion, or a relevant associate degree strengthens your application, and any internship or co-op work you can point to in an interview gives you a concrete edge over candidates with only coursework.
Which companies hire entry level operating engineers?
Companies hiring entry level operating engineers right now include Qualcomm, American University, and CommonSpirit Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. At this experience level, the strongest hiring activity tends to come from facility management firms, large commercial property operators, healthcare systems, and industrial manufacturers that run structured on-the-job training programs for junior hires.
Are there remote entry level operating engineer jobs?
Yes, though remote work is limited in this hands-on field. About 0% of entry level operating engineer openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting roles in technical support, monitoring, or coordination that do not require a physical presence on the equipment floor. The majority of positions at this level are still on-site, where learning the systems in person is a core part of the job.
Are these new grad operating engineer jobs?
Yes, the openings on this page include new grad, recent graduate, and junior roles. A posting is new-grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, accepts internship or apprenticeship work in place of full-time history, or lists a portfolio or vocational credential as sufficient. If the job description does not require prior employment, it is typically open to candidates coming straight out of a training program or degree program.
Which industries hire the most entry level operating engineers?
Entry Level operating engineer roles concentrate in Media & Entertainment, Healthcare & Medical Services, and Education, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive hiring at the entry level because they operate large physical facilities, run continuous production or service environments, and rely on a steady pipeline of junior engineers to maintain and monitor complex building and mechanical systems.