Chief Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Florida
Chief engineer visa sponsorship jobs in Florida are concentrated across aerospace and defense contractors in the Space Coast, shipbuilding and port operations in Jacksonville and Tampa, and civil infrastructure firms statewide. Major employers include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris Technologies. Canadian and Mexican engineers may also qualify under TN visa status given the USMCA Engineer classification.
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INTRODUCTION
As a leading member of the property management team, the Chief Engineer is accountable for ensuring the hotel is maintained properly. The Chief Engineer performs and leads the repair and maintenance of the hotel's physical plant, including (but not limited to) plumbing, electrical, HVAC, pool, fire & life safety, and all general facilities. The Chief reports to the General Manager. The Chief is responsible for maintaining the hotel at the highest quality level, giving all guests the ability to have a worry-free experience, and protecting the asset for the owners while embodying McKibbon’s Guiding Principles.
A Day in the Life
- Chief will work autonomously in some instances, without constant supervision.
- Responsible for monitoring and maintaining the operations and functions of both the interior and exterior areas of the property.
- Perform any necessary construction trades, like plumbing, electrical, carpentry, basic heating and air conditioning, pool maintenance, painting, caulking, etc.
- The Chief will not be expected to be an expert in all trades but will be expected to be proficient enough to do a good job, utilize external resources, and train others in the engineering department.
- In addition to the trade skills, the Chief will need to possess certain people skills that will allow them to be proactive and interactive with other associates and hotel guests.
- Play a key role in communicating and interacting positively with associates and guests.
- Follow the guidelines established by McKibbon Hospitality to ensure the safety of associates and guests, while protecting company assets.
- Assist the GM and AGM with recruiting, hiring, and training maintenance team members. The number of associates in the maintenance department will depend on the hotel's size and complexity.
- While this role has no direct reports, it involves coaching team members to ensure efficient practices are followed in alignment with company and brand standards.
Job Requirements
- Ability to monitor the performance of the service/contractor to ensure that contracted service is performed satisfactorily.
- Ability to effectively maintain the physical plant while meeting Guests’ needs within the defined operations budget.
- Ability to communicate operational activities, priorities, and problems with hotel leadership.
- Possess knowledge or methods and techniques for conducting on-the-job training.
- Ability to create a learning environment encouraging employees to further develop their job skills.
- Ability to observe employees’ work performance for comparison with performance standards.
- Ability to determine what action should be taken in response to a customer complaint, comment or inquiry.
- Ability to negotiate with service company/contractor to obtain the best price for services.
- Ability to estimate the time (labor) required to complete maintenance work.
- Ability to determine the best time to schedule maintenance jobs to avoid disrupting the operation of the hotel.
- Ability to proactively discern operational and maintenance concerns, then address them to eliminate downtime and avoid disaster.
- Knowledge of problem-solving techniques and methods.
- Knowledge of common causes of equipment malfunction.
- Experience with Microsoft Office 365, including Outlook, Word, Excel, as well as utilizing a maintenance management system to initiate, perform, and report on service orders and PMs.
- Ability to perform various maintenance tasks, which may include climbing stairs, walking 10,000 steps or more each day, utilizing power hand tools, and lifting up to 50 pounds.
- Must be able to kneel, stand, and work in varying indoor/outdoor conditions, and access high or confined spaces as needed.
- Ability to perform basic painting and caulking skills.
- Ability to use standard hand tools, such as wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, hammers, and electrical measurements.
- Knowledge of preventive maintenance methods and techniques for maintaining equipment.
- Ability to perform tests to check for the normal operation of the hotel’s equipment.
- Ability to perform Basic Maintenance Skills. Plumbing, A/C Filter Changes, Clean Coils, Electrical work, and Carpenter work.
- Ability to test pool and spa chemicals, CPO Certification required.
- Skilled in laundry and kitchen operations to allow operations to maintain and/or exceed production standards.
- Skilled in the use and testing of all Fire & Life Safety equipment, alarm systems, and sprinkler systems to maintain proper operational status.
- Knowledgeable on local, state, and federal regulations for testing and operation in accordance with NFPA-72.
- Ability to evaluate and select job applicants based upon information obtained through personnel questionnaires, resumes, and interviews.
- 3 Years minimum experience in a lead maintenance role.
- Previous hotel experience is highly desired.
- Possess strong listening skills with the ability to comprehend and address concerns and issues raised by workers, clients, and guests.
- Must be attentive, friendly, helpful, and courteous to clients, guests, and associates.
- Embrace McKibbon’s Guiding Principles: Think Bigger, Love Your Community, Do the Right Thing, Support Each Other, Make a Lasting Impression.
WHY McKIBBON?
We believe in our Guiding Principles: Think Bigger. Love Your Community. Do the Right Thing. Support Each Other. Make a Lasting Impression. At McKibbon, you’ll join a supportive team that values your work and helps you grow.
- McKibbon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.
- Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, legally authorized to work in the United States, and able to successfully complete any required background screening as a condition of employment.
PERKS & BENEFITS BEYOND THE BASICS
We know that hospitality starts from within, and that’s why we value the employee experience as much as we value our guests’ experience. From our competitive benefits package to our fun-loving spirit, we strive to create an environment that’s equal parts work and play. Our people will always be our first investment. We offer benefits and perks based on full or part time employment:
Benefits: Full Time Associates:
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision
- Life insurance
- Pet Insurance
- Short and long-term disability
- Paid time off and holidays
- Tuition assistance
Financial & Occupational Wellness: All Associates
- Competitive Compensation with incentives (incentives vary by position)
- 401K Savings Plan, 50% matching up to 10% of compensation
- Associate referral program
- Brand and company training classes, workshops and conferences for career growth and development (varies by position)
Personal Wellness: All Associates
- Fundraising matching funds program
- Team volunteer opportunities
- 24/7 chaplain services
- Exclusive hotel rate discounts
Any state specific holiday, vacation or benefit requirements will apply.
All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, military status, or any other protected characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Chief Engineer Job Roles in Florida
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Search Chief Engineer Jobs in FloridaChief Engineer Jobs in Florida: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for chief engineers in Florida?
Florida's aerospace and defense sector produces the most active chief engineer sponsors. Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman operate significant engineering programs on the Space Coast, while L3Harris Technologies is headquartered in Melbourne. Port and maritime employers in Jacksonville and Tampa, including BAE Systems, also sponsor for senior engineering roles. Civil infrastructure firms tied to Florida's ongoing highway and water infrastructure projects round out the sponsorship pool.
Which visa types realistically fit chief engineer roles in Florida?
Chief engineer roles in Florida typically qualify as specialty occupations, making the H-1B visa the most common path for international hires. The H-1B requires a bachelor's degree in a directly related engineering field and is subject to an annual cap and selection process. Canadian and Mexican nationals holding an engineering degree may qualify for TN status under the USMCA Engineer category, with no cap and no lottery. Australian nationals may apply for the E-3 visa, which also requires a specialty occupation and a related degree.
How to find chief engineer visa sponsorship jobs in Florida?
Migrate Mate lists Florida employers with verified visa sponsorship history, searchable by role and city. For chief engineer positions specifically, you can browse aerospace, defense, maritime, and civil infrastructure employers in cities like Melbourne, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Tampa. Migrate Mate surfaces only employers with documented sponsorship activity, saving time compared to filtering general job listings manually.
Which cities in Florida have the most chief engineer sponsorship jobs?
Melbourne and Cape Canaveral on the Space Coast host the densest concentration of chief engineer roles, driven by NASA's Kennedy Space Center and its network of defense contractors. Orlando follows closely, with simulation, defense, and construction engineering employers. Jacksonville supports shipbuilding and port engineering roles, while Tampa sees demand from infrastructure, utilities, and marine engineering firms. Miami adds civil and structural engineering opportunities tied to major development projects.
Are there state-specific factors that affect chief engineer visa sponsorship in Florida?
Florida's heavy reliance on federal defense and aerospace contracts means many chief engineer roles sit within cleared or sensitive programs, which can complicate international hiring. Some positions require U.S. security clearances that are not available to foreign nationals, effectively limiting sponsorship eligibility at certain contractors. Outside the defense sector, Florida's active infrastructure investment and growing university research partnerships, particularly at the University of Florida and Florida Institute of Technology, create engineering hiring pipelines that are more open to international candidates.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored chief engineer jobs in Florida?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.