Chief Engineer

Who We Are:

We are a full-service commercial real estate firm serving Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston with 30 years of experience developing, managing, and investing in commercial real estate. This 360-degree perspective gives us the expertise to maximize investment value while navigating through any real estate challenge. Backed by the best staff in the industry, our mission is to build trusting relationships with our clients through proven results, professional integrity, and exceptional service. 

Purpose / Summary of Position:

Chief Engineer is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of building(s) and works to maintain the integrity and value of the physical assets. Provides the highest quality of service for satisfactory resolutions of all tenants and owner interests. Duties include both field supervision and inspection of work and office administrative duties in support of the functional area of assignment. Position is expected to exercise initiative and independence in implementing departmental policies, developing effective work processes, and solving operational problems. Work requires strong formal conduct of operations skills, technical expertise, personal 

accountability, and flawless execution of work activities commensurate with a high risk critical environment and associated expectations for exceptional customer satisfaction and confidence. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Financial

• Ability to manage operational accounts for building as required and assists in development of operating and capital budgets as required.
• Requires knowledge of financial terms and principles and to understand operating budgets.
• Ability to comprehend, analyze and interpret documents. Ability to solve problems involving several options in situations. Requires intermediate analytical and quantitative skills.
• Ability to effectively present information.
• Estimation of maintenance costs and evaluation of alternatives.
• Monitoring and tracking of expenditures for contract services, maintenance and building capital section.

Technical

• Requires strong engineering technical skills and routine conduct of hands-on operations and maintenance work on a variety of facility systems and equipment in an operating critical environment.
• Analyzes energy usage and costs and originates changes to reduce consumption.
• Participates in the determination of maintenance and energy requirements of new buildings.
• Ability to create, implement, improve, and monitor the preventive maintenance program.
• Assists in developing/maintaining effective building-specific maintenance and safety procedure manuals and enforce compliance.
• Inspects building systems including fire alarms, HVAC, and plumbing to ensure operation of equipment is within design capabilities and achieves environmental conditions prescribed by client.
• Ability to oversee all building systems including fire/life safety, plumbing, HVAC and electrical issues; must remain current with latest HVAC technology trends.
• Have a working knowledge of security systems and the operation of video and card access systems.
• Ability to develop specifications and in solicitation and administration of maintenance/repair service contracts
• Leads or directly operates and monitors critical and non-critical system equipment and components.

Project Management

• Application of scheduling and project management principles to replacement programs.
• Ensures that project deadlines are met and completed projects conform to initial plans and work quality standards.
• Assists with the development of long-range plans and standards for building maintenance.
• Prepare clear and concise records, reports correspondence and other written materials.
• Consults with clients to schedule preventive maintenance and other downtime to minimize business interruption and inconvenience.
• Assists in developing/maintaining as built drawings and understand mechanical and electrical drawings and wiring diagrams.
• Responsible for setting own project deadlines.

Leadership

• Oversees maintenance of over 500,000 sf.
• Exercise independent judgment within general policy guidelines.
• Plan, organize, direct, assign, review and evaluate the work of a minimum of four (4) employees.
• Oversees building services (including 3rd party contractors) for the safe and compliant operation, maintenance (corrective and preventive), and modification of critical equipment.
• Expected to diagnose problems, consider alternative solutions, and select and implement the most effective solution without close supervision.
• Answers questions and provides information related to projects including resolving problems, approving expenditures, handling complaints, and providing technical expertise in area of assignment.
• Coordinate maintenance efforts with outside contractors, tenant finish personnel and engineers.
• Provides formal assistance such as technical guidance, and/or training to maintenance staff.
• Will lead shift operations and maintenance work in a data center and/or critical environment facility.
• Coordinates and assigns tasks to maintenance staff within a work unit and/or project.
• May assist in solicitation and acquisition of new management contracts.
• Lead operations and maintenance on assigned shift and monitor performance of assigned responsibilities.
• Provides on-the-job training and technical support to maintenance technicians.
• Provides technical direction to maintenance technicians on assigned shift.
• Select, motivate, and evaluate staff and provide for their training development.
• Assists with the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and work standards for the section.
• Participate in industry organizations to maintain and improve technical skills. Provide Education internal safety and development training. 

General Duties and Requirements:

• Perform, and report on, all work according to the safety standards of the company, OSHA and health codes as required. 
• Follow up and monitor vendors for approved insurance requirements and proper documentation, i.e. contracts.
• Respond immediately to emergency situations (fire, evacuation, equipment failure, etc.) and customer concerns.
• Keep updated and adhere to Company policies, standard operating procedures, Work Order and Preventative Maintenance System, Uniform Policies, Safety Handbook, etc. 
• Perform effective emergency maintenance (after hours) as required.
• Ability to write repairs, business correspondence and procedure manuals.
• Required to furnish own vehicle compliant with applicable vehicular regulations including valid insurance for transportation between properties if individual has multiple property responsibilities. 
• Required to furnish current, valid driver’s license and proof of insurance, meeting minimum state of Texas requirement. If required to use own vehicle, remain compliant with applicable vehicular regulations including valid insurance and follow all company driving and safety requirements and procedures for transportation between properties, if individual has multiple property responsibilities. If using company vehicle, must remain insurable through the company’s carrier while employed, in addition to meeting personal vehicle requirement. Must inform HR of any change in driving status throughout employment and provide updated copies of license and certificates upon renewal.
• Will be “on call” rotation with other team members.
• Participate in industry organizations to maintain and improve technical skills. Provide Education internal safety and development training. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Two years of trade schooling in electrical system design, refrigeration and/or HVAC.
• Five years plus- experience in commercial building operations, maintenance, and engineering and supporting critical facilities operations and electrical license, HVAC license, Boiler Operator Certificate, etc., required as agreed upon to perform duties.
• Associate degree (AA) or equivalent from two-year college or technical school as well as an Operating Engineers license (SMA) or equivalent preferred.  
• Requires knowledge of financial terms and principles to understand operating budgets and conducts basic financial analysis.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. necessary for installation and removal of equipment.
• Ability to perform duties of this job in all weather conditions. The employee is regularly required to walk, talk and/or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit and reach with their hands and arms. 
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. 
• Limited travel is required in this position.
• Holds electrical license, HVAC license, Boiler Operator Certificate, etc., as agreed upon to perform duties. Operating Engineers license (SMA) or equivalent preferred.
• Advanced skills with Microsoft Office Outlook.
• Intermediate skills with Excel and Word.
• Abilities to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form. 
• EPA 608 Certification required.

HPI provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.