Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Building Engineer

🎯 Role Definition

The Building Engineer (also known as Chief Engineer, Facilities Engineer, or Building Systems Engineer) is responsible for reliable operation, maintenance, and optimization of all building mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and life-safety systems. The role drives preventive maintenance programs, performs hands-on repairs and troubleshooting of HVAC, boilers, chillers, generators, and controls systems, coordinates vendors and capital projects, and enforces code and safety compliance. Successful candidates combine deep technical skills (HVAC, electrical, BAS, plumbing), strong troubleshooting ability, vendor and contract management experience, and excellent tenant/customer service to maintain safe, efficient, and comfortable building environments.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Maintenance Technician / Maintenance Mechanic
HVAC Technician or Commercial HVAC Service Technician
Facilities Technician or Building Systems Technician

Advancement To:

Senior Building Engineer / Lead Engineer
Facilities Manager or Chief Engineer
Director of Facilities / Campus Facilities Director
Plant Manager or Head of Maintenance

Lateral Moves:

HVAC Controls Specialist / BAS Technician
Energy Manager / Sustainability Specialist
Property Manager or Operations Manager
Elevator or Fire Systems Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Maintain, inspect, diagnose and repair commercial and residential building systems including HVAC (air handlers, rooftop units, chillers, boilers, boilers and hydronic systems), refrigeration, plumbing, domestic hot water systems, pumps, chillers, and cooling towers to ensure continuous, efficient operation and occupant comfort.
Perform hands-on mechanical, electrical and plumbing repairs: replace motors, pumps, belts, starters, bearings, valves, meters, piping and fittings; troubleshoot electrical distribution up to the defined scope ( breakers, contactors, starters) and coordinate licensed electricians for high-voltage or code-required electrical work.
Operate, troubleshoot and optimize building automation systems (BAS), building control systems, DDC controls and thermostats to maintain setpoints, schedules, and energy efficiency goals; log alarms and perform root-cause analysis on recurring control issues.
Lead preventive maintenance (PM) program development and execution using CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Systems); create, update and complete PM work orders, generate asset histories, and manage spare parts inventory.
Test, inspect and maintain life-safety, fire protection and emergency systems: fire alarms, fire pumps, sprinklers, smoke control, emergency lighting, and egress systems to ensure compliance with NFPA codes and local regulations.
Respond to building emergencies and service requests 24/7 as assigned: HVAC failures, water leaks, flooding, power outages, elevator failures, and safety incidents; provide timely mitigation and documentation.
Maintain and perform preventative and corrective maintenance on emergency generators, UPS systems and transfer switches including load testing, oil/fuel checks, and battery inspections to ensure reliable emergency power.
Support and execute planned and reactive maintenance for building envelope issues including roofs, flashing, windows, doors and waterproofing; coordinate roof repairs and regular inspections.
Manage vendor selection, scheduling, supervision and performance of external contractors for specialized services (roofing, elevator, fire systems, major mechanical, asbestos/lead abatement), ensuring contract compliance, permits, insurance and safety protocols.
Conduct regular building inspections, maintain digital logs and regulatory documentation, prepare deficiency lists, and drive corrective actions to closure with follow-up verification.
Assist with capital improvement projects and renovations: scope mechanical/electrical/plumbing work, provide field oversight, coordinate shut-downs, review contractor submittals and ensure as-built documentation and systems commissioning.
Implement and monitor energy management and sustainability initiatives: optimize HVAC sequences, recommission systems, identify energy-efficiency opportunities and contribute to energy reporting and benchmarking (e.g., ENERGY STAR, local reporting).
Maintain inventory control of critical spares and parts, coordinate purchasing, track warranties and ensure availability of commonly required parts to minimize downtime.
Administer key control, access control, building security systems and CCTV maintenance; coordinate with security teams to support safety and tenant access requirements.
Prepare and maintain mechanical/electrical drawings, equipment manuals, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) and ensure availability of up-to-date documentation for all building systems.
Ensure compliance with applicable local, state and federal codes and regulations, OSHA safety requirements, and environmental standards including refrigerant handling and disposal guidelines.
Oversee water treatment programs for boilers, cooling towers and closed-loop systems: testing, chemical feed, scaling and corrosion control to extend equipment life and maintain system reliability.
Perform basic welding, pipefitting and fabrication tasks as required for repair and retrofit work to maintain piping, handrails, supports and structural elements.
Monitor utility usage and billing anomalies, investigate discrepancies, and work with facility leadership to reduce costs through operational changes or equipment upgrades.
Lead and/or provide training and mentorship to junior engineers, maintenance staff and building operators on safety procedures, equipment operation and troubleshooting best practices.
Maintain strong tenant/occupant relations by communicating status updates, scheduling disruptive work to minimize impact, and responding professionally to service requests and complaints.
Execute seasonal preparations and tasks (winterization, snow/ice management coordination, summer cooling readiness) and maintain exterior grounds to ensure overall property safety and presentation.
Maintain accurate maintenance records, incident reports, and regulatory inspection logs in electronic or paper format for audit readiness and operational transparency.

Secondary Functions

Support building sustainability initiatives and baseline energy performance tracking.
Assist with budgeting forecasts for maintenance labor, parts and capital projects; provide input on lifecycle cost and replacement planning.
Contribute to procurement decisions by evaluating equipment options, cost estimates and ROI for retrofit or replacement projects.
Participate in safety committees, conduct toolbox talks, lead hazard assessments and ensure personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance.
Coordinate with property management, tenants, and corporate stakeholders to align building operations with business needs and occupancy schedules.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Commercial HVAC systems: boilers, chillers, cooling towers, rooftop units, VAV, AHUs, heat pumps, and packaged systems.
Building Automation Systems (BAS) / Direct Digital Controls (DDC) — programming, alarm management and sequence optimization.
Electrical troubleshooting and maintenance up to code-defined limits; familiarity with motor controls, starters, panels and 3-phase systems.
Plumbing and hydronic systems: pumps, valves, piping, water heaters and backflow prevention devices.
Fire & life-safety systems: fire alarm testing, sprinkler system awareness, and emergency egress systems.
Generator/UPS maintenance and emergency power system testing.
CMMS experience (e.g., Dude Solutions, Maximo, FM:Systems, UpKeep) for work order management and preventive maintenance scheduling.
Refrigeration and refrigerant handling, EPA 608 certification preferred.
Blueprint reading, technical drawing interpretation and basic mechanical/electrical schematics.
Water treatment knowledge for boilers and cooling towers; chemical feed and testing protocols.
Basic welding, pipefitting and mechanical fabrication skills.
Familiarity with OSHA safety standards, NFPA codes and local building codes.
Energy management fundamentals, metering, and benchmarking tools.
Proficiency with basic IT and smart building interfaces; remote monitoring systems and trend analysis.
Inventory control and procurement systems experience.

Soft Skills

Strong troubleshooting mindset with analytic problem-solving and root-cause orientation.
Excellent verbal and written communication; ability to write clear reports and communicate technical issues to non-technical stakeholders.
Customer service and tenant relations focus; professional demeanor when interacting with occupants and vendors.
Time management, ability to prioritize multiple simultaneous maintenance tasks and emergency responses.
Team leadership and mentorship: train and guide junior staff, contractors and vendors.
Reliability, integrity and strong work ethic; dependable for on-call and emergency response assignments.
Attention to detail and commitment to regulatory compliance and documentation quality.
Adaptability to changing schedules, weather-related events and building occupancy demands.
Project coordination skills: manage scopes, schedules and contractor performance on maintenance projects.
Collaborative mindset: work cross-functionally with property management, security, procurement, and sustainability teams.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED required.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or technical diploma in Mechanical Technology, HVAC, Electrical Technology, Facilities Management, or related technical field.
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Facilities Management, or Construction Management is a plus for advanced roles.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Mechanical or Electrical Technology
HVAC/R (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration)
Facilities Management / Building Systems Technology
Energy Management / Environmental Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3 to 7 years of hands-on building maintenance and mechanical systems experience for mid-level Building Engineer roles.

Preferred:

5+ years in commercial, institutional or multi-family building systems maintenance with progressive responsibility.
Experience with high-rise, campus, healthcare or critical facilities is advantageous.
Demonstrated success operating BAS, CMMS and performing preventative maintenance on chillers, boilers and emergency systems.

Certifications & Licenses (preferred/optional):

EPA 608 Refrigerant Certification
OSHA 10 or OSHA 30
CFC handling/Type II certification where applicable
Certified Facilities Manager (CFM) or IFMA credentials (preferred for leadership roles)
NFPA or fire alarm system training
Local mechanical or electrical license where required by jurisdiction