Building Engineer - Commercial Office

About Cousins Properties:

Headquartered in Atlanta, Cousins is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT). Cousins has a simple, compelling strategy: Premier urban Sun Belt office portfolio, Disciplined about capital allocation, Best-in-class balance sheet, with Strong local operating platforms. Acting through its operating partnership, Cousins Properties LP, primarily invests in Class A office buildings located in high-growth Sun Belt markets. Cousins Properties (NYSE: CUZ) develops, owns, and manages a 20+ million square foot trophy office portfolio in the high-growth Sun Belt markets of Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Dallas, Nashville, Tampa, and Phoenix.

Founded in 1958, Cousins creates shareholder value through its extensive expertise in the development, acquisition, leasing, and management of high-quality real estate assets. The Company has a comprehensive strategy in place based on a simple platform, trophy assets, and opportunistic investments. For more information, please visit

Job Summary :

The Building Engineer - Commercial Office will assist in the hands-on maintenance of building systems for the safe, efficient, and proper operations of all assigned properties. This position will perform minor repairs and help in the operation, monitoring, and performance of preventative maintenance on building systems as necessary.

This position is on-site in Austin, TX. This is not a remote or hybrid position.

(For Cousins' internal candidates - this is equivalent to a Grade III Engineer position.)

Responsibilities :

Electrical Systems

• Must possess a basic understanding of A.C. circuits and safety procedures
• Responsible for the proper reset of breakers and report shorts
• Responsible for replacing outlets, switches, and lighting ballast

HVAC Systems

• Must possess a basic understanding of the refrigeration cycle
• Responsible for minor preventative maintenance of an AHU
• Respond to HVAC calls; determine if repair is needed promptly
• Assist with tests and minor adjustments to chemical treatment levels in the water system
• Perform a daily inspection and log of a chiller and report anything out of range
• Responsible for inspecting and replacing belts on an AHU

Plumbing Systems

• Must possess a basic understanding of plumbing systems
• Responsible for minor repairs to flush valves and faucets
• Responsible for inspecting and replacing wax bowel seals and remounting of toilets and urinals when needed
• Responsible for minor preventative maintenance of a systems pump

Life Safety Systems

• Must possess a basic understanding of the operations of the building's life safety systems
• Identify and respond to fire alarms and troubles promptly
• Conduct a weekly inspection and log of the Emergency Generator

Miscellaneous Responsibilities

• Repair and replace door closures & minor door hardware as needed
• Responsible for minor adjustments and repair of security systems
• Read and record tenant utility meters
• Responsible for remedial tasks such as painting, cleaning, and unclogging toilets or drains

The above statements are intended only to describe the general nature of the job and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of position responsibilities.

Required or Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

• A minimum of 2 years of experience in building maintenance industry and/or a certified and credited trade school degree in HVAC, electronic, or other industry-related trade required
• High School Diploma or GED required
• Must be available for overtime and/or on call outside your normal working hours.
• Strong mechanical or electrical background preferred
• Must be knowledgeable in the safe and proper use of the following tools: ladders, lifts, basic hand tools, voltmeter, manual drain auger, plumbers helper, safety goggles, ear protection, and fire extinguisher
• Must be able to operate heavy equipment such as chillers, generators, switchgear, pumps, air handling units, etc.
• Must have excellent organizational and problem-solving skills
• Must possess excellent customer service skills
• Must be a team player, able to work outside the core business hours when needed, and willing to accept a variety of tasks associated with this position
• Must possess strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work and communicate effectively with all levels of operations
• Must be a self-starter and able to work well with minimal supervision
• Must be able to speak, read, write, and understand the primary language(s) used in the workplace
• Responsiveness - Need to perform responsibilities with an acute sense of urgency to meet the needs of others; respond to solve problems; willing to accept a variety of tasks associated with this position
• Integrity - Demonstrate sound business ethics; consistently comply with organizational values; protect confidential information
• Customer Service - Demonstrate optimum customer service delivery while performing all job functions
• Communication - Able to clearly express ideas; present verbal information in a straightforward manner; ask questions to open channels of communication

Physical Demands :

• Must be able to stand and exert well-paced mobility for up to 4 hours in length
• Must be able to bend, stoop, squat, and stretch to fulfill cleaning and repair/maintenance tasks
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. on a regular and continuing basis
• Requires grasping, writing, standing, sitting, walking, repetitive motions, bending, climbing, listening and hearing ability, and visual acuity

Cousins is an equal opportunity employer where employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and aptitude. The Company does not discriminate in employment opportunities or employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, age, genetic information, or any other class or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.