BUILDING OPERATING ENGINEER 5923 (Revised 09-18-25)

Job Title

A Building Operating Engineer operates, monitors, and performs maintenance on high pressure gas or oil fired boilers, gas or steam turbines, energy recovery boilers and heat exchangers, other heating systems, and their auxiliaries in supplying steam or high temperature hot water for space heating and similar purposes; operates, monitors, and performs maintenance on large tonnage capacity chillers used for air-conditioning, including all auxiliary related equipment such as condensers, cooling towers, pumps, and air compressors; performs water treatment tests and studies; monitors and maintains other building service equipment; operates and programs computer based building automation systems, trouble-shoot program control sequence of operation, operates and maintains various types of refrigeration and air conditioning air handling units, operates and monitors computer based lighting control systems; responds and investigates building tenant service requests; tests and monitors fire life and safety alarm systems; maintains the building operability while optimizing equipment performance for efficient energy management and energy reduction.

Requirements/Minimum Qualifications

A valid unlimited Steam Engineer's license issued by the Department of Building and Safety of the City of Los Angeles is required at the time of filing.

Applicants must submit their unlimited Steam Engineer's license at the time of filing. The copy of the license must be attached to the on-line application BEFORE the application is submitted. If the license is attached AFTER the on-line application has been submitted, it will not be available to the City and applicants WILL NOT be credited with having submitted it. Applicants who fail to submit the license at the time of filing by not attaching it to the on-line application WILL NOT be considered further in this examination and their applications will not be processed.

A valid universal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certificate is required prior to appointment pursuant to Section 608 of the Clean Air Act.

All positions at the Los Angeles World Airports require a turbine endorsement issued by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety prior to the completion of probation.

A valid Class C driver's license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is required at the time of filing. Applicants will be disqualified and not be eligible for hire if their DMV record within the last 36 months reflects three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of major moving violation such as DUI.

Where To Apply & Application Deadline

Applications will only be accepted on-line on the dates listed in the "Application Deadline" section of this bulletin. When you are viewing the on-line job bulletin of your choice, simply scroll to the top of the page and select the "Apply" icon. On-line job bulletins are also available at

Applicants are urged to apply early to ensure you have time to resolve any technical issues you may encounter.

Applications will only be accepted on-line on the dates listed below:

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2026 to THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2026

The examination may close without prior notice at any time after a sufficient number of applications have been received. Filing periods may change without prior notice or additional dates may be added, as needed, at a later date. For administrative purposes, filing will close periodically and reopen on the dates noted in the "Application Deadline" section of this bulletin.

In accordance with Civil Service Rule 4.2, all applicants who apply may not be tested in this examination. To meet anticipated hiring needs, only a limited number of qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the selection process in the following order: 1) Applicants currently employed by the City of Los Angeles who meet the minimum requirement, or are on a reserve list; 2) Remaining applicants who meet the minimum requirement in sufficient numbers to meet hiring needs based on a random sampling of those qualified candidates. Applicants not selected to be tested may re-apply in a subsequent filing period in order to be considered for that period's selection process.

Selection Process

The examination will consist entirely of an evaluation of professional and personal qualifications by interview. In the interview, the following competencies may be evaluated: Objectivity; Teamwork; Oral Communication; Safety Focus, including knowledge of: potential safety hazards involved in high pressure boiler operation and the precautions that should be taken to mitigate them; Job Knowledge, including knowledge of: operating principles and construction of oil and gas-fired boilers, combustion turbine generators, auxiliary equipment, and pressure reducing stations; methods and techniques used to clean and maintain oil, gas-fired, and waste-heat boilers, and related auxiliary equipment; water treatment processes including the proper use and handling of chemicals, and the methods for interpreting their associated test results; methods and techniques used to identify and diagnose equipment issues; methods used to interpret blueprints, schematic diagrams, and on-line computer print-outs; Equipment Operation, including knowledge of: the operation and maintenance of air conditioning machinery, chiller plants, cooling towers, air handling units, compressed air systems, emergency generators, fire alarm systems, fire pumps, and computer based building control systems; Electrical Understanding, including knowledge of: principles of electricity as they relate to wiring and connections; and other necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Additional job analysis information can be obtained by going to and clicking on Competencies under Building Operating Engineer.

Candidates will be notified later by e-mail of the date, time, and location of the interview, which may be held in Los Angeles or on-line.

For candidates who apply between FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2026 and THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2026, it is anticipated that interviews will begin during the period of MONDAY to FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2026 to MARCH 27, 2026.

This examination is based on a validation study.

As a covered entity under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. To request a disability accommodation, please complete the Disability Accommodation Form within 14 calendar days of the submittal of the City application. The Disability Accommodation Form can be obtained at

Applications are accepted subject to review to ensure that the minimum qualification has been met. Candidates may be disqualified at any time if it is determined that they do not possess the minimum qualification stated on this bulletin.

Based on the Federal Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1994, you may be required to undergo mandatory drug and alcohol testing prior to and during employment in this class.

You may take the Building Operating Engineer examination only once every 18 months under this bulletin.

Your rank on the employment list may change as scores of candidates from other administrations of this examination are merged onto one list.

Your name may be removed from the open competitive list after six (6) months.

A final average score of 70% or higher is required to be placed on the eligible list.

In accordance with Civil Service Rule, Sec. 4.24, review periods may be combined. Candidates in the examination process may file protests as provided in Sec. 4.20, 4.22 and 4.23 as applicable and within the required time frame; however, the Personnel Department may respond to and resolve protests prior to the establishment of the eligible list.

If in accordance with the Rule of Three Whole Scores all candidates are eligible for appointment consideration, the examination will consist entirely of an evaluation of the candidate's City employment application by Personnel Department staff to ensure that the minimum qualification has been met.

Notice: If you receive and accept an offer of employment to a regular position with the City of Los Angeles, your employee benefit coverage (including health and dental coverage, as well as life insurance) will commence approximately six weeks after your original regular appointment. Not all positions in the City receive benefit coverage; you should inquire regarding the availability of employee benefits prior to accepting a position. All City employees are required to be Disaster Service Workers.

This examination is to be given ONLY ON AN OPEN COMPETITIVE BASIS. The City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, creed, color, ancestry, medical condition (cancer), or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.