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 helps in the operation, monitoring, and performance of preventative maintenance on building systems to include life safety systems as necessary.

This position is located in Tempe, Arizona. This position is on-site. This is not a remote or hybrid position.

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

Responsibilities :

Electrical Systems

• Possess a trained and working knowledge of A.C. circuits and safety procedures
• Possess a trained and working knowledge of the procedures for resetting of breakers
• Possess a trained and working knowledge of outlet, switch, lighting ballast, and circuit breakers

HVAC Systems

• Possess a trained and working knowledge of basic refrigeration cycle
• Possess a trained and working knowledge of DDC devices found in a commercial office building
  • Some properties may require a trained and working knowledge of pneumatic systems
• Responsible for minor preventative maintenance of an AHU
• Respond to HVAC calls; determine if repair is needed in a timely manner
• Test & make minor adjustment to chemical treatment levels in water system
• Perform daily inspections and log of a chiller and report anything out of range
• Replace belts, motor, bearings, actuators, and values
• Possess a trained and working knowledge with the ability to troubleshoot and repair field devices such as a power induction unit, variable volume units (PIU/VAV) and similar diverse types found in a commercial building
• Will be involved with set point adjustments with the buildings energy management system
• Troubleshoot and make minor adjustments and repairs to the pumping system

Plumbing Systems

• Perform basic preventive maintenance on plumbing systems
• Rebuild and repair flush valves and faucets
• Responsible for inspecting and replacing wax bowel seal and remounting of toilet and urinals when needed
• Responsible for minor preventative maintenance of a systems pump
• Adjust and service pressure-reducing valves

Life Safety Systems

• Perform required operations on the buildings life safety systems
• Identify and respond to fire alarm and troubles in a timely manner, properly enable and disable points
• Conduct and log a weekly inspection of Emergency Generator and Fire Pumps
• Perform other life safety duties as assigned

Miscellaneous Responsibilities

• Repair and replace door closures & minor door hardware as needed
• Responsible for minor adjustment and repair of security systems
• Read and record tenant utility meters
• Understanding of mechanical drawings and wiring diagrams
• 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 4 years of experience in building maintenance industry and/or a certified and credited trade school degree in HVAC, electronic, or other industry related trade preferred
• High School Diploma or GED required
• Must be knowledgeable in the safe and proper use of the following tools: ladders, lifts, basic hand tools, voltmeter, manual drain auger, 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
• Must be available for overtime and/or on call outside your normal working hours.
• Each property maintains an on-call engineering schedule. The schedule is subject to change at the needs and discretion of the property.
• Customer Service - Demonstrate optimum customer service delivery while performing all job functions.
• 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 and be flexible.
• Integrity - Demonstrate sound business ethics; consistently comply with organizational values; protect confidential information.
• Communication - Able to clearly express ideas; present verbal information in a straightforward manner; ask questions in order to open channels of communication; listen to understand perspective of others ask questions in order 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 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
• Vision occurs continuously with the most common visual functions being those of near and color vision and depth perception

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.