Lead Operating Engineer

Lead Operating Engineer

Hello, we're Metro! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow.

The Oregon Convention Center (OCC) is looking for an experienced Lead Operating Engineer to join our Facilities team and play a key role in supporting the region's premier event venue at the Oregon Convention Center. In this leadership position, you'll oversee daily facility engineering operations, provide guidance to engineering staff, and help ensure critical building systems and equipment operate safely and efficiently. Working closely with event teams and clients, you'll contribute directly to the success of a wide variety of events by coordinating facility services and supporting temporary event utilities, including compressed air, domestic water, and natural gas systems. This position will primarily report to the Oregon Convention Center and support the Portland Expo Center as needed.

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled facilities professional who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, leading teams, and delivering exceptional customer service. As one of the largest convention centers in the Pacific Northwest, the Oregon Convention Center hosts approximately 500 events each year and is nationally recognized for its leadership in sustainability, innovation, and event hospitality. If you're looking to make an impact in a dynamic, fast-paced environment while supporting world-class events at the Oregon Convention Center, we encourage you to apply.

As the Lead Operating Engineer, you will:

• Operate, monitor, maintain, and repair HVAC, refrigeration, and associated mechanical systems, including chillers, boilers, air handling units, pumps, and related equipment.
• Utilize and manage the Building Automation System (BAS) to monitor, troubleshoot, schedule, and optimize building performance and occupant comfort.
• Maintain, troubleshoot, and repair commercial and industrial kitchen equipment.
• Perform and coordinate maintenance and repairs of plumbing systems, fixtures, and backflow prevention devices.
• Maintain and repair facility rolling stock and support equipment, including forklifts, floor scrubbers, sweepers, carts, and similar equipment.
• Coordinate and assign daily work activities for Operating Engineers to ensure timely completion of preventive maintenance and corrective repairs.
• Manage maintenance supplies, parts, tools, and equipment inventories, and coordinate procurement as needed.
• Support convention center operations by responding to facility issues and communicating maintenance needs, operational concerns, project status, and staff activities to the Facilities Manager.
• Oversee contractors and service providers while managing the CMMS to ensure preventive maintenance and work orders are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Plan, install, and support temporary event-related utility services, including compressed air, domestic water, and natural gas connections.

Attributes for success:

• Extensive knowledge of HVAC/R systems, including boilers, chillers cooling towers, refrigeration equipment, and associated mechanical systems.
• Proficient in diagnosing, troubleshooting, repairing, and optimizing HVAC, mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and electronic control systems.
• Experienced with Building Automation Systems (BAS) and lighting controls, including monitoring, scheduling, alarm management, programming, and system optimization.
• Skilled in Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) for preventive maintenance, work order management, asset tracking, and documentation.
• Strong understanding of preventive/predictive maintenance practices, root cause analysis, equipment reliability, and energy-efficient building operations.
• Capable of rebuilding and repairing pumps, fans, compressors, and motor-driven equipment, as well as performing MIG/TIG welding, fabrication, and equipment modifications.
• Able to read and interpret blueprints, schematics, control drawings, technical manuals, and equipment specifications.
• Proven leadership and teamwork skills with the ability to coordinate staff, manage contractors/vendors, prioritize multiple tasks, and support ongoing facility operations and events.
• Committed to safety, regulatory compliance, and emergency response, including lockout/tagout procedures, industry codes, and safe work practices.
• Strong communication, customer service, and recordkeeping abilities, utilizing Microsoft Windows-based systems, maintenance software, and accurate reporting tools.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Metro, we strive to cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro's goal is to hire, develop and retain highly skilled and talented individuals across all departments and programs who best reflect the diversity of our community.

To qualify

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant.

• Five years of experience in a large public facility (Experience must include work-related tasks in plumbing, heating and cooling, and electrical.)
• Any combination of education, professional, volunteer and lived experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the classification duties and responsibilities.

• Limited Maintenance Electrician License (LME) or greater.
• A valid driver's license.

Typical Schedule: Monday – Friday 7am – 3pm. This role also provides the opportunity to be part of a team that supports a variety of exciting events and critical facility operations. As a result, flexibility is important, as occasional evening, weekend, holiday, on-call, and emergency response assignments may be required to meet operational and event needs across the two venues.

Working Conditions: Work is performed throughout the Oregon Convention Center in a variety of environments, including mechanical rooms, maintenance shops, event spaces, rooftops, and other facility locations. The position operates in a dynamic setting with frequent interruptions, shifting priorities, and varying daily workloads. Duties regularly require walking, standing, climbing, bending, kneeling, crouching, reaching, and working in confined spaces or at elevated heights.

Employees must be able to frequently lift, carry, push, pull, and move tools, equipment, and materials weighing up to 40 pounds, with assistance available for heavier loads when needed. Work may involve prolonged physical exertion and exposure to mechanical and electrical equipment, noise, dust, temperature extremes, inclement weather, and other potentially hazardous conditions. Adherence to all applicable safety regulations, procedures, and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements is required at all times.

If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply

If you were terminated for cause during any employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, you may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.

Like to have qualifications:

• At least two years' experience of leading a team of Operating Engineer experience.
• Oregon Health Authority Backflow Tester Certification
• EPA Section 608 Universal Technician Certification
• ORACCA Brazing Certification
• Building Operators Certification Level I or II

Screening and Evaluation

The application packet: The application packet consists of the following required documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.

• A completed online application
• Responses to all supplemental questions

The selection process: We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• In-depth evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
• Consideration of top candidates/interviews
• Testing/assessments (if applicable)
• Reference check
• Driving records check for finalist candidate

Compensation, Benefits and Representation

The starting pay rate for this position is $49.09 per hour. Upon successful completion of the six-month probationary period, the pay rate will increase to $51.40 per hour.

This position is eligible for overtime and is represented by IUOE, Local 701 union. It is classified as a Lead Operating Engineer.

Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of the positions. View the classification description.