Chief Engineer

Chief Engineer
Lead engineering and maintenance strategies for critical infrastructure, ensuring safety, reliability, and operational efficiency.

Job #137044

Manufacturing

$50 - $53.85 an hour

Lake Forest, Illinois

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Talascend is currently seeking a Chief Engineer for a contract-to-hire opportunity with our client in Lake Forest, Illinois .


Overview


The Chief Engineer provides technical and operational leadership for engineering and maintenance operations supporting corporate headquarters and data center facilities. This role is responsible for ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient performance of building infrastructure and critical systems to support continuous business operations.


Responsibilities

• Provide technical and operational leadership for engineering and maintenance functions, ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, life safety, controls, and critical infrastructure systems.
• Serve as the facility's senior technical resource for complex equipment and infrastructure issues, providing technical direction, troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and solutions to reduce operational risk and improve system reliability.
• Lead, coach, and develop maintenance technicians by establishing standards, strengthening technical capabilities, providing hands-on training, and promoting safe and effective work practices.
• Direct and prioritize preventive, predictive, corrective, and emergency maintenance activities based on business impact, operational risk, and regulatory requirements. Develop reliability-centered maintenance strategies.
• Lead maintenance, infrastructure, renovation, and capital improvement projects from conception through completion, including scope development, budgeting, technical review, contractor coordination, and commissioning.
• Provide technical oversight of contractors, vendors, and service providers by establishing performance requirements, monitoring service levels, resolving complex issues, and ensuring compliance with standards and regulations.
• Partner with the facility manager to develop operating and capital budgets, forecast expenditures, assess lifecycle costs, identify replacement needs, and support long-term capital planning.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and technical leader for CMMS, asset management, emergency response, and facility recovery efforts, driving continuous improvement in safety, reliability, and efficiency.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required; Associate's Degree preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in commercial or industrial facilities engineering, building operations, or critical infrastructure maintenance.
• Data center maintenance experience preferred.
• Experience managing capital construction and infrastructure projects.
• Knowledge of CMMS administration, maintenance planning, building automation systems, HVAC controls, electrical distribution, emergency power, chilled water systems, and critical facility operations.
• Demonstrated ability to perform the duties of this position through relevant experience, training, or education.

We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those qualified individuals who closely meet the qualifications of the position will be contacted. The details of the position are only a summary, other duties may be assigned as necessary.


Background Check and Drug Screen may be required.