Chief Building Engineer

Location: Onsite, Chicago, IL

Employment Type: Full-Time

Annual Compensation Range: $85,000 – $95,000

The compensation above is the estimated hiring range for this position. Final offers are determined based on a variety of factors, including skills, experience, qualifications, internal equity, and other job-related considerations.

To access a list of benefits for full-time jobs, please visit

Keep Our Campus Running. Support a Greater Purpose.

Are you a hands-on building engineering professional who enjoys solving complex mechanical challenges, leading skilled teams, and keeping critical systems operating safely and reliably?

Moody Bible Institute is seeking a Chief Building Engineer to provide day-to-day technical leadership for the building systems and infrastructure that support our Chicago campus. This role is an opportunity to bring your technical expertise and leadership experience to a mission-driven environment where reliable facilities directly support education, ministry, and student life.

About Us

Moody Bible Institute is a Christ-centered higher education and media ministry dedicated to equipping people with the truth of God's Word. Through trusted biblical teaching, media, and educational resources, Moody reaches audiences around the world with the gospel and seeks to make a lasting Kingdom impact.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Senior Director of Facilities, the Chief Building Engineer oversees the daily operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of critical building systems across Moody's urban campus.

This position serves as a primary technical resource for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, central plant, building automation, and fire/life safety systems. The Chief Building Engineer also provides day-to-day leadership to engineering and maintenance staff, coordinates preventive maintenance, oversees specialized contractors, and responds to building system issues and emergencies.

The ideal candidate is a skilled, hands-on building engineer who combines strong technical knowledge with practical leadership and takes pride in maintaining safe, reliable, and efficient facilities.

What You’ll Be Doing

Building Systems & Operations

• Direct the daily operation, troubleshooting, maintenance, and repair of critical campus building systems.
• Oversee HVAC equipment, central plant systems, chillers, boilers, electrical distribution, plumbing, pumps, compressors, and related mechanical equipment.
• Monitor building automation systems (BAS) and respond to alarms, system conditions, and operational issues.
• Coordinate response to equipment failures and emergency repairs to minimize disruption to campus operations.
• Troubleshoot complex building system issues and provide hands-on technical support when needed.
• Help ensure campus facilities operate safely, reliably, and efficiently for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Team Leadership

• Supervise, train, and provide day-to-day direction to assistant engineers, maintenance technicians, mechanics, and other assigned staff.
• Assign and prioritize work orders based on operational needs and urgency.
• Monitor completed work to ensure repairs and maintenance meet established quality and safety standards.
• Support staff development by sharing technical knowledge, providing coaching, and reinforcing safe work practices.
• Coordinate staff schedules and coverage to maintain appropriate support for campus operations.

Preventive Maintenance

• Develop, implement, and maintain preventive maintenance programs for critical building systems and equipment.
• Utilize the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) to track work orders, preventive maintenance schedules, equipment history, and repair activity.
• Monitor equipment performance and recurring maintenance issues to identify opportunities for improved reliability.
• Help maximize equipment life and reduce unplanned downtime through consistent preventive maintenance practices.

Energy & Building Performance

• Monitor building automation and mechanical systems to support energy-efficient campus operations.
• Identify opportunities to reduce energy and water consumption while maintaining appropriate building comfort and operational performance.
• Assist with evaluating equipment performance and recommending operational or equipment improvements.

Vendor & Project Oversight

• Coordinate and oversee specialized third-party contractors, including elevator, roofing, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and other building service providers.
• Monitor contractor work for quality, safety, and adherence to project requirements.
• Provide technical support for facility improvement and capital projects involving campus building systems.
• Work with Facilities leadership, contractors, engineers, and other stakeholders to coordinate building system shutdowns, repairs, upgrades, and installations.

Compliance & Safety

• Help ensure building operations comply with applicable city, state, and federal regulations, building codes, and safety requirements.
• Maintain compliance with OSHA requirements, EPA regulations related to refrigerant handling, and applicable fire and life-safety standards.
• Maintain required licenses, certifications, inspection records, and equipment documentation.
• Promote safe work practices and identify and address potential building or workplace hazards.
• Support facilities-related emergency response activities as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Five (5) to seven (7) years of experience operating and maintaining commercial, institutional, or similarly complex building systems and mechanical equipment.
• At least three (3) years of supervisory or team leadership experience within building operations, engineering, or facilities maintenance.
• Demonstrated experience operating, troubleshooting, and maintaining HVAC, central plant, boiler, chiller, plumbing, electrical, and related building systems.
• Working knowledge of building automation systems (BAS) and facility controls.
• Experience with preventive maintenance programs and computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS).
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills with the ability to diagnose complex mechanical and building system issues.
• Ability to effectively lead employees, coordinate work assignments, and work collaboratively with contractors and internal stakeholders.
• Possession of applicable licenses and certifications, including Universal EPA Refrigeration Certification, and other certifications required by prevailing trade practices or regulatory requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ten (10) or more years of building engineering, commercial facilities, or institutional maintenance experience.
• Experience leading engineering, mechanical, or facilities maintenance teams.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Construction Management, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of technical education, certifications, training, and experience.
• Additional certifications or licenses relevant to building engineering, HVAC, refrigeration, electrical systems, facilities operations, or maintenance management.
• Experience working in a higher education, healthcare, commercial, or other complex multi-building environment.
• Experience monitoring building energy usage and identifying opportunities to improve system efficiency and performance.

Work Environment

• This is a full-time, onsite position based at Moody Bible Institute's Chicago campus and requires a combination of technical, field, and office work.

• Work is regularly performed in mechanical rooms, utility areas, rooftops, equipment spaces, and throughout campus buildings.
• The position requires regular walking, standing, climbing, bending, reaching, and navigating building and mechanical spaces.
• Responsibilities involve the use of computers, hand tools, testing equipment, and specialized building maintenance equipment.
• The role may require lifting and moving equipment or materials weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Due to the nature of campus building operations, occasional evening, weekend, holiday, and emergency response coverage may be required.

Additional Information

• Candidates must demonstrate alignment with Moody Bible Institute's mission, doctrinal beliefs, and Christian values.
• Employees are required to affirm Moody's Statement of Faith and adhere to Community Standards.
• Moody Bible Institute values diversity and seeks team members who engage others in ways that honor its biblical foundation.
• Moody complies with applicable nondiscrimination laws and, as a religious institution, requires employees to hold beliefs consistent with its Doctrinal Statement and Community Standards.
• Authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Why Join Us

Bring your technical expertise and leadership experience to a role where the work you do every day matters. As Building Chief Engineer, you’ll help keep critical campus systems running safely and reliably while supporting the people and programs that carry out Moody’s mission.

Join us and use your building engineering expertise to help create a safe, reliable, and well-maintained campus where students, faculty, staff, and ministry can thrive.