Director Of Engineering

Director of Engineering

Nobu Hotel Atlanta | Buckhead, Atlanta, GA

Nobu Hotel Atlanta is seeking an experienced, independent, and forward-thinking Director of Engineering to lead the Engineering and Facilities operation of the property.

We are looking for a self-starter who takes initiative, anticipates potential issues, and understands the importance of maintaining a luxury hotel environment. This is an excellent opportunity for a Senior Engineer, Assistant Director of Engineering, Chief Engineer, or experienced Engineering Manager at a larger property who is ready to take the next step in their career.

The ideal candidate will have strong knowledge and experience in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, refrigeration, building systems, life safety systems, preventative maintenance, energy management, and regulatory compliance . Previous experience in a luxury or full-service hotel environment is strongly preferred.

Position Summary

The Director of Engineering is responsible for the overall operation, maintenance, safety, appearance, and physical condition of the hotel and its facilities. This includes the physical building structure, guest rooms, public areas, back-of-house areas, mechanical rooms, exterior landscaping, parking areas, HVAC and mechanical systems, electrical systems, plumbing, refrigeration, kitchen and laundry equipment, exercise equipment, pool and sauna facilities, life safety systems, and other property equipment.

The Director of Engineering provides leadership and direction to the Engineering team while ensuring the property is maintained in accordance with Nobu Hotel standards, brand standards, applicable laws and regulations, life safety requirements, and established Standard Operating Procedures .

This position is responsible for developing and maintaining preventative maintenance programs, managing work orders, overseeing engineering projects, managing vendors and service contracts, developing and controlling the departmental budget, monitoring energy consumption, supporting capital planning, and recruiting, training, developing, and holding Engineering associates accountable to established standards.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

Engineering Operations & Preventative Maintenance

• Oversee the daily operation, maintenance, repair, safety, and appearance of the hotel's physical plant and building systems.
• Manage and maintain mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, refrigeration, water treatment, kitchen, laundry, pool, sauna, fitness equipment, and other property systems.
• Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive preventative maintenance program for all hotel equipment and building systems.
• Ensure scheduled preventative maintenance is completed accurately, consistently, and on time.
• Regularly inspect guest rooms, public spaces, back-of-house areas, exterior areas, and mechanical spaces to identify maintenance needs and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure timely completion and proper documentation of work orders, maintenance requests, preventative maintenance tasks, and guest-related Engineering concerns .
• Establish appropriate priorities for work orders based on safety, operational impact, guest experience, and urgency.
• Monitor Engineering response times and completion rates to ensure departmental accountability.
• Identify recurring maintenance issues and develop long-term solutions to prevent repeat problems.
• Maintain accurate records of equipment maintenance, inspections, repairs, warranties, service history, and replacement schedules.
• Facilitate the use of appropriate service manuals, technical manuals, blueprints, schematics, and equipment documentation during preventative maintenance, repairs, and replacement of systems or components.
• Proactively identify potential equipment failures and develop solutions to minimize operational disruption and protect hotel assets.

Emergency Response & On-Call Responsibilities

• Participate in and provide leadership for the hotel's emergency response and crisis management programs .
• Maintain clear procedures for responding to mechanical failures, utility interruptions, flooding, fire/life safety events, HVAC failures, power outages, and other facility emergencies.
• Ensure Engineering associates understand emergency procedures, equipment, alarms, shut-off locations, evacuation procedures, and emergency response expectations.
• Be available to respond to after-hours emergencies and participate in an Engineering on-call rotation , as required by the property.
• Coordinate with Security, leadership, emergency services, contractors, and other departments during facility-related emergencies.
• Ensure appropriate documentation and follow-up are completed following significant maintenance or emergency events.

Life Safety, Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

• Maintain and oversee all hotel life safety systems, including fire alarms, sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, emergency systems, and related equipment.
• Ensure the Fire/Life Safety team has a complete understanding of applicable procedures, equipment, alarms, and emergency response protocols.
• Ensure all required licenses, permits, inspections, certifications, testing, and regulatory documentation remain current.
• Maintain accurate records of inspections, deficiencies, corrective actions, repairs, and compliance requirements.
• Coordinate required inspections, testing, repairs, and certifications with qualified vendors and regulatory agencies.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, building codes, health and safety requirements, and fire/life safety standards.
• Immediately address identified safety hazards, regulatory deficiencies, or conditions that may negatively impact guests, associates, or hotel operations.
• Ensure all Engineering practices comply with established safety standards and building codes.
• Follow and enforce all company safety and security policies and procedures.

Capital Planning & Asset Protection

• Develop and maintain a long-term asset protection and capital planning strategy for the property.
• Identify equipment and building systems requiring replacement, refurbishment, or major capital investment.
• Develop recommendations for capital projects based on equipment condition, lifecycle, operational needs, safety, guest experience, and financial impact.
• Maintain appropriate records of major equipment, asset condition, warranties, useful life, and replacement requirements.
• Assist ownership and hotel leadership with long-term capital planning and property improvement initiatives.
• Oversee construction, renovation, and engineering projects to ensure completion on schedule, within approved budgets, and in accordance with Engineering and brand standards.
• Coordinate with ownership, corporate leadership, the General Manager, contractors, consultants, and other stakeholders throughout capital projects.
• Ensure appropriate project documentation, warranties, closeout documents, and equipment information are maintained.

Vendor Management & Procurement

• Manage outside engineering contractors, service providers, and specialized vendors.
• Administer and monitor all Engineering-related service contracts and agreements.
• Obtain and evaluate competitive bids, proposals, estimates, and scopes of work for repairs, projects, and services.
• Ensure vendor selection and purchasing decisions are aligned with property needs, quality standards, and budgetary expectations.
• Review invoices and vendor charges for accuracy and compliance with contracted services.
• Monitor vendor performance and hold contractors accountable for quality, safety, timelines, and contractual obligations.
• Maintain strong professional relationships with vendors while ensuring services are delivered in a cost-effective manner.
• Negotiate service requirements, pricing, timelines, and deliverables when appropriate.
• Ensure outside contractors comply with hotel safety and security requirements while working on property.

Energy & Utility Management

• Monitor and manage hotel heat, light, power, water, and other utility consumption .
• Review utility usage and identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary consumption and operating costs.
• Monitor HVAC, lighting, water systems, and other equipment for efficiency and proper operation.
• Develop and implement energy conservation initiatives while maintaining guest comfort and operational standards.
• Identify equipment or operational practices contributing to excessive utility consumption.
• Provide leadership with recommendations regarding energy efficiency, utility costs, and potential capital improvements.
• Support hotel sustainability initiatives and environmentally responsible operating practices.

Financial & Budget Management

• Develop, manage, and monitor the Engineering department's annual operating budget.
• Monitor departmental payroll, staffing levels, overtime, and labor expenses.
• Manage controllable Engineering expenses, including utilities, tools, equipment, supplies, uniforms, inventory, vendor costs, service agreements, and groundskeeping supplies.
• Review operating statements, budget worksheets, payroll reports, invoices, and other financial information to identify variances and opportunities for improvement.
• Develop strategies to reduce operating expenses while maintaining safety, quality, guest satisfaction, and property standards.
• Ensure Engineering purchases and expenditures are appropriate, properly approved, and within established budget guidelines.
• Understand the impact of Engineering operations on overall hotel financial performance and educate associates accordingly.
• Participate in the hotel's annual budgeting and forecasting processes.

Leadership, Training & Accountability

• Lead, coach, develop, and hold the Engineering team accountable for operational and service excellence.
• Interview, select, onboard, train, schedule, coach, and support Engineering associates.
• Establish clear departmental expectations, performance standards, and accountability measures.
• Conduct regular Engineering meetings, training sessions, and performance discussions.
• Develop structured training programs for Engineering associates based on individual skill levels, property requirements, and identified training gaps.
• Ensure associates are properly trained on equipment, preventative maintenance procedures, safety protocols, emergency response procedures, and hotel standards.
• Identify technical and operational training gaps and develop appropriate action plans.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide ongoing coaching and feedback.
• Address performance concerns consistently and in accordance with company policies.
• Promote a culture of teamwork, accountability, safety, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure departmental policies and procedures are administered fairingly and consistently.
• Ensure associates perform their responsibilities in accordance with Nobu Hotel standards, brand standards, and Nobu Hotel core values .

Guest Experience & Cross-Departmental Collaboration

• Recognize that the physical condition, functionality, cleanliness, and appearance of the hotel directly impact on the luxury guest experience .
• Partner closely with Rooms, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Culinary, Security, Events, and other departments to support hotel operations.
• Respond proactively to Engineering issues that may affect guest satisfaction or hotel operations.
• Participate in guest room and public area inspections to ensure the physical product consistently meets luxury hotel standards.
• Ensure guest rooms and public areas are maintained to the highest standards, including lighting, plumbing fixtures, HVAC, hardware, wall coverings, caulking, grouting, paint, electrical outlets, appliances, and other miscellaneous repairs.
• Respond promptly and professionally to guest-related maintenance concerns.
• Communicate effectively with department leaders regarding ongoing projects, maintenance concerns, equipment failures, and operational risks.
• Provide timely updates and recommendations to hotel leadership regarding significant Engineering issues.
• Support hotel initiatives, VIP experiences, special events, and operational programs by ensuring facilities and equipment are prepared and functioning properly.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 5 years of progressive Engineering or Facilities experience , preferably within a full-service, upscale, or luxury hotel environment.
• Previous experience as a Director of Engineering, Assistant Director of Engineering, Chief Engineer, or Engineering Manager preferred.
• Strong knowledge of HVAC, electrical, plumbing, refrigeration, mechanical systems, building systems, and general hotel maintenance .
• Demonstrated experience managing preventative maintenance programs.
• Experience with fire/life safety systems and emergency response procedures.
• Working knowledge of applicable building codes, safety regulations, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience managing departmental budgets, payroll, vendors, contracts, and operating expenses.
• Experience with capital projects, asset management, contractors, and construction/renovation projects.
• Strong understanding of energy management and utility conservation.
• Strong leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, train, and hold a technical team accountable.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects and respond effectively in a fast-paced hotel environment.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and make sound decisions with minimal supervision.
• Strong computer skills and ability to utilize maintenance management systems, hotel systems, Microsoft Office, and other technology.
• Ability to read and interpret technical manuals, blueprints, schematics, and equipment documentation.
• Ability to communicate effectively with associates, leadership, vendors, contractors, ownership, and regulatory agencies.
• Relevant technical certifications, licenses, or specialized training are strongly preferred.
• Luxury hotel or branded hotel experience preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the property.
• Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, crawl, climb stairs and ladders, and work in confined or mechanical spaces as required.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull tools, equipment, and materials as required.
• Ability to safely operate or work around mechanical, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, refrigeration, and other building systems.
• Ability to work in varying temperatures and environmental conditions, including mechanical rooms, exterior areas, and other non-climate-controlled spaces.
• Ability to respond quickly and safely to emergency situations throughout the property.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and participate in an on-call rotation as required.

Core Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Leadership & Accountability
• Technical Expertise
• Preventative Maintenance & Asset Management
• Problem Solving & Decision Making
• Financial & Budget Management
• Vendor & Project Management
• Safety & Regulatory Compliance
• Energy & Resource Management
• Communication & Collaboration
• Guest Service & Luxury Standards
• Initiative & Proactive Thinking
• Team Development & Training

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking a leader who is not simply reactive to maintenance issues but anticipates problems before they impact on our guests, associates, or operations .

The Director of Engineering should be a hands-on leader who understands that Engineering is critical to the hotel's guest experience, associate safety, operational efficiency, financial performance, and long-term asset protection .

The ideal candidate will bring strong technical expertise, financial awareness, leadership skills, and a commitment to maintaining the high standards expected of a luxury Nobu property.