General Engineering/HVAC

Employment Type: Full-Time
Benefits: Health and retirement plans, paid time off, employee travel benefits, and professional development opportunities

A full-service hotel in downtown Detroit is seeking to identify an experienced Chief Engineer. This executive leadership position is responsible for the reliability, safety, and overall condition of the property, ensuring that guest rooms, public spaces, meeting facilities, and building systems consistently support an exceptional guest experience.
Reporting to the General Manager, the Chief Engineer will lead the property’s engineering team, oversee preventive maintenance and capital projects, and manage departmental budgets and vendor relationships. The ideal candidate is a hands-on hotel engineering leader who combines strong technical knowledge with financial discipline, team development, and a genuine commitment to hospitality.

Direct all engineering and maintenance operations, including HVAC, boilers, electrical, plumbing, mechanical equipment, elevators, and fire/life-safety systems
Maintain building reliability, guest comfort, and operational readiness across guest rooms, public areas, meeting spaces, and back-of-house facilities
Oversee work-order completion, maintenance scheduling, documentation, and performance through the property’s maintenance management system
Conduct regular facility inspections and identify opportunities to improve safety, efficiency, and building condition
Manage engineering budgets, forecasting, inventory, repair expenses, and utility consumption
Identify and implement energy and water conservation initiatives that support operating efficiency
Lead capital improvement projects, renovations, and property rehabilitations, including budgeting, scheduling, contractor coordination, and project execution
Manage vendor relationships, service agreements, contractor bidding, and outside maintenance providers
Ensure compliance with applicable building codes, OSHA requirements, fire/life-safety regulations, environmental standards, and required inspections
Recruit, train, coach, schedule, and develop engineering team members while maintaining appropriate coverage for a 24/7 hotel operation
Partner with Rooms, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Sales, and Security to address facility needs and minimize guest disruption
Serve as a member of the hotel’s executive leadership team and communicate engineering priorities, performance, and capital needs to the General Manager

Proven engineering or facilities leadership experience within a full-service hotel, resort, suites property, or comparable multi-building operation
Strong technical knowledge of HVAC, boilers, electrical, plumbing, mechanical systems, and fire/life-safety equipment
Experience developing preventive maintenance programs and managing maintenance performance in a 24/7 guest environment
Demonstrated ability to manage departmental budgets, utility expenses, vendors, and capital projects
Ability to read technical drawings and coordinate contractors, repairs, and property improvement projects
Working knowledge of OSHA, building codes, fire regulations, and environmental compliance
Relevant licenses or certifications as required by applicable local regulations
Strong leadership skills with the ability to recruit, coach, and develop a dependable engineering team
Ability to prioritize urgent operational needs while maintaining long-term building reliability and preventive maintenance goals
Experience with major hotel brand standards and energy-management programs is a plus