Assistant Chief Engineer

Remington Hospitality•Costa Mesa, CA

19d•$72,000 - $78,000

About The Position

The Assistant Chief Engineer supports the Chief Engineer in meeting operational standards for the Engineering department and acts as department head with full authority to make operational decisions when the Chief Engineer is absent. The role also serves as Manager on Duty as scheduled and participates in the hotel leadership rotation. The position monitors equipment status, work orders, vendor activity, safety concerns and staffing; assists with budgeting, capital expenditure requests and project planning; and conducts daily property walk-throughs. It assigns and follows up on work orders and guest requests, supports preventive maintenance planning and audits, reviews equipment logs, tracks utility usage, and helps maintain permits, inspection records, inventory and purchasing systems. Hands-on technical work is primarily reserved for staffing gaps, complex problems, training demonstrations, quality checks and emergencies; routine work orders and preventive maintenance remain assigned to Engineer I, II and III roles. The Assistant Chief Engineer helps hire, supervise, coach and train associates, supports scheduling across shifts, and coordinates vendors and contractors. The role implements safety and emergency procedures and leads engineering responses to system failures, evacuations, severe weather, fire alarms and other emergencies. It requires knowledge of the hotel's systems and shut-offs, the ability to operate emergency and life-safety equipment, participation in the on-call rotation, and documentation and follow-up of emergencies. Salary range: $72,000–$78,000.

Requirements

Previous hotel or commercial building engineering experience, including at least one year in a lead or supervisory role.
Strong hands-on working knowledge of HVAC systems, including chillers, boilers, PTACs and cooling towers; electrical systems up to 480V; plumbing; commercial kitchen equipment; pools and spas; and general building construction.
Vocational training, an associate's degree, certification and/or apprenticeship in one or more trades; state certification or licensure where required.
Working knowledge of fire alarm, sprinkler, emergency generator and other life-safety systems.
Ability to read and interpret blueprints, schematics, drawings and technical parts breakdowns, and to read and understand test equipment and measuring devices such as multimeters, amp meters and manometers.
Ability to troubleshoot and solve problems and make decisions.
Experience with computerized work order and preventive maintenance systems.
Good verbal and written communication skills.
Strong presentation skills and ability to train hourly staff.
High work ethic and self-initiative.
Strong computer skills in Microsoft Suite.
Basic computational ability.
Regular attendance according to established guidelines.
Availability for varying schedules, including nights, weekends, holidays and on-call emergency response, to meet property business needs.
Ability to focus on multiple tasks and priorities and complete assignments on time despite frequent interruptions, including in high-pressure situations.
Ability to maintain excellent relationships with staff and protect staff and guest confidentiality.
Ability to converse calmly with upset associates, superiors and guests in intense emotional situations.
Ability to participate in and lead departmental and/or hotel team meetings.
Understanding of and adherence to Safety Data Sheet (SDS/MSDS) documents and hotel safety procedures.

Nice To Haves

EPA Universal (608) certification.
CPO (Certified Pool Operator) certification.

Responsibilities

Assist the Chief Engineer in meeting operational standards for the Engineering department.
Act as Engineering department head with full authority to make operational decisions when the Chief Engineer is absent.
Serve as Manager on Duty as scheduled and participate in the hotel's leadership rotation.
Keep the Chief Engineer informed about equipment status, work orders, vendor activity, safety concerns and staffing issues.
Assist with department budgeting, capital expenditure requests and project plans.
Conduct daily walk-throughs to assess the safe and efficient maintenance and operation of the hotel's structure, systems and equipment.
Assign, schedule and follow up on daily work orders and guest requests, ensuring timely completion and accurate work order records.
Assist in establishing, scheduling and auditing the Rooms and Public Area preventive maintenance program, assigning work and ensuring completion is documented.
Provide hands-on technical support to cover staffing gaps, resolve complex or recurring problems, demonstrate proper methods during training, and verify completed work quality.
Review daily, weekly and monthly equipment logs and follow up on abnormal readings.
Track electric, gas and water usage and support energy conservation and sustainability initiatives.
Assist with hiring, supervising, coaching and counseling engineering associates.
Oversee the department training program, coordinate technical training with the Engineer I, and ensure associates are trained in safety practices and emergency response.
Assist with associate scheduling to ensure adequate engineering coverage on all shifts.
Implement hotel safety and emergency policies and procedures, remove safety hazards, and follow OSHA Hazcom, lockout/tagout and safe lifting practices.
Help maintain building and physical plant permits, licenses, inspection certificates and records.
Maintain adequate inventory of parts, supplies, tools and materials and support inventory and purchasing processes.
Coordinate and supervise third-party vendors and contractors on the property, ensuring work meets hotel standards and safety requirements.
Step in as a working engineer during emergencies and lead the response until resolved.
Respond on-site or by phone to after-hours emergencies and participate in the department on-call rotation.
Direct responses to critical system failures, assigning on-shift engineers first and personally performing emergency repairs when no qualified engineer is available or the issue exceeds their skill level.
Know the location and operation of main shut-offs and isolation valves and safely isolate systems.
Operate the emergency generator, fire alarm panel, fire pump and life-safety systems; reset and silence alarms according to hotel and fire department procedures; ensure required testing is completed and documented.
Lead Engineering during evacuations, severe weather, fire alarms and other emergencies, coordinating with the General Manager, Security, Front Office and emergency responders.
Document emergencies, actions taken and follow-up needs, and debrief the Chief Engineer.
Perform other duties as assigned.