Assistant Chief Engineer – Office Building

ABM Industries • Washington, DC

1d

About The Position

The Assistant Chief Engineer supports the Chief Engineer in the daily operation, maintenance, and optimization of all building systems within a commercial office property. This role focuses on maintaining a safe, comfortable, and professional workplace environment for corporate tenants and visitors while ensuring regulatory compliance, system reliability, and minimal disruption to business operations. The Assistant Chief Engineer also provides leadership to engineering staff and serves as acting Chief Engineer when needed.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required; technical or trade school preferred
• 3–5 years of experience in commercial office building engineering or facilities maintenance
• Previous lead technician or supervisory experience preferred
• Experience in Class A/B office buildings strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of large‑scale HVAC systems common in office environments
• Working knowledge of BAS, lighting controls, and energy management
• Ability to read office floor plans, MEP drawings, and technical manuals
• Understanding of tenant comfort standards and business‑critical uptime requirements
• Strong communication skills with tenants, property management, and vendors
• Customer‑service mindset suitable for professional office environments
• Organized, detail‑oriented, and proactive problem solver
• Ability to prioritize work around peak office hours
• Physically capable of performing maintenance tasks (ladders, lifting, confined spaces)

Nice To Haves

• EPA Universal Refrigerant Certification
• HVAC or electrical trade certifications
• OSHA safety training
• State or local licenses as required

Responsibilities

• Assist in overseeing the operation, maintenance, and repair of office‑specific building systems, including: Central HVAC systems (VAVs, chilled water, boilers, cooling towers)
• Electrical distribution and emergency power systems
• Plumbing and domestic water systems
• Fire/life safety systems and fire alarm panels
• Lighting control systems and daylighting solutions
• Elevators and vertical transportation
• Building Automation Systems (BAS)
• Monitor indoor air quality, temperature, and controls to support tenant comfort and productivity
• Conduct regular inspections of office floors, mechanical rooms, rooftops, loading docks, and common areas
• Respond to tenant service requests and work orders in a timely, professional manner
• Support preventive and predictive maintenance programs to minimize downtime during business hours
• Support a customer‑service‑oriented engineering operation aligned with office tenant expectations
• Coordinate after‑hours work to avoid disruption to tenant business operations
• Assist with office tenant fit‑outs, move‑ins, and move‑outs
• Communicate effectively with property management regarding tenant concerns and system performance
• Assist in supervising engineering staff and ensuring coverage during office operating hours
• Lead technicians on daily assignments and special projects
• Provide hands‑on training and mentoring for junior engineers
• Enforce safety standards, operating procedures, and service quality expectations
• Act as Chief Engineer in their absence
• Ensure compliance with all applicable office building codes, regulations, and standards: OSHA workplace safety regulations
• Fire/life safety codes
• Local building and energy codes
• Assist with inspections by authorities, insurance carriers, and corporate safety teams
• Participate in emergency response planning, drills, and life‑safety testing
• Maintain accurate logs, permits, and compliance documentation
• Assist with small capital repairs, office renovations, and system upgrades
• Coordinate vendors servicing HVAC, elevators, fire systems, and office equipment
• Review vendor performance and confirm scope completion
• Support energy efficiency initiatives and sustainability goals
• Assist with operating expense control and budget tracking
• Utilize CMMS/work order systems to track maintenance and tenant requests
• Maintain documentation related to inspections, PM schedules, and repairs
• Support inventory management for tools, parts, and building supplies
• Prepare basic reports related to system performance and maintenance activity

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees