Building Engineer - Commercial Office

Cousins Properties•Austin, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Cousins Properties is a fully integrated, self-administered, and self-managed real estate investment trust headquartered in Atlanta. It invests primarily in Class A office buildings in high-growth Sun Belt markets and owns and manages a portfolio of more than 20 million square feet. The company was founded in 1958 and focuses on developing, acquiring, leasing, and managing high-quality real estate assets. The Building Engineer assists with hands-on maintenance of building systems to support the safe, efficient, and proper operation of assigned properties. The role performs minor repairs and helps operate, monitor, and carry out preventive maintenance on building systems, including life safety systems as necessary. This position is based on-site in Austin, Texas; it is not remote or hybrid. For Cousins internal candidates, the position is equivalent to a Grade II Engineer role. The engineer works with electrical, HVAC, plumbing, life safety, and security systems, as well as doors and other building components. Duties include inspections, maintenance logs, troubleshooting, minor repairs and adjustments, tenant utility meter readings, and remedial tasks. The role requires customer service, responsiveness, integrity, effective communication, teamwork, and flexibility. Employees must be able to work outside core business hours when needed and be available for overtime or on-call work according to the property's engineering schedule.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
At least four years of building maintenance industry experience and/or a certified and credited trade school degree in HVAC, electronics, or another industry-related trade; the posting describes the trade school degree as preferred.
Knowledge of safe and proper use of ladders, lifts, basic hand tools, a voltmeter, a manual drain auger, safety goggles, ear protection, and a fire extinguisher.
Ability to operate heavy equipment such as chillers, generators, switchgear, pumps, and air handling units.
Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.
Excellent customer service skills and strong interpersonal skills; ability to work and communicate effectively with all levels of operations.
Ability to work as a team player, accept varied tasks, and work with minimal supervision as a self-starter.
Ability to speak, read, write, and understand the primary language or languages used in the workplace.
Availability for overtime and/or on-call work outside normal working hours; each property's on-call schedule may change at the property's discretion.
Ability to stand and exert well-paced mobility for up to four hours at a time; bend, stoop, squat, stretch, climb, and perform other repair and maintenance tasks.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds regularly and continuously.
Ability to perform tasks involving grasping, writing, standing, sitting, walking, repetitive motions, listening, and hearing; visual acuity including near and color vision and depth perception.

Nice To Haves

A certified and credited trade school degree in HVAC, electronics, or another industry-related trade.
Knowledge of pneumatic systems, which may be required at some properties.

Responsibilities

Maintain and support the safe, efficient, and proper operation of assigned properties' building systems.
Use knowledge of A.C. circuits and safety procedures, reset breakers, and work with outlets, switches, lighting ballasts, and circuit breakers.
Perform minor preventive maintenance on HVAC systems, including air handling units; respond to HVAC calls and determine whether repair is needed.
Test and make minor adjustments to water-system chemical treatment levels, inspect and log chiller conditions daily, and report out-of-range readings.
Replace belts, motors, bearings, actuators, and valves; troubleshoot and repair field devices such as power induction units and variable volume units.
Adjust building energy-management system set points and troubleshoot or make minor adjustments and repairs to pumping systems.
Perform basic preventive maintenance on plumbing systems; rebuild and repair flush valves and faucets; inspect and replace toilet and urinal seals and remount fixtures when needed; and adjust and service pressure-reducing valves.
Operate building life safety systems; respond to fire alarms and troubles, enable and disable points as appropriate, and conduct and log weekly inspections of emergency generators and fire pumps.
Perform other assigned life safety duties.
Repair or replace door closers and minor door hardware, and make minor adjustments and repairs to security systems.
Read and record tenant utility meters and interpret mechanical drawings and wiring diagrams.
Perform remedial tasks such as painting, cleaning, and unclogging toilets or drains.
Provide responsive customer service, communicate effectively, work collaboratively, and accept a variety of tasks as needed.
Work outside core business hours when needed and participate in overtime or the property's on-call engineering schedule.