Building Engineer

Arc Institute • Palo Alto, CA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Arc Institute is hiring a hands-on Facilities Building Engineer to maintain the reliability of building systems and lab-critical environments at its Palo Alto research facilities. The role involves diagnosing and repairing building-system problems directly when appropriate, directing vendors and contract-support partners when specialist work is needed, and managing facility projects from start to finish. The engineer will serve as a responsive, service-oriented point of contact for researchers and staff who rely on the building and its systems.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience operating and maintaining building mechanical systems in a life-sciences, commercial, or institutional facility, including direct HVAC troubleshooting.
• Demonstrated ability to self-perform routine mechanical/HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and general construction work, with sound judgment about when to escalate specialized work to vendors.
• Proven ability to direct vendors and manage the quality of vendor and contract-support work.
• Ability to read mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) drawings.
• Proficiency with BMS/BAS and CMMS software.
• EPA 608 Universal refrigerant certification.
• Valid California driver's license.
• Willingness to participate in a shared after-hours on-call rotation for lab-critical systems, including onsite response when needed.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.

Nice To Haves

• Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering; equivalent hands-on experience may be substituted.
• Experience in a BSL-2 research or vivarium environment.
• Journey-level trade credential or Stationary Engineer certification, such as IUOE/Stationary Engineers Local 39.
• OSHA 30, boiler operator, or backflow tester certification.
• Experience with -80°C freezer farms and cryogenic systems.
• Experience supporting asset-replacement and capital-planning processes.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish to support coordination with trades and vendor teams.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary onsite contact for facilities service requests and provide responsive, professional service to researchers and staff.
• Operate and maintain wet-lab HVAC systems, including air-change rates, pressure cascades and room differentials, VAV/reheat, and fume-hood and BSC exhaust; respond to alarms before they threaten research.
• Support lab utilities, including RO/DI and lab-water loops, lab gases, acid-neutralization systems, and eyewash and safety-shower testing.
• Coordinate biosafety-adjacent equipment maintenance, including fume-hood face-velocity checks and BSC recertification, with Environmental Health & Safety.
• Self-perform routine multi-trade work within qualifications and licensing, including HVAC and mechanical troubleshooting, plumbing, electrical, and general building repairs.
• Interpret and adjust the building automation system.
• Decide when to self-perform work and when to engage a specialist.
• Maintain standby-power readiness by testing generators, ATS, and UPS supporting freezers and critical loads.
• Manage small-to-mid facility projects, including renovations, equipment installations, and system upgrades, from scoping and budgeting through contractor coordination and closeout.
• Support compliance with Cal/OSHA requirements, NFPA 70E, fire and life-safety codes and testing, California building, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical codes, and Title 24.
• Support compliance with BAAQMD permits for generators and boilers and with CUPA, hazardous-materials, and wastewater-discharge requirements.
• Align building operations with CDC/NIH BMBL biosafety guidance in coordination with EH&S.
• Drive energy efficiency and monitoring across high-load systems, including compute/cooling and freezer farms, and identify sustainability and cost-reduction opportunities.
• Direct vendors and contract-support partners to ensure work is completed correctly, on time, and within budget.
• Participate in a shared after-hours on-call rotation for lab-critical systems, including onsite response when needed.

Benefits

• Eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, with the amount dependent on individual and institute performance factors.
• Eligible to participate in the Compound Cash Grant Program, which provides multi-year cash grants paid in semi-annual installments.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed