Chief Engineer- Perlen House

Perlen House•San Antonio, TX

11d

About The Position

The Chief Engineer is the strategic and technical leader responsible for maintaining the physical assets, infrastructure, and engineering operations of the hotel. The role ensures building systems, equipment, and facilities operate safely, efficiently, and reliably in support of the guest experience. The Chief Engineer leads preventative maintenance programs, capital improvement initiatives, regulatory compliance, and engineering team development while fostering safety, accountability, and service excellence. As a member of the hotel leadership team, the Chief Engineer partners with operational departments to ensure the property's infrastructure supports current business needs and long-term asset preservation. The role balances technical expertise, financial stewardship, team leadership, and luxury hospitality standards.

Requirements

Minimum of seven years of progressive engineering, facilities management, or building operations experience with increasing leadership responsibility.
Minimum of three years managing engineering, maintenance, or facilities personnel.
Demonstrated expertise in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, life safety, and building automation systems.
Experience developing preventative maintenance programs, managing capital projects, and overseeing vendor relationships.
Strong financial acumen, including experience managing departmental budgets and long-term asset planning.
Strong communication, leadership, project management, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to influence across departments.
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.

Nice To Haves

Luxury hotel, resort, full-service hospitality, or lifestyle hospitality experience; experience supporting guest-facing operations while maintaining exceptional service standards is highly desirable.
Certified Facility Manager (CFM), Facility Management Professional (FMP), Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP), HVAC certification, or related trade licenses.

Responsibilities

Lead daily operation, maintenance, repair, and optimization of building systems, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, life safety, building automation, and water systems.
Develop and refine preventative maintenance programs to maximize asset life, minimize downtime, and support hotel operations.
Monitor system performance, analyze trends, and identify opportunities to improve reliability, efficiency, sustainability, and guest comfort.
Provide advanced troubleshooting and technical guidance for equipment failures, facility emergencies, and critical infrastructure issues.
Oversee engineering work orders, maintenance records, inspections, and documentation for accuracy, compliance, and transparency.
Lead, coach, and develop engineering supervisors, technicians, and support personnel; set expectations and provide professional development.
Foster a team culture focused on safety, responsiveness, technical excellence, collaboration, and guest service.
Conduct team meetings, performance discussions, and training initiatives.
Lead engineering response during emergencies and direct appropriate response efforts.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, local, and company safety standards, fire and life safety requirements, environmental regulations, permits, and operating standards.
Lead routine inspections, identify risks, and implement corrective actions.
Develop and maintain emergency preparedness plans and engineering team readiness for disruptions and critical incidents.
Develop and manage the departmental operating budget, capital expenditure plans, and long-range asset replacement strategies.
Manage vendor relationships, service contracts, and contractor performance to ensure quality, cost effectiveness, and compliance.
Identify opportunities to reduce costs, improve efficiency, conserve resources, and support sustainability without compromising service quality.
Support capital projects and renovations through planning, execution, vendor coordination, and operational integration.
Partner with Rooms, Food & Beverage, Security, Housekeeping, and other departments to support guest experiences.
Respond promptly and professionally to engineering-related guest concerns and service recovery opportunities.
Support hotel events, activations, and special operational needs by ensuring facility readiness and reliability.
Build cross-departmental partnerships and serve as a technical resource for hotel leadership.
Learn and comply with company safety rules, use appropriate safety equipment, report unsafe conditions, understand applicable safety features and equipment, and consult a supervisor when unsure of a safe procedure.