Chief Engineer -- Union Position - Operating Engineers Local 39

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation•San Francisco, CA
•Onsite

About The Position

The Chief Engineer is responsible for the safe, efficient, and economical operation of the hotel’s physical plant and Engineering Department. This position provides day-to-day leadership to the hotel’s engineers and apprentice engineer while remaining actively involved in bargaining-unit engineering work. This position is covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between The Clift Hotel and the International Union of Operating Engineers, Stationary Engineers Local 39. Wages, benefits, working conditions, and other terms of employment are governed by the CBA.

Requirements

  • Significant hands-on experience operating, maintaining, and repairing mechanical, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, refrigeration, and building-control systems in a hotel, commercial building, hospital, or comparable facility.
  • Previous supervisory or lead-engineer experience, preferably in a union environment.
  • Strong knowledge of preventive maintenance, life-safety systems, workplace safety, energy management, and applicable building regulations.
  • Ability to lead, train, schedule, and provide clear direction to a team of skilled engineers and apprentices.
  • Ability to diagnose equipment failures and respond effectively to urgent building-system conditions.
  • Strong organizational, documentation, communication, and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with hotel management, employees, union representatives, vendors, and regulatory agencies.
  • Ability to work a flexible schedule and respond to emergencies outside regularly scheduled hours when required.
  • Current job-related licenses, permits, and certifications required by applicable law or regulatory authorities.

Nice To Haves

  • EPA Universal Refrigerant Certification, OSHA training, and relevant stationary-engineering or building-operations certifications are preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Direct the operation, care, preventive maintenance, and repair of the hotel’s steam, electrical, mechanical, HVAC, plumbing, refrigeration, life-safety, and building-control systems.
  • Maintain responsibility for the safe and economical operation of the hotel’s physical plant.
  • Supervise, assign, and coordinate the work of employees under the Chief Engineer’s direction.
  • Provide orientation, technical guidance, and training to engineers, apprentice engineers, and trainees.
  • Carry out hotel management’s operational directives while maintaining compliance with the Local 39 CBA.
  • Perform bargaining-unit engineering work in addition to leadership responsibilities.
  • Perform the engineering duties assigned under the CBA, including the operation, maintenance, and repair of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, refrigeration, water-distribution, energy-management, and life-safety systems.
  • Inspect equipment and mechanical areas regularly and identify maintenance, repair, safety, and capital-improvement needs.
  • Develop and maintain preventive-maintenance programs, operating records, equipment logs, inspection reports, and regulatory documentation.
  • Respond to emergency conditions involving building systems, utilities, guest rooms, public areas, and life-safety equipment.
  • Coordinate appropriate work with outside vendors and contractors while observing CBA jurisdiction and bargaining-unit work requirements.
  • Monitor energy usage and recommend measures that improve efficiency without compromising guest comfort, safety, or hotel operations.
  • Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local safety codes, environmental requirements, permits, and hotel policies.
  • Co-chair the hotel Safety Committee, represent the Engineering Department, and support hotel-wide safety and injury-prevention programs.
  • Maintain appropriate inventory levels for tools, equipment, parts, and operating supplies.
  • Work collaboratively with hotel leadership and operating departments to support guest service and uninterrupted hotel operations.
  • Perform all other work customarily performed by stationary engineers and assigned to the Chief Engineer classification under the CBA.

Benefits

  • Health and welfare benefits
  • Pension
  • Annuity
  • Paid time off
  • Holidays
  • Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) with Company Match
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match
  • Paid Vacation & Sick Time
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Company-Paid Life Insurance
  • Company-Paid Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
  • Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness & Accident Insurance
  • Educational Assistance
  • Sonesta Hotel Discounts
  • Additional Perks & Employee Discounts
© 2026 Teal Labs, Inc
Privacy PolicyTerms of Service