Chief Engineer

Cushman & Wakefield•Atlanta, GA

1d•$57 - $67•Onsite

About The Position

The Chief Engineer is responsible for leading the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of mission-critical data center infrastructure. This role oversees maintenance, operations, vendor activity, and infrastructure projects across electrical, mechanical, cooling, monitoring, and life-safety systems to support maximum uptime, operational resiliency, and compliance with applicable data center standards.

Requirements

Minimum of 10 years of experience in critical facilities, data center engineering, or comparable mission-critical environments.
Minimum of 3–5 years of supervisory or leadership experience managing technical or facilities teams.
Strong working knowledge of data center electrical and mechanical systems, including UPS systems, generators, switchgear, PDUs, HVAC, cooling systems, and fire/life safety systems.
Hands-on experience with BMS, EPMS, DCIM, or similar monitoring and control platforms.
Ability to read and interpret electrical one-lines, schematics, sequence of operations, construction drawings, and technical documentation.
Experience supporting commissioning, QA/QC, MEP coordination, and turnover activities for new or modified infrastructure.
Familiarity with applicable standards and regulatory requirements, including Uptime Institute guidance, NFPA, NEC, OSHA, and site-specific safety requirements.
Demonstrated troubleshooting, decision-making, problem-solving, and incident management skills in high-pressure operating environments.
Ability to participate in on-call rotations and respond to critical incidents as required by site operations.

Nice To Haves

Relevant certifications preferred, such as CDCP, DCEP, OSHA, electrical safety, or equivalent critical facilities credentials.

Responsibilities

Lead daily operations and maintenance of mission-critical infrastructure, including UPS systems, generators, switchgear, PDUs, CRAC/CRAH units, BMS, EPMS, and DCIM platforms.
Ensure high availability and minimize downtime through proactive monitoring, preventive maintenance, incident response, and continuous risk reduction.
Supervise, coach, and coordinate a multidisciplinary technical team supporting 24/7 data center operations.
Monitor and respond to alarms from BMS, EPMS, and DCIM systems; lead troubleshooting, escalation, and root cause analysis for critical incidents.
Develop, maintain, and enforce standard operating procedures, methods of procedure, emergency operating procedures, and change management practices.
Oversee vendor and contractor activities, including maintenance, testing, construction, commissioning, and turnover work within the critical environment.
Promote and enforce compliance with safety requirements and critical environment protocols, including lockout/tagout, electrical safety, arc flash safety, and site access procedures.
Support capacity planning, infrastructure upgrades, equipment lifecycle planning, and expansion projects in coordination with operations, engineering, and project teams.
Maintain accurate documentation, including shift logs, maintenance records, incident reports, asset information, and operating procedures.
Support commissioning, QA/QC, and turnover of new or modified systems to ensure alignment with design intent, operational requirements, and site standards.
Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives that enhance reliability, operational efficiency, safety, and risk mitigation.