Complex Chief Engineer

AC Hotel Garden City (OTO Development)•Village of Garden City, NY

5d•$90,000 - $100,000

About The Position

The Complex Chief Engineer oversees engineering, maintenance, and asset protection functions across multiple hotel properties: The Residence Inn Garden City and the pre-opening AC Hotel Garden City Roosevelt Field. The role ensures the safe, efficient, and cost-effective operation of building systems, equipment, and physical assets. It leads engineering teams, manages preventative maintenance programs and capital projects, and ensures compliance with safety and regulatory standards. The position helps protect hotel assets, minimize downtime, and support guest satisfaction and operational excellence. The role oversees daily engineering operations, building systems, preventative maintenance, and responses to maintenance issues and emergencies. It leads and develops maintenance technicians, assigns and monitors work orders through a computerized maintenance management system, and promotes safety, professionalism, teamwork, and accountability. The Complex Chief Engineer oversees contractors and vendors, manages service contracts and preventative maintenance agreements, and supports capital expenditure planning and execution in coordination with the Corporate office. The role also helps manage engineering budgets and expenses, identifies cost-saving opportunities, supports forecasting and long-term asset planning, ensures regulatory compliance and maintenance documentation, and collaborates with department leaders to maintain property standards and respond to guest needs. The position requires up to 10% travel outside the local area, including overnight travel between properties. The job is managed by OTO Development, a hotel development and management company that owns and operates upscale select-service, extended-stay, and lifestyle hotels across the United States.

Requirements

4–6 years of experience in engineering or maintenance within hospitality, commercial facilities, or a related field.
Previous supervisory or leadership experience.
Strong working knowledge of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, and general maintenance systems.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to respond effectively in emergency situations.
Ability to manage multiple priorities across a multi-property environment.
Strong organizational and time-management skills.
Customer service mindset and ability to anticipate and respond to guest needs.
Valid driver’s license.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and on-call responsibilities.
Ability to walk and stand for extended periods as the job dictates.
Ability to travel up to 10%, including overnight travel outside the local area.

Nice To Haves

Experience with maintenance management systems such as QUORE or similar.

Responsibilities

Oversee day-to-day engineering and maintenance operations across multiple properties.
Ensure HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and life safety systems operate efficiently and effectively.
Perform and oversee preventative maintenance to protect assets and reduce emergency repairs.
Respond to maintenance issues and emergency situations to minimize operational disruption.
Lead, train, and develop maintenance technicians, including Assistant Chief Engineers and Building Maintenance Technicians I and II.
Assign and monitor work orders through a computerized maintenance management system such as QUORE.
Set expectations, coach team members, and ensure accountability for performance and productivity.
Promote safety, professionalism, and teamwork across the engineering team.
Oversee third-party contractors and vendors, ensuring work quality, cost control, and adherence to timelines.
Manage service contracts, preventative maintenance agreements, and vendor relationships.
Support capital expenditure planning and execution, including equipment replacement and property improvements, and communicate upcoming CapEx projects with the Corporate office.
Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, including safety, fire, and environmental standards.
Maintain documentation for inspections, permits, and maintenance records.
Implement and enforce safety protocols to protect team members, guests, and property assets.
Assist in developing and managing engineering budgets for labor, supplies, repairs, and maintenance.
Monitor expenses and identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality or safety.
Support forecasting and long-term asset planning across the hotel complex.
Respond to guest maintenance requests in a timely and professional manner.
Maintain the appearance and condition of guest rooms, public areas, and back-of-house spaces.
Collaborate with department leaders to support seamless hotel operations.
Travel between properties as needed to respond to operational needs.