Utilities Planning and Renewal Senior Engineer
About The Position
The Utilities Planning and Renewal section of Energy and Sustainability focuses on operation, system renewal (replacement and/or repair) and future electrification of the University energy infrastructure system. This system is critical to University operations supplying power, heat, chilled water, and potable water on a 24-hour, 365 day per year basis. The Utilities Planning and Renewal team support production assets as well as buried and above-ground electric, steam, hot water, chilled water, potable water, storm and sanitary infrastructure serving over 17 million square feet of building stock. This job provides the opportunity to work in a collaborative team environment delivering capital projects, troubleshooting and repairs of the mission critical utilities systems. The Utilities Planning and Renewal Team Senior Engineer provides engineering and project leadership for the University’s power, steam, hot water, chilled water, and related thermal utility systems. These systems will be transitioning over time from fossil fuels to full electrification with grid supplied power. This position is accountable for system design, reliability engineering, asset management, and capital project leadership and support to ensure the safe, reliable, and efficient delivery of utilities on a 24/7/365 basis both now and into the future. Working closely with operations, maintenance, project management, consultants, and campus stakeholders, the Senior Engineer will be the University Energy System subject matter expert: evaluating system condition and performance, developing renewal and upgrade strategies, supporting complex troubleshooting, and overseeing design and construction activities. The role will apply a knowledge of equipment to system modelling, system analysis, and lifecycle cost evaluation to inform operational decisions, long-term capital planning and execution. The Senior Engineer will work independently and collaboratively, possessing professional judgement to facilitate decisions within all phases of a project. They will manage multiple complex and often-interdependent projects concurrently with varying scope and phases of development. They will collaborate with complex and diverse project teams and have a strong willingness to mentor other engineers and project managers. This position will also support commissioning, documentation control, regulatory compliance, and emergency response. While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others. We are a value–based organization where all employees are accountable for supporting the organization’s values of truth, respect, excellence, teamwork, and integrity. Facilities and Campus Services employees are required to attend staff development trainings and participate in the performance evaluation process.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or other related Engineering degree.
- 10+ years of engineering experience—operations, design or technical construction administration.
- Direct experience managing engineering consultants
- New York State Professional Engineering license.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office.
- Experience in design, maintenance or operation of industrial boilers, chillers, heat pumps, geoexchange systems and/or thermal distribution systems.
- Highly motivated and exhibits innovation, good judgement and reliability in the work place.
- Demonstrates the divisional values of truth, respect, teamwork, integrity and excellence.
- Ability to work in an environment that includes high ambient temperature, noise and dust.
- Ability to safely work with chemicals, high temperature/pressure steam, confined spaces, and other potential hazards.
- Must be able to climb stairs, ladders and work with heights.
- Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license.
- Will be required to operate a motor vehicle (your own vehicle and Cornell owned) to travel to and from job sites.
- Experience modeling values that support inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing.
Nice To Haves
- 10+ years of experience in technical roles related to energy production or thermal distribution systems.
- Instrumentation and controls design, commissioning and troubleshooting experience on industrial or utility scale equipment.
- Experience with HVAC, Direct Digital Controls and energy conservation.
- Direct experience managing construction projects of any size.
- Experience interpreting and applying federal, state and local regulations and codes.
Responsibilities
- Provides engineering and project leadership for the University’s power, steam, hot water, chilled water, and related thermal utility systems.
- Accountable for system design, reliability engineering, asset management, and capital project leadership and support to ensure the safe, reliable, and efficient delivery of utilities on a 24/7/365 basis.
- Evaluates system condition and performance, develops renewal and upgrade strategies, supports complex troubleshooting, and oversees design and construction activities.
- Applies knowledge of equipment to system modeling, system analysis, and lifecycle cost evaluation.
- Manages multiple complex and often-interdependent projects concurrently with varying scope and phases of development.
- Collaborates with complex and diverse project teams.
- Mentors other engineers and project managers.
- Supports commissioning, documentation control, regulatory compliance, and emergency response.
- Fosters a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.
- Supports the organization’s values of truth, respect, excellence, teamwork, and integrity.
- Attends staff development trainings and participates in the performance evaluation process.
Benefits
- Comprehensive health care options
- Generous retirement contributions
- Access to wellness programs
- Employee discounts with local and national retail brands
- Health and personal leave
- Three weeks of vacation
- 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1.
- Two additional floating holidays
- Tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program
- Tuition aid for external education
- Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
