CBRE is seeking a high-caliber Chief Building Engineer to oversee all critical infrastructure operations for a premier, high-value, 100% uptime tiered data center. In this role, you will be the ultimate custodian of site reliability, leading a dedicated technical team to eliminate operational risk, maintain strict safety compliance, and ensure flawless business continuity around the clock.
What You Will Do
As the Chief Building Engineer, you will serve as the technical lead and operational authority for the Villa Park mixed used campus. Your day-to-day responsibilities will bridge hands-on technical management, team leadership, and strategic financial planning.
• Lead the Team: Direct, mentor, and supervise a 24/7 team of critical facility engineers and technicians. Manage scheduling, conduct performance reviews, foster a culture of technical excellence, and serve as the primary escalation point for all engineering personnel.
• Ensure Training and Safety: Champion a zero-harm safety culture by enforcing OSHA, NFPA 70E, and CBRE safety policies. Design, implement, and track rigorous site-specific training programs to ensure all staff members are fully qualified to operate critical infrastructure safely.
• Standardized Procedures (MOP, SOP, EOP): Oversee the creation, review, and strict execution of Method of Procedure (MOP), Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), and Emergency Operating Procedure (EOP) documents. Ensure that no critical work occurs without a verified, risk-mitigated script.
• In-Depth Power & Mechanical Management: Maintain absolute operational readiness of complex infrastructure including Medium/Low Voltage Switchgear, UPS Systems, Central Battery Rooms, Emergency Generators, Chillers, Cooling Towers, CRAH/CRAC units, BMS, and EPMS platforms.
• Maintenance and Repairs: Manage the site's Preventive Maintenance (PM) and Corrective Maintenance (CM) programs via the CMMS. Oversee specialized third-party vendors and ensure all maintenance aligns with tier-rated redundancy standards without impacting live loads.
• Incident and Escalation Management: Lead the immediate response, containment, and Root-Cause Analysis (RCA) for any facility incidents. Manage real-time technical communication and escalation pathways to client stakeholders during critical events.
• Capital Plan and R&M Budgeting: Develop, justify, and manage the annual Repair and Maintenance (R&M) budget. Collaborate with asset management to build long-term Capital Expense (CapEx) plans for infrastructure lifecycle replacements and efficiency upgrades.
What You'll Need
• Experience vs. Education:A bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical field is preferred; however, equivalent hands-on experience will be fully considered in lieu of a formal degree.
• Years of Experience:A minimum of 8+ years of experience in critical facilities operations (Data Centers, Power Plants, Hospitals or high-tech manufacturing), with at least 3+ years directly in a supervisory or leadership role.
• Tier Standards Expertise:Proven operational knowledge of Uptime Institute Tier III or Tier IV infrastructure standards, design topologies, and compliance requirements.
• Technical Certifications:Relevant industry certifications (e.g., HVAC license, High-Voltage Electrical license, Certified Mission Critical Professional, or equivalent military technical training such as US Navy Nuke) are highly desirable.
• Meet the physical requirements of this role including stooping, standing, walking, climbing stairs/ladders, and the ability to lift/carry heavy loads of 50 lbs. or more.
• The innovative mentality to develop methods that go beyond existing solutions.
• Ability to solve unique problems using standard and innovative solutions having a broad impact on the business.
• In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Office products and CMS Systems (Computerized Maintenance Systems). Examples include Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.
• Expert organizational skills with an advanced inquisitive mindset.
• Highly sophisticated math skills. Ability to calculate somewhat complex figures such as percentages, fractions, and other financial-related calculations.
CBRE carefully considers multiple factors to determine compensation, including a candidate's education, training, and experience. The minimum salary for the Chief Building Engineer Supervisor position is $135,000 annually and the maximum salary for the Chief Building Engineer Supervisor position is $160,00 annually. The compensation that is offered to a successful candidate will depend on the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience.
CBRE GWS
CBRE Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) works with clients to make real estate a meaningful contributor to organizational productivity and performance. Our account management model is at the heart of our client-centric approach to delivering integrated real estate solutions. Each client is entrusted with a dedicated leader and is supported by regional and global resources, leveraging the industry's most robust platform. CBRE GWS delivers consistent, measurably superior outcomes for our clients at every stage of the lifecycle, and across industries and geographies.
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