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ZipRecruiter

Chief Engineer

ZipRecruiter, San Jose, California, United States, 95199

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Job Description

Chief Building Engineer

San Jose, CA

$150,000 – $180,000 + Comprehensive Benefits

Day Shift | Monday – Friday

A nationally recognized leader in high-performance building operations is seeking an experienced Chief Building Engineer to lead the facilities and engineering operations of a critical-use commercial or technology-focused campus. This role is central to maintaining optimal performance in cleanroom, life sciences, and commercial environments where reliability, regulatory compliance, and system integrity are non-negotiable.

This organization is known for its commitment to safety, technical excellence, and long-term employee growth. If you're looking for a stable, hands-on leadership role in a fast-paced, regulated environment, this is an exceptional opportunity.

Position Overview

The Chief Building Engineer will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day building operations, managing preventive and corrective maintenance, supervising contractors and technicians, and ensuring strict compliance with cleanroom and life sciences standards. This role requires technical expertise across building systems, strong leadership skills, and a deep understanding of environmental controls and industry-specific regulations such as cGMP, FDA, and ISO standards.

Key Responsibilities:

Direct the daily engineering and maintenance operations across all building systems, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire alarms, and environmental monitoring systems

Ensure all systems meet or exceed performance standards required for cleanrooms, laboratories, and medical facilities, including maintaining proper pressure differentials, air change rates, and contamination control

Develop and manage preventive maintenance programs that support long-term asset reliability and regulatory compliance, particularly for controlled environments

Oversee the work of staff technicians and service vendors, ensuring quality control, safety compliance, and timely execution of all maintenance activities

Coordinate closely with clients and tenants to schedule maintenance and repairs with minimal impact to ongoing operations or production

Ensure compliance with all applicable building codes, safety standards, and regulatory guidelines, including FDA, ISO 14644, and cGMP protocols

Respond quickly to emergencies and system failures, coordinating appropriate corrective actions while minimizing risk and downtime

Provide technical guidance and informal leadership to team members, including on-the-job training and performance feedback

Maintain accurate documentation of maintenance records, inspections, and work orders in accordance with CMMS systems and audit requirements

Qualifications:

Must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship

Associate degree or equivalent technical training with at least seven years of hands-on facilities engineering experience (cleanroom, medical, or pharmaceutical facility experience highly )

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, facilities management, or a related field

Universal CFC certification required; additional state or local certifications may be necessary depending on jurisdiction

Strong technical knowledge of HVAC, BMS/EMS systems, electrical, and plumbing infrastructure in regulated environments

Working knowledge of GMP, ISO 14644 cleanroom standards, and FDA compliance

Experience with CMMS platforms and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite

Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities

Proven ability to lead maintenance teams, manage projects, and uphold strict safety and compliance standards

If you are a facility engineering professional ready to step into a leadership role within a high-performance, regulated environment, we encourage you to apply.

To express interest or request more information, please contact

kristi.silva@fm-hvac.com