Chief Engineer

You are the guardian of the property.

You understand the details that keep a hotel running every day, but you also maintain command of the bigger picture — preventive maintenance, life safety, capital planning, vendor management, budgets, team development, and protecting the physical asset.

You know that a well-maintained hotel directly impacts guest satisfaction, associate safety, operational efficiency, and ownership value. You take pride in solving problems before they become emergencies, building strong systems, and developing a skilled engineering team that takes ownership of the property.

If that describes how you approach hotel engineering, this Chief Engineer opportunity may be a great fit.

As Chief Engineer, You Will

• Oversee all aspects of hotel engineering, maintenance, and facilities operations to ensure the property is safe, secure, well maintained, and operating efficiently.

• Maintain the physical condition of the hotel, including guest rooms, public areas, mechanical systems, building systems, exterior areas, and back-of-house facilities.

• Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive preventive maintenance program designed to reduce downtime, extend equipment life, and minimize emergency repairs.

• Lead and develop the engineering team by setting clear expectations, providing training and coaching, assigning priorities, and holding the department accountable for performance.

• Ensure guest maintenance requests and work orders are addressed promptly, professionally, and with appropriate follow-up.

• Maintain strong working knowledge of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, life-safety, and building systems.

• Conduct regular property inspections to identify maintenance needs, safety concerns, and opportunities for improvement.

• Maintain compliance with brand standards, company policies, local codes, OSHA requirements, and applicable fire and life-safety regulations.

• Develop and manage the Engineering Department operating budget while monitoring labor, utilities, repairs, supplies, and contract expenses.

• Develop and maintain the hotel's capital expenditure plan in partnership with hotel leadership and ownership.

• Manage renovation, repair, and capital projects from bidding through completion, including contractor selection, scheduling, quality control, and cost management.

• Manage outside vendors and service contracts, ensuring competitive pricing, appropriate coverage, quality workmanship, and contract compliance.

• Maintain accurate records for preventive maintenance, inspections, permits, warranties, equipment, repairs, and required testing.

• Develop and maintain emergency preparedness procedures and ensure the engineering team is trained to respond appropriately to emergencies.

• Coordinate required inspections, testing, drills, and maintenance of fire and life-safety systems.

• Partner closely with Housekeeping, Front Office, Food & Beverage, Sales, and other hotel departments to support smooth daily operations and an exceptional guest experience.

• Monitor utility consumption and identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency and control operating costs without compromising guest comfort or hotel standards.

• Participate as a member of the hotel's leadership team and provide technical guidance regarding the physical asset, infrastructure, and long-term maintenance needs.

Leadership Expectations

The Chief Engineer is expected to build a department where talented engineering professionals want to work, learn, and grow.

This means leading by example, communicating clearly, developing the team, maintaining accountability, and creating a culture where preventive maintenance and attention to detail are prioritized over simply reacting to problems.

Skills and Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of hotel building systems, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and life-safety systems

• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving ability

• Demonstrated leadership and team-management skills

• Strong organizational and prioritization skills

• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing operational priorities

• Experience managing departmental budgets and controlling expenses

• Experience managing vendors, contractors, and service agreements

• Strong understanding of preventive maintenance programs

• Ability to communicate effectively with guests, associates, vendors, contractors, and hotel leadership

• Strong sense of ownership, urgency, and accountability

Experience

Hotel engineering or facilities-management experience is strongly preferred.

Previous supervisory or leadership experience within hotel engineering, commercial facilities, or a related environment is preferred.

Chief Engineer, Assistant Chief Engineer, Engineering Supervisor, or equivalent facilities leadership experience is highly desirable.

Relevant technical training, trade experience, certifications, or extensive hands-on building systems experience may be considered in place of formal education.

Physical Requirements

While performing the essential functions of this position and other duties as assigned, an employee may be required to sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, climb, and use hands and fingers to handle or operate tools, equipment, and building systems.

The position may also require lifting or moving items weighing up to 25 pounds, communicating verbally, and utilizing close vision for computer-related and technical tasks.

Benefits

• Hotel and travel discounts

• Dynamic team and excellent workplace culture

• Professional and personal development opportunities with a growing company

• Medical insurance with HSA

• Dental and vision insurance

• Life and AD&D insurance

• Long-Term and Short-Term Disability

• Voluntary Life and Supplemental Insurance

• 401(k) with company match

• PTO and vacation

• Tuition reimbursement

• Daily Pay

• Bonus and engagement incentives

• Additional travel and entertainment perks

• Competitive compensation

Why Join Chartwell Hospitality?

At Chartwell Hospitality, we are more than a fully integrated hospitality management company. We are a team committed to doing things the right way, leading with integrity, and supporting one another's success.

We believe in creating opportunities for our people to grow, make a meaningful impact, and build rewarding careers.

If you are ready to grow with a company that values its people, protects its assets, and takes pride in exceptional hospitality, we would love to hear from you.