Engineer, Chief - Critical Facilities
Newmark · Syracuse
Chief Engineer - Critical Facilities
Company: Newmark (NMRK)
Job Title: Chief Engineer, Critical Facilities
Department: Facilities Operations
Reports To: Director of Critical Environments
Employment Type: Full-Time / Salaried
About Newmark
Newmark (NMRK) is one of the world's leading commercial real estate advisory firms. We provide a fully integrated platform of services to prominent multinational corporations and institutional investors across the globe, as well as to occupiers, owners, and developers of real estate on a local, regional, and national level. Together with London-based partner Knight Frank and independently owned offices, Newmark's 18,000 professionals operate from more than 500 offices in established and emerging property markets on six continents.
Position Overview Chief Engineer - Critical Facilities: Provides administrative and technical direction for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the Data Center facilities and equipment, including the development of plans to keep building assets at the highest degree of care, value, and reliability. The position holder must understand base building and critical environment infrastructure, design, and support, and have experience performing preventive maintenance on all base building and critical system equipment, including electrical, HVAC, fire/life safety, and emergency back-up systems. Manages the building engineering staff in conjunction with the Property Manager. This position may be responsible for more than one site.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Critical Operations & System Maintenance
- Staff & Vendor Management: Manage operating engineers, electricians, service contractors, and other vendors to operate and maintain the Client’s data processing facilities and support infrastructure systems.
- System Design & Emergency Response: Understand the engineering design and operational aspects of the facility’s systems and equipment. Immediately recognize system shortcomings and respond to operational and emergency situations.
- Preventive Maintenance Management: Formulate, implement, and maintain strict adherence to the preventative maintenance program. Schedule PMs with minimal disruption to building services, delegate tasks to qualified staff, and supervise maintenance on all base building and critical equipment.
- Standard Operating Compliance: Ensure adherence to all Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Methods of Procedure (MOP), Emergency Response Procedures (ERP), and the formal change control process established for critical environments.
- Safety & Code Compliance: Ensure strict compliance with all Federal, State, and Local codes, regulations, and standards, as well as OSHA requirements. Maintain compliance with Newmark and Client policies for the safe storage, usage, and disposal of hazardous materials.
- Rounds & Performance Monitoring: Conduct routine assessments, tests, and rounds, analyzing data to assure proper functioning of equipment. Participate in site inspections.
- Equipment & HVAC Operations: Oversee and monitor the operation—making customer-approved adjustments—of refrigeration, heat exchangers, HVAC, electrical, emergency backup systems, hot water systems, boilers, pumps, valves, piping, and filters. Analyze operations, determine root causes of malfunctions, and take corrective action.
- Equipment Repairs & Log Documentation: Oversee machinery repairs as needed and ensure proper documentation in logbooks at the end of each shift. Review operational information in shift logbooks and resolve work order completion issues.
- Inventory & Asset Management: Maintain parts, tools, and equipment inventory. Perform annual tool and equipment inventories, ensuring exact descriptions, model numbers, and serial numbers are recorded and submitted to the building manager with justifications for new items.
- Reporting & Administrative Controls: Coordinate and submit monthly equipment reports to management regarding general PMs and repairs. Develop business controls for operations and maintenance areas.
- Client Relations: Respond to Client and user group requests, ensuring all reasonable measures are taken to satisfy their needs in a timely and efficient manner.
- Shift Scheduling & After-Hours Coverage: Manage shift scheduling to provide necessary coverage while reducing overtime. Ensure an equitable after-hours technical coverage program. Approve engineering personnel timesheets and overtime.
- Training & Certification: Oversee the training and certification of all engineering and maintenance personnel performing tasks in the critical environment or associated infrastructure.
- Incident Reporting: Promptly report all incidents, accidents, and injuries. Provide thorough cause-and-effect evaluations and implement corrective actions.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Skills, Education, and Qualifications
Required Education & Experience
- College Degree (Preferred)
- Minimum of ten (10) years’ experience in mechanical trades, HVAC, and/or electrical, or registered Professional Engineer.
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience in critical facility/plant engineering and maintenance supervision with managerial experience required.
Certifications & Licensures
○ Certified Data Center Professional (CDCP) or similar (Preferred).
○ Project Management Professional (PMP) or similar (Preferred).
○ NFPA 70E Certification / OSHA 10/30 (Preferred).
Knowledge
- Strong knowledge of electricity, electrical distribution systems, HVAC, Chiller, and fire systems.
- Experience with emergency backup systems (generators, UPS, battery plants, etc.).
- Familiarity with preventative maintenance and work order software systems (CMMS).
- Familiarity with building automation systems (BAS/BMS).
- Excellent communication skills, a positive approach to the job, and the ability to handle multiple tasks and projects concurrently.
- Ability to analyze system operations, determine root causes of problems, and execute corrective action.
- Experience with training, development, and evaluation of maintenance staff.
Working Conditions & Physical Demands
- Normal working conditions with the absence of disagreeable elements.
- May be on-call after regular business hours.
- Requires participation in shift scheduling and after-hours emergency technical coverage.
Benefits and Perks
- Parental Leave: Industry-leading Parental Leave Policy (up to 16 weeks).
- Healthcare: Comprehensive, generous health coverage options.
- Family Support: Bright Horizons back-up child/family care program.
- Time Off: Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) package.
- Growth & Education: Tuition reimbursement programs and referral incentives.
- Networking: Opportunities to connect across a global real estate platform.
(Benefits and perks listed may vary depending on the nature of employment and specific job location).
Equal Opportunity Employer
Newmark is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.