Chief Engineer

Life Sciences Facility Chief Engineer

Location : Scottsdale, AZ

Position Type : Full-time, on-site (including on-call / after-hours as required)

Position Summary

The Chief Engineer is responsible for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation, maintenance and performance of the mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), HVAC, building automation, and life-science critical systems for a multi-building life sciences facility / campus. This role oversees the engineering and maintenance staff, ensures compliance with regulatory, safety, and environmental standards, manages preventive maintenance programs, facilitates capital project coordination and supports a high-uptime / critical environment (labs, research, biotech).

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and supervise engineering / maintenance staff (in-house and / or contract trades) for the facility / campus.
• Develop, oversee and execute a preventive maintenance (PM) program for all major building systems (HVAC, plumbing, life safety, electrical, controls, etc.).
• Monitor and manage building automation systems (BAS), direct digital controls (DDC), energy monitoring platforms and other controls / automation systems to optimize performance and minimize downtime.
• Oversee mechanical, electrical and plumbing system operations to ensure the facility meets required environmental, temperature / humidity, clean-room or lab conditions as needed for life sciences research / production.
• Serve as liaison for construction / retrofit projects : attend design / engineering meetings, review drawings / schematics, monitor contractor work, ensure systems are installed per engineered specifications.
• Ensure compliance with safety codes (OSHA, NFPA, NEC, equipment licensing), building codes, life safety, environmental and regulatory requirements for life sciences facilities.
• Manage work orders, maintain logs and documentation of maintenance, repairs, special projects, and capital improvements.
• Assist in budget planning and capital project forecasting : monitor and control costs for maintenance, repairs and energy usage.
• Identify opportunities for system optimization, energy efficiency, reliability improvements, cost reduction, and propose capital / maintenance plans accordingly.
• Provide after-hours availability / on-call support for emergency response given the critical nature of life science operations.
• Develop training programs for staff, ensure safety / technical training is completed and maintain a high performance, reliable engineering team.
• Maintain effective customer / tenant / occupant relations (labs, research groups), responding to service issues, ensuring minimal disruption to critical operations.

Qualifications

Education & Experience :

High School Diploma or equivalent minimum; preferred : Associate / Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Mechanical / Electrical discipline.

Extensive experience (10-15+ years) in building engineering / maintenance, ideally in life sciences, biotech, research or critical facilities environments.

Supervisory experience (managing multi-trade staff / contractors).

Experience with building automation systems (BAS / DDC), HVAC, plumbing, fire alarm, electrical distribution, and life safety systems.

Skills & Knowledge :

Strong technical troubleshooting ability for mechanical / electrical / building control systems in critical environments.

Ability to read and interpret complex drawings, ladder diagrams, schematics, plans / specifications.

Proficiency with computer systems, CMMS (computerized maintenance management systems), BAS platforms and energy monitoring tools.

Excellent leadership, communication, interpersonal skills (with staff, contractors, management, tenants / research groups).

Knowledge of relevant codes / regulations (OSHA, NFPA, NEC, HVAC licensing, ASHRAE standards, local building codes).

Certificates / Licenses (Preferred or Required) :

Trades license (e.g., HVAC, electrical) or facility engineering license as required by jurisdiction.

Certifications such as EPA CFC 608 (for HVAC refrigerant handling) preferred.

Prior experience with or certification in life sciences facility operations (clean-rooms, lab HVAC, critical infrastructure) highly desirable.

Working Conditions & Expectations

This role is in a high-demand, high-uptime life science facility / campus environment; may require early starts, late shifts, overtime, on-call and emergency response.

Requires active presence on site, frequent walk-throughs of mechanical rooms, labs, plant equipment, rooftops, parking structures, and may include exposure to lab environments.

Physical demands may include climbing stairs / ladders, walking long distances, standing, kneeling, lifting equipment / parts (up to ~50 lbs+).

Emphasis on safety culture, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and adherence to facility / tenant protocols.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) & Success Metrics

Reliable uptime of critical systems (HVAC, chilled water, clean-rooms, chilled beams, lab ventilation)

On-time completion of preventive maintenance tasks & work orders

Maintenance cost control and adherence to budget

Energy usage / cost savings / efficiency improvements

Contractor / vendor performance metrics (responsiveness, quality, cost)

Safety incidents / regulatory compliance

Tenant satisfaction / minimal disruption of lab operations