University Engineer

University Engineer

The Ohio State University

Columbus, OH

Department: Administration and Planning | FOD Design and Construction

The University Engineer is a strategic, campus-wide leadership role responsible for shaping and stewarding the university’s engineering and infrastructure vision. Reporting directly to the Associate Vice President of Facilities Design and Construction, this position leads a team of technical experts and plays a central role in capital planning, design and construction oversight, infrastructure strategy, sustainability, and cross‑campus stakeholder engagement.

This position is accountable for ensuring that all university infrastructure and building systems are designed, constructed, and maintained in alignment with institutional goals, regulatory compliance, and long‑term stewardship of campus assets.

• Define and lead the university’s engineering vision, integrating infrastructure planning with university‑wide strategic priorities and FDC’s mission.
• Serve as a key advisor to university leadership on major infrastructure systems and long‑range planning efforts, including utilities, energy, and campus‑wide capital projects.
• Represent FDC in strategic initiatives such as the Campus Master Plan, Campus Infrastructure and Utility Master Plan, Sustainability and Energy initiatives, and the Comprehensive Energy Management Project (CEMP).
• Lead the development and continual refinement of the Building Design Standards for multiple campus typologies and campus advancements, this is a key initiative for FDC.
• Drive alignment between engineering planning and other strategic areas such as sustainability, life‑cycle cost analysis, and deferred maintenance mitigation.

• Oversee the engineering review and technical assurance process for all university capital projects (new construction and renovation).
• Provide leadership and oversight for key infrastructure programs, including utility master planning, energy systems, and high‑risk/high‑impact projects.
• Partner with Planning and Real Estate (PARE) and FOD‑Operations to ensure technical planning aligns with annual and long‑term capital budgeting.
• Lead the technical review and guidance process for engineering variance requests and compliance with applicable codes and university policies. Ensuring that processes are continually improving and efficient for stakeholders and industry professionals.

• Lead strategic coordination and collaboration with university energy partners (OSEP/ENGIE), ensuring alignment between public‑private initiatives and university planning efforts.
• Coordinate closely with facilities operations, environmental health and safety (EHS), risk management, sustainability, and auxiliary units.
• Act as a liaison and integrator between FDC and consigned partners such as Campus Parc and OSEP, ensuring technical needs are represented and understood.

• Lead and manage the engineering and estimating teams within FDC, promoting collaboration, innovation, and excellence.
• Mentor technical staff and support succession planning and professional development within the engineering unit.
• Oversee several engineering, sustainability and campus utility / infrastructure committees, including adherence to policies, steering committee participation, and alignment with risk management.

• Partner in the development of university‑wide capital budgets, including support for multiple funding streams (State, POM, General Fund, etc.).
• Support the deferred maintenance program by advising on infrastructure risk, prioritization, and investment strategy.
• Lead the estimating and cost planning process to establish and manage project budgets, ensure cost predictability, and support Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) planning.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, or related field); advanced degree preferred.
• Professional Engineering (PE) license required.
• Minimum of 12 years of progressive experience in facilities…