Union Chief Engineer

Union Chief Engineer

As a CBRE Union Data Center Team Lead, you will oversee the team responsible for performing preventative maintenance and complex corrective repairs within a Data Center operation. This role is crucial in ensuring the smooth operation of critical client environments.

• Oversee the operation, maintenance, and reliability of all critical mechanical and electrical (M&E) systems, including chillers, cooling towers, CRAC/CRAH units, generators, switch gear, UPS systems, PDUs, fire/life-safety systems, and building automation/BMS controls. Act as the senior on-site technical authority for all infrastructure systems.

• Perform advanced troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions on complex mechanical, electrical, and controls-related equipment issues to ensure 100% uptime of critical environments.

• Lead and execute preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs in alignment with our mission-critical facilities; ensure maintenance is performed safely, thoroughly, and documented accurately.

• Respond to and manage emergency events including system failures, alarms, and unplanned outages —coordinating technical response, communicating impacts, implementing remediation, and performing detailed post-incident analysis.

• Direct daily site inspections of all M&E systems to verify proper operating conditions, identify risks, and ensure environmental stability across data hall, mechanical spaces, and electrical rooms.

• Provide expert level support, coaching, and guidance to engineering and technician teams, ensuring strong technical competency, safe work practices, and high-quality maintenance performance.

• Serve as the primary technical escalation point for issues involving mechanical, electrical, controls, and environmental systems, collaborating closely with internal teams, vendors, and facility management leadership.

• Oversee vendor and contractor activities to ensure full compliance with technical specifications, safety policies, and contractual requirements; accompany vendors as needed for maintenance, commissioning, or complex repairs.

• Review, interpret, and validate critical system readings, including UPS performance, breaker status, load levels, temperatures, water chemistry, and utilities consumption; ensure accurate and complete documentation.

• Maintain oversight of spare parts inventory, including critical spares for mechanical and electrical equipment, ensuring availability for emergency repairs and preventive tasks.

• Develop, refine, and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs), MOPs, EOPs, Job Hazard Analyses, and other critical facility documentation, ensuring they meet corporate, regulatory, and data center industry standards.

• Manage permit-to-work and lockout/tagout (LOTO) safety programs to ensure strict adherence to safety protocols during maintenance and high-risk activities.

• Support continuous improvement initiatives, including system optimization, energy efficiency improvements, and automation enhancements to improve reliability and reduce operating costs.

• Collaborate with data center management and cross-functional teams to ensure facility readiness, operational excellence, and alignment with business objectives.

• Model and reinforce safety-first behaviors while promoting CBRE RISE values, leading by example, and ensuring a strong culture of operational discipline and accountability.

• Support the inhouse Data Center IT technicians needs and workload

• Other duties as assigned.

What You'll Need:

• High School Diploma, GED, or trade school diploma with 3-4 years of job-related experience. In lieu of a diploma, a combination of experience and education will be considered.

• Meet the physical requirements of this role including stooping, standing, walking, climbing stairs/ladders, and the ability to lift and carry heavy loads of 50 lbs. or more.

• Understanding of existing procedures and standards to solve complex problems.

• Ability to analyze possible solutions using technical experience to apply appropriate judgment and precedents.

• In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Office products. Examples include Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.

• Strong…