First Program: Lead Operating Engineer

Lead Operating Engineer

The Oregon Convention Center (OCC) is looking for an experienced Lead Operating Engineer to join our Facilities team and play a key role in supporting the region's premier event venue at the Oregon Convention Center. In this leadership position, you'll oversee daily facility engineering operations, provide guidance to engineering staff, and help ensure critical building systems and equipment operate safely and efficiently.

Working closely with event teams and clients, you'll contribute directly to the success of a wide variety of events by coordinating facility services and supporting temporary event utilities, including compressed air, domestic water, and natural gas systems. This position will primarily report to the Oregon Convention Center and support the Portland Expo Center as needed.

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled facilities professional who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, leading teams, and delivering exceptional customer service. As one of the largest convention centers in the Pacific Northwest, the Oregon Convention Center hosts approximately 500 events each year and is nationally recognized for its leadership in sustainability, innovation, and event hospitality. If you're looking to make an impact in a dynamic, fast-paced environment while supporting world-class events at the Oregon Convention Center, we encourage you to apply.

As the Lead Operating Engineer, you will:

• Operate, monitor, maintain, and repair HVAC, refrigeration, and associated mechanical systems, including chillers, boilers, air handling units, pumps, and related equipment.
• Utilize and manage the Building Automation System (BAS) to monitor, troubleshoot, schedule, and optimize building performance and occupant comfort.
• Maintain, troubleshoot, and repair commercial and industrial kitchen equipment.
• Perform and coordinate maintenance and repairs of plumbing systems, fixtures, and backflow prevention devices.
• Maintain and repair facility rolling stock and support equipment, including forklifts, floor scrubbers, sweepers, carts, and similar equipment.
• Coordinate and assign daily work activities for Operating Engineers to ensure timely completion of preventive maintenance and corrective repairs.
• Manage maintenance supplies, parts, tools, and equipment inventories, and coordinate procurement as needed.
• Support convention center operations by responding to facility issues and communicating maintenance needs, operational concerns, project status, and staff activities to the Facilities Manager.
• Oversee contractors and service providers while managing the CMMS to ensure preventive maintenance and work orders are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Plan, install, and support temporary event-related utility services, including compressed air, domestic water, and natural gas connections.

Attributes for success:

• Extensive knowledge of HVAC/R systems, including boilers, chillers cooling towers, refrigeration equipment, and associated mechanical systems.
• Proficient in diagnosing, troubleshooting, repairing, and optimizing HVAC, mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and electronic control systems.
• Experienced with Building Automation Systems (BAS) and lighting controls, including monitoring, scheduling, alarm management, programming, and system optimization.
• Skilled in Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) for preventive maintenance, work order management, asset tracking, and documentation.
• Strong understanding of preventive/predictive maintenance practices, root cause analysis, equipment reliability, and energy-efficient building operations.
• Capable of rebuilding and repairing pumps, fans, compressors, and motor-driven equipment, as well as performing MIG/TIG welding, fabrication, and equipment modifications.
• Able to read and interpret blueprints, schematics, control drawings, technical manuals, and equipment specifications.
• Proven leadership and teamwork skills with the ability to coordinate staff, manage contractors/vendors, prioritize multiple tasks, and support ongoing facility operations and events.
• Committed to safety, regulatory compliance, and emergency response, including lockout/tagout procedures, industry codes, and safe work practices.
• Strong communication, customer service, and recordkeeping abilities, utilizing Microsoft Windows-based systems, maintenance software, and accurate reporting tools.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Metro, we strive to cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro's goal is to hire, develop and retain highly skilled and talented individuals across all departments and programs who best reflect the diversity of our community.

Learn more about how Metro is advancing diversity

To qualify

We will…