Director of Engineering

The Director of Engineering is a key leadership role within the Syracuse Operations team and serves as a technical authority for the organization. Reporting directly to the SVP of Concessions, this role operates in a highly collaborative, flat organizational structure with direct visibility and access to senior leadership.

The Director of Engineering will lead engineering strategy, oversee technical operations for district energy systems, and drive performance, reliability, and continuous improvement across utility infrastructure. The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise in district energy systems along with strong leadership in capital projects, system optimization, and regulatory compliance.

• Provide technical leadership for district energy systems including steam, chilled water, HVAC, and CHP operations
• Oversee engineering design, construction, commissioning, and optimization of utility infrastructure projects
• Lead capital planning, scope development (SOW), budgeting, and execution of major infrastructure initiatives
• Drive system performance improvements through data analysis, KPI development, and operational benchmarking
• Partner with operations teams to troubleshoot complex system issues and implement long-term reliability solutions
• Ensure compliance with environmental and regulatory requirements, including Title V permitting and related standards
• Review and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and construction documentation
• Develop technical reports, operational procedures, and engineering documentation to support system performance and compliance
• Support asset management strategies, including lifecycle planning and preventative maintenance optimization
• Collaborate across multi-discipline engineering, construction, and operations teams to deliver projects and improve system efficiency

• Extensive experience with district energy systems (steam, hot water, chilled water, CHP)
• Strong HVAC design knowledge with application of ASHRAE standards
• Understanding of piping systems, controls engineering, and thermal energy distribution systems
• Experience working in large-scale facilities, campuses, or utility environments

• Proven ability to analyze energy consumption data and identify optimization opportunities
• Experience developing and tracking operational KPIs for plant or utility systems
• Strong root cause analysis skills for identifying and resolving system performance issues
• Experience maintaining or working with operational performance databases or dashboards

• Demonstrated leadership in full project lifecycle delivery (design through commissioning)
• Experience developing scopes of work, capital plans, and project budgets
• Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary engineering and construction teams
• Strong understanding of construction management principles and execution planning

• Experience supporting environmental compliance programs (including Title V or similar permitting)
• Working knowledge of safety, environmental, and energy regulations affecting utility operations
• Familiarity with emissions compliance and infrastructure regulatory requirements

• Ability to read, interpret, and apply engineering drawings and construction documents
• Strong technical writing skills for reports, procedures, and operational documentation
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook)
• Experience with project scheduling tools (e.g., MS Project or equivalent)

• Experience supporting operations teams in troubleshooting and system optimization
• Knowledge of preventative maintenance strategies and asset lifecycle management
• Experience specifying, selecting, and managing technical equipment and systems
• Strong focus on improving system reliability, efficiency, and long‑term performance

• Background in utility, district energy, or large‑scale infrastructure systems
• Experience with boilers, chillers, and thermal energy systems
• Familiarity with campus or municipal heating and cooling…