Director of Engineering

Hotel Nia seeks a hands-on Director of Engineering to lead hotel engineering and facilities operations for long-term performance, safety, reliability, and appearance.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, hands-on leadership for all Engineering and facilities operations
• Oversee operation, maintenance, repair, and optimization of critical building systems including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, refrigeration, life-safety, fire protection, building automation, elevators, and other key systems
• Troubleshoot interconnected systems using high-rise and complex building experience to resolve recurring or difficult engineering challenges
• Conduct regular inspections across guestrooms, public areas, back-of-house spaces, mechanical rooms, exterior areas, and critical infrastructure
• Build preventive and predictive maintenance programs to reduce downtime, emergency repairs, and long-term operating costs
• Maintain detailed documentation including maintenance schedules, equipment histories, warranties, inspections, and regulatory records
• Ensure Engineering operations follow applicable building codes, fire and life-safety requirements, environmental standards, brand expectations, and other regulatory requirements
• Use a builder’s mindset to identify opportunities to strengthen infrastructure, processes, systems, and overall property condition
• Focus on root-cause diagnosis rather than temporary fixes
• Develop practical, sustainable solutions for complex operational and building challenges
• Identify aging infrastructure, operational vulnerabilities, and capital needs before they impact guest experience or operations
• Create short- and long-term plans for equipment replacement, building improvements, renovations, and capital projects
• Partner with hotel leadership to prioritize investments based on safety, guest impact, operational risk, ROI, and long-term property needs
• Challenge existing processes when a safer, smarter, more efficient approach is available
• Lead and coordinate capital improvement projects, renovations, major repairs, and equipment replacements from planning through completion
• Develop scopes of work, review proposals, obtain competitive bids, and oversee contractors and vendors
• Ensure projects are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and to established quality standards
• Maintain vendor accountability and ensure outside partners meet expectations for quality, responsiveness, professionalism, and value
• Partner with ownership, management, contractors, consultants, and other stakeholders on major building initiatives
• Recruit, develop, coach, and lead a knowledgeable, highly responsive Engineering team
• Build a culture of ownership, accountability, urgency, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement
• Set clear expectations and ensure the team understands the purpose behind each task for operation and guest experience
• Improve team technical capability through training, cross-training, and hands-on coaching
• Create staffing and on-call coverage that supports a 24/7 hotel operation
• Coordinate with Housekeeping, Front Office, Food & Beverage, Security, Events, and other departments
• Develop and manage the Engineering operating budget and support the hotel’s capital expenditure plan
• Monitor utilities, repair expenses, contracts, equipment performance, and departmental spending
• Identify energy-efficiency opportunities to reduce utility consumption without compromising guest comfort or building performance
• Evaluate repair-versus-replacement decisions using operational impact, lifecycle cost, reliability, and ROI
• Maintain appropriate inventories of tools, parts, supplies, and critical replacement components

Requirements

• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive Engineering, Facilities, or Building Operations experience, preferably in hotels, luxury hospitality, high-rise buildings, or complex commercial properties
• Prior experience as a Director of Engineering, Chief Engineer, Assistant Director of Engineering, Facilities Director, or comparable leadership role strongly preferred
• High-rise building experience required
• Strong working knowledge of HVAC, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire/life-safety, building automation, vertical transportation, and preventive maintenance systems
• Proven experience troubleshooting complex building issues and developing long-term corrective solutions
• Experience managing capital projects, contractors, vendors, budgets, and preventive maintenance programs
• Strong knowledge of workplace safety practices and applicable building and regulatory requirements
• Ability to respond effectively to emergencies and make sound decisions under pressure
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills
• Hospitality experience strongly preferred
• Relevant technical licenses, certifications, or trade credentials are highly desirable

Technologies

• HVAC
• Electrical
• Plumbing
• Mechanical
• Refrigeration
• Life-safety
• Fire protection
• Building automation
• Elevators
• Vertical transportation
• Preventive maintenance systems

Benefits

• Pay: $120,000.00 - $132,000.00 per year
• Work location: In person

Location: Menlo Park, CA (onsite)