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About the job

Location: Detroit, MI

Employment Type: Full-Time

Compensation: $90,000 – $100,000

Benefits: Health and retirement plans, paid time off, employee travel benefits, and professional development opportunities

A full-service hotel in downtown Detroit is seeking to identify an experienced Chief Engineer. This executive leadership position is responsible for the reliability, safety, and overall condition of the property, ensuring that guest rooms, public spaces, meeting facilities, and building systems consistently support an exceptional guest experience.

Reporting to the General Manager, the Chief Engineer will lead the property’s engineering team, oversee preventive maintenance and capital projects, and manage departmental budgets and vendor relationships. The ideal candidate is a hands-on hotel engineering leader who combines strong technical knowledge with financial discipline, team development, and a genuine commitment to hospitality.

Key Responsibilities

Direct all engineering and maintenance operations, including HVAC, boilers, electrical, plumbing, mechanical equipment, elevators, and fire/life-safety systems

Maintain building reliability, guest comfort, and operational readiness across guest rooms, public areas, meeting spaces, and back-of-house facilities

Develop and execute preventive and predictive maintenance programs to reduce deferred maintenance and minimize out-of-order rooms

Oversee work-order completion, maintenance scheduling, documentation, and performance through the property’s maintenance management system

Conduct regular facility inspections and identify opportunities to improve safety, efficiency, and building condition

Manage engineering budgets, forecasting, inventory, repair expenses, and utility consumption

Identify and implement energy and water conservation initiatives that support operating efficiency

Lead capital improvement projects, renovations, and property rehabilitations, including budgeting, scheduling, contractor coordination, and project execution

Manage vendor relationships, service agreements, contractor bidding, and outside maintenance providers

Ensure compliance with applicable building codes, OSHA requirements, fire/life-safety regulations, environmental standards, and required inspections

Obtain and maintain required permits, licenses, certifications, and operational documentation

Recruit, train, coach, schedule, and develop engineering team members while maintaining appropriate coverage for a 24/7 hotel operation

Partner with Rooms, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Sales, and Security to address facility needs and minimize guest disruption

Respond promptly to guest and team member maintenance concerns, ensuring issues are resolved with ownership and urgency

Serve as a member of the hotel’s executive leadership team and communicate engineering priorities, performance, and capital needs to the General Manager

Ideal Experience

Proven engineering or facilities leadership experience within a full-service hotel, resort, suites property, or comparable multi-building operation

Strong technical knowledge of HVAC, boilers, electrical, plumbing, mechanical systems, and fire/life-safety equipment

Experience developing preventive maintenance programs and managing maintenance performance in a 24/7 guest environment

Demonstrated ability to manage departmental budgets, utility expenses, vendors, and capital projects

Experience with computerized maintenance management systems, work-order tracking, and maintenance documentation

Ability to read technical drawings and coordinate contractors, repairs, and property improvement projects

Working knowledge of OSHA, building codes, fire regulations, and environmental compliance

Relevant licenses or certifications as required by applicable local regulations

Strong leadership skills with the ability to recruit, coach, and develop a dependable engineering team

Hands-on, solutions-focused leadership style with strong communication and organizational skills

Ability to prioritize urgent operational needs while maintaining long-term building reliability and preventive maintenance goals

Experience with major hotel brand standards and energy-management programs is a plus

To apply, please send a resume to sydneyc@geckohospitality.com