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Chief engineer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
Quoted experts
Charles Jenckes,
Julie Brandis
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical chief engineer skills. We ranked the top skills for chief engineers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 11.9% of chief engineer resumes contained hvac as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a chief engineer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 chief engineer skills for your resume and career

1. HVAC

Here's how chief engineers use hvac:
  • Responded to and provided assistance in emergencies such as securing or safeguarding HVAC equipment or those related to fire/life/safety conditions.
  • Managed Stationary Engineers and Maintenance Mechanics performing HVAC, Refrigeration, Electrical and Power Distribution system maintenance.

2. Plumbing

Here's how chief engineers use plumbing:
  • Purchased, repaired, maintained and installed mechanical, electrical and plumbing apparatus as it related to general building facility operation.
  • General maintenance of properties Front desk supervisor Light electrical Plumbing Painting Equipment repair (laundry, housekeeping) Night Auditor Security

3. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how chief engineers use customer service:
  • Manage utility consumption, operation of boilers, equipment installation and maintenance to support efficient operations and optimum customer service.
  • Provided support to customer service and applications engineering personnel in applying equipment and troubleshooting field problems.

4. Life Safety Systems

A life-safety system refers to any interior building element designed to protect and evacuate the building population in emergencies, including fires and earthquakes, and less critical events, such as power failures. Fire-detection systems can serve as good examples. They include electronic heat and smoke detectors that can activate audible alarms and automatically notify local fire departments. For fire suppression, some of the equipment needed include hand-operated fire extinguishers and building sprinkler systems.

Here's how chief engineers use life safety systems:
  • Created and managed preventive maintenance and quality control programs, including fire/life safety systems and procedures.
  • Monitored and maintained life safety systems.

5. Boilers

Boilers are a type of machinery, a closed vessel, of varying sizes, sorts, and capacity, which are found in most homes, offices, and buildings. Their intended purpose and function is to safely heat water and store it for various purposes, from cleaning to washing up to preparation of food and so on. It is often used for central heating of houses, apartments, and larger spaces, boiler-based power generation, and sanitation. Such a tool might be powered by a number of things, from wood and coal to electricity produced elsewhere.

Here's how chief engineers use boilers:
  • Maintained specialty items: diesel fire pumps, diesel generators, computerized boilers, and computerized commercial laundry facility.
  • Maintained operational support of boilers and other major equipment.

6. Ladders

Here's how chief engineers use ladders:
  • Constructed safety provisions, including scaffolding, gang ladders, perimeter railings, fall protection and temporary covers.
  • Position and climb ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings, or to rescue individuals from burning structures.

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7. OSHA

Here's how chief engineers use osha:
  • Co-authored OSHA VPP application and led ongoing safety training and documentation administration.
  • Maintained OSHA training and Supervisor certification in several states.

8. Electrical Systems

Here's how chief engineers use electrical systems:
  • Identified and repaired malfunctions in mechanical and electrical systems and other equipment throughout the hotel.
  • Direct responsibility for the operation, maintenance and repair of all mechanical and electrical systems.

9. Management System

A management system is a set of policies, processes, and procedures taken by an organization or a business to ensure it can fulfill its tasks and achieve its objectives. A management system makes sure that the company excels financially and improves the user experience. The management system also takes care of the worker's and employees' needs and manages their workload and oversees their performance. Apart from interior matters of the company, a management system also deals with exterior matters like legislations, tax matters, and law issues.

Here's how chief engineers use management system:
  • Completed extensive training for an Assistant, Including Energy Management System Training, and quarterly Preventive Maintenance Scheduling and Co-ordination.
  • Assisted in developing and management of departmental budget, capitol expenditures, preventative maintenance, and energy management systems.

10. Project Management

Here's how chief engineers use project management:
  • Provided converting technology expertise and capital project management for the Chester Mill in the converting, printing, and distribution/warehousing areas.
  • Executed operational management functions such as project management, contractor/customer relations, record keeping, budget development and implementation.

11. Building Maintenance

Building maintenance means all duties necessary to keep a building livable and functional. It involves removing trash regularly, repairing broken items, and cleaning common areas.

Here's how chief engineers use building maintenance:
  • General building maintenance, including coordination with outside vendors and building management.
  • Total building maintenance, interior and exterior repair and replacement

12. Mechanical Equipment

Mechanical equipment is a term referring to the machinery which have been created and gathered for the purpose of fulfilling one or more functions and consisting of, most often, multiple components.

Here's how chief engineers use mechanical equipment:
  • Maintain a consistent and thorough preventive maintenance program on all mechanical equipment, energy management, fire-life safety and contract administration.
  • Implement and maintain an extensive predictive/preventive maintenance program on HVAC/ mechanical equipment, life safety/security systems, and structural integrity.

13. General Maintenance

General maintenance is the regular check-up and repairs of machinery, buildings, and other mechanical equipment. General maintenance is performed by repair workers who are skilled to handle the day-to-day defects produced in the machinery. General maintenance aims to make sure the items remain in the best operational conditions. Usually, a set of planned activities are performed regularly by an expert to monitor the maintenance.

Here's how chief engineers use general maintenance:
  • Conducted monthly safety and fire inspections, as well as general maintenance and service within the manufacturing facility and administration offices.
  • Monitored equipment and performed inspections, tests, general maintenance and repairs repair required to ensure proper operating conditions.

14. Troubleshoot

Troubleshooting is the process of analyzing and fixing any kind of problem in a system or a machine. Troubleshooting is the detailed yet quick search in the system for the main source of an issue and solving it.

Here's how chief engineers use troubleshoot:
  • Instituted preventative maintenance schedules, troubleshoot and implemented emergency plans.
  • Read and troubleshoot electrical schematics.

15. EMS

Emergency Medical Services, also known as EMS, is an emergency medical response system that provides stabilization and urgent preclinical and on-site treatment for serious illness and injury, as well as the transportation of patients who are unable to transport themselves to a definite health care center. The main objective of EMS is to provide emergency medical treatment to those who need urgent medical attention and to properly treat the patient's condition and transport them to a suitable health center or medical facility.

Here's how chief engineers use ems:
  • Monitored and adjusted building HVAC equipment using the Automated Logic EMS system and scheduled equipment for after hour events.
  • Utilize EMS systems such as Tracer, Siemens Apogee, to monitor HVAC equipment from office and home.
top-skills

What skills help Chief Engineers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on chief engineer resumes?

Charles Jenckes

Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

For new graduates
1.Where the candidate went to school and what was studied
2.GPA
3.Any successful internships
4.Projects completed by the student

What chief engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Julie BrandisJulie Brandis LinkedIn profile

Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships, Website

The nation needs engineers across many disciplines. There isn’t one skill that is needed. Honesty and integrity (do what’s right, be honest and be dependable) Leadership - ability to meet deadlines, resolve conflict, balance competing demands, communicate in groups and influence peers, manage budgets

What type of skills will young chief engineers need?

Neil LittellNeil Littell LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor and Kraft Family Scholar, Ohio University

I believe that all young graduates should focus on building their soft-skills in addition to building technical skills. New graduates' ability to apply technical skills, in conjunction with being a great team member who is well-liked and can communicate well, combine to form a powerful synergy for conquering the job market. Being involved in student organizations such as SME (the Society of Manufacturing Engineers) or ATMAE (the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering) are great places to volunteer, learn, and grow both soft and technical skills. I see a trend in students who are pursuing certificates, in addition to their undergraduate degrees, to communicate their interest in specific fields aligned to the jobs they desire. For example, at Ohio University, we offer undergraduate certificates in project management, lean/six-sigma, and sales, among many others. These certificates exist as groupings of classes designed to go further in an area than a typical undergraduate experience. I am also seeing students pursue industrial certifications as a way to prove what they can do. ATMAE, SME, and others provide these certifications. Our program requires each of our students to participate in at least one certification exam; usually, the Certified Manufacturing Specialist exam through ATMAE.

What hard/technical skills are most important for chief engineers?

Mike DeVore Ph.D.

Professor & Program Chair, Cincinnati State Technical & Community College

-Computer-Aided Design

-Knowledge of manufacturing processes

-A good mathematics foundation

-Technical communication

-Problem solving

List of chief engineer skills to add to your resume

Chief engineer skills

The most important skills for a chief engineer resume and required skills for a chief engineer to have include:

  • HVAC
  • Plumbing
  • Customer Service
  • Life Safety Systems
  • Boilers
  • Ladders
  • OSHA
  • Electrical Systems
  • Management System
  • Project Management
  • Building Maintenance
  • Mechanical Equipment
  • General Maintenance
  • Troubleshoot
  • EMS
  • Routine Maintenance
  • Mechanical Systems
  • Physical Plant
  • Guest Satisfaction
  • Maintenance Operations
  • RF
  • Preventative Maintenance
  • Guest Rooms
  • Kitchen Equipment
  • Building Systems
  • Electrical Equipment
  • Transmitters
  • Water Treatment
  • CMMS
  • Cooling Towers
  • R
  • Emergency Generators
  • Engineering Operations
  • FCC
  • Commercial Property
  • Capital Projects
  • FM
  • Ice Machines
  • Earned Value Management
  • Hotel Equipment
  • Laundry Equipment
  • Construction Projects
  • Engine Room
  • Opportunity Management
  • Snow Removal
  • Air Handlers
  • A/C
  • CAD
  • AC
  • Capital Expenditures

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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