What does a chief engineer do?
A chief engineer is responsible for monitoring the engineering department's overall operations, ensuring performance efficiency, and everyone's strict compliance with the safety standards and regulatory procedures. Chief engineers manage the distribution of the tasks to the team, communicate with the clients and management for instructions and specifications, monitor expenses and forecast sales reports, analyze and approve designs, negotiate contracts, and process disputes. A chief engineer must have excellent knowledge of the engineering disciplines and exemplary leadership skills to handle the team's performance towards the company's objectives.
Chief engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real chief engineer resumes:
- Lead SQL performance overhaul for SaaS web applications.
- Manage A/E design contracts, evaluate cost proposals and provide construction inspection.
- Maintain HVAC/R equipment and kitchen equipment throughout a number of different properties that LPC manages.
- Manage staff, contracts, vendor relations, bids, projects, RFP's and negotiations.
- Co-Authore OSHA VPP application and lead ongoing safety training and documentation administration.
- Initiate and manage several CMMS programs for productivity and inventory control programs.
- Manage physical plant operation of HVAC, boiler, and building systems, including operational problem-solving and preventative maintenance scheduling.
- Institute preventative maintenance schedules, troubleshoot and implement emergency plans.
- Maintain VAV, HVAC and air handler systems.
- Monitor construction of new buildings per UBC, UNC, UPC, NFPA and NEC codes.
- Repair building automate VAV, DDC, and communications systems.
- Stoop, climb ladders and lift heavy loads during set up of events.
- Advance training in the use of SolidWorks BOM creation & linking of programs.
- Generate project specific certification plans for FAA on new and amend type designs.
- Receive bids on proposals for heating, ventilation, air conditioning alterations and installations.
Chief engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Chief Engineers are proficient in HVAC, Plumbing, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Listening skills, Mechanical skills, and Math skills.
We break down the percentage of Chief Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- HVAC, 12%
Responded to and provided assistance in emergencies such as securing or safeguarding HVAC equipment or those related to fire/life/safety conditions.
- Plumbing, 10%
Purchased, repaired, maintained and installed mechanical, electrical and plumbing apparatus as it related to general building facility operation.
- Customer Service, 7%
Manage utility consumption, operation of boilers, equipment installation and maintenance to support efficient operations and optimum customer service.
- Life Safety Systems, 4%
Created and managed preventive maintenance and quality control programs, including fire/life safety systems and procedures.
- Boilers, 4%
Maintained specialty items: diesel fire pumps, diesel generators, computerized boilers, and computerized commercial laundry facility.
- Ladders, 3%
Constructed safety provisions, including scaffolding, gang ladders, perimeter railings, fall protection and temporary covers.
Most chief engineers use their skills in "hvac," "plumbing," and "customer service" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential chief engineer responsibilities here:
Listening skills. The most essential soft skill for a chief engineer to carry out their responsibilities is listening skills. This skill is important for the role because "mechanical engineers often work on projects with others, such as architects and computer scientists." Additionally, a chief engineer resume shows how their duties depend on listening skills: "ensured all quality assurance, osha regulations, and corporate initiatives were successfully trained, communicated and implemented. "
Mechanical skills. Another essential skill to perform chief engineer duties is mechanical skills. Chief engineers responsibilities require that "mechanical skills allow engineers to apply basic engineering concepts and mechanical processes to the design of new devices and systems." Chief engineers also use mechanical skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "oversee the daily mechanical and maintenance operations of this 50 story residential community high rise building consisting of 213 units. "
Math skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of chief engineers is math skills. This skill is critical to many everyday chief engineer duties, as "mechanical engineers use the principles of calculus, statistics, and other advanced subjects in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "developed pc based c++ versions of mainframe (cray/sinda) thermal math models. "
Creativity. A big part of what chief engineers do relies on "creativity." You can see how essential it is to chief engineer responsibilities because "mechanical engineers design and build complex pieces of equipment and machinery." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical chief engineer tasks: "initiated and managed several cmms programs for productivity and inventory control programs. "
Problem-solving skills. Another crucial skill for a chief engineer to carry out their responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." A big part of what chief engineers relies on this skill, since "mechanical engineers need good problem-solving skills to take scientific principles and discoveries and use them to design and build useful products." How this skill relates to chief engineer duties can be seen in an example from a chief engineer resume snippet: "addressed and resolved all emergency and routine maintenance issues. "
The three companies that hire the most chief engineers are:
- Aimbridge Hospitality101 chief engineers jobs
- Marriott International52 chief engineers jobs
- Raytheon Technologies43 chief engineers jobs
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Compare different chief engineers
Chief engineer vs. Senior field service engineer
Senior Field Service Engineers are responsible for the installation, repair, and maintenance of equipment. Their duties include installing equipment that complies with technical specifications, coordinating preventative maintenance, calibrating tools, test equipment, manage the contract tendering process, and conduct field modifications. They also assist in the ordering of repair parts as well as organizing service records and customer logs. Senior Filed Service Engineers works to ensure that work deliverable adheres to all regulatory requirements and health and safety protocols.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between chief engineers and senior field service engineer. For instance, chief engineer responsibilities require skills such as "hvac," "plumbing," "life safety systems," and "boilers." Whereas a senior field service engineer is skilled in "customer satisfaction," "preventive maintenance," "control systems," and "test equipment." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Senior field service engineers earn the highest salaries when working in the health care industry, with an average yearly salary of $91,386. On the other hand, chief engineers are paid more in the transportation industry with an average salary of $114,862.The education levels that senior field service engineers earn slightly differ from chief engineers. In particular, senior field service engineers are 7.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a chief engineer. Additionally, they're 1.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Chief engineer vs. Senior principal engineer
A senior principal engineer is responsible for leading engineering tasks within an organization and reports project updates to senior management. Senior principal engineers develop strategic methods and principles to improve the technical stability and efficiency of the company's systems, creating business proposals according to clients' specifications, and negotiating contracts with suppliers and other service providers. They also train new staff and identify innovations and business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources for the company.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real chief engineer resumes. While chief engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "hvac," "plumbing," "customer service," and "life safety systems," senior principal engineers use skills like "python," "architecture," "java," and "cloud."
Senior principal engineers earn a higher average salary than chief engineers. But senior principal engineers earn the highest pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $123,997. Additionally, chief engineers earn the highest salaries in the transportation with average pay of $114,862 annually.In general, senior principal engineers achieve higher levels of education than chief engineers. They're 8.5% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Chief engineer vs. Senior product engineer
A senior product engineer specializes in optimizing product designs and manufacturing procedures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They are typically in charge of performing market research and analysis, utilizing the results as a basis in designing new products and upgrading existing designs. Moreover, they coordinate with product development teams to cultivate ideas, develop prototypes and test structures, and oversee the material selection that will make the products possible. As a senior product engineer, it is essential to monitor the entire progress and lead the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from chief engineer resumes include skills like "hvac," "plumbing," "customer service," and "life safety systems," whereas a senior product engineer is more likely to list skills in "java," "product engineering," "continuous improvement," and "c++. "
Senior product engineers make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $101,290. On the other hand, chief engineers are paid the highest salary in the transportation industry, with average annual pay of $114,862.senior product engineers typically earn higher educational levels compared to chief engineers. Specifically, they're 5.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Chief engineer vs. Senior mechanical engineer
A senior mechanical engineer is responsible for designing and improving mechanical equipment, as well as industrial devices and machinery. Senior mechanical engineers verify the materials and resources, ensuring that the processes meet the budget goals from clients' specifications and requirements. They also monitor the manufacturing process, developing strategic procedures for operations improvement, and maximizing staff productivity. A senior mechanical engineer runs multiple diagnostic tests to guarantee the stability and efficiency of the item and coordinating with the client for any plan adjustments as needed.
Updated January 8, 2025
