Senior Building Engineer

Senior Building Engineer

Location

San Francisco, California 94158

Date Posted November 06, 2026

Job ID 15971

Employment Type Direct Hire

Scion Nonprofit Staffing has been engaged to conduct a search for an experienced Senior Building Engineer on behalf of a leading nonprofit biomedical research organization in San Francisco, CA! This is an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled, hands-on building engineering professional to support critical facility operations within a sophisticated scientific research environment.

Our client is seeking an experienced engineer with strong mechanical troubleshooting capabilities, extensive knowledge of commercial building systems, and the ability to independently address complex maintenance challenges. This position offers the opportunity to contribute directly to an organization advancing biomedical research and scientific discovery.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Building Engineer will play an important role in maintaining the reliability, safety, and operational efficiency of a specialized research facility. This position requires an experienced facilities professional capable of troubleshooting complex mechanical systems, performing hands-on maintenance, and responding promptly to critical building issues.

The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in commercial building engineering, excellent mechanical aptitude, and the ability to work independently while collaborating with the Facilities team.

Because building system interruptions can directly impact scientific research, the successful candidate must demonstrate sound technical judgment, urgency, and a proactive approach to facility maintenance and emergency response.

PERKS

Competitive Compensation: Annual salary ranging from $160,000–$180,000, depending on experience, qualifications, and internal pay equity.

Direct-Hire Opportunity: Join an established nonprofit organization in a full-time, permanent, in-house engineering position.

Mission-Driven Environment: Support innovative biomedical research and scientific discovery.

Specialized Facility Experience: Work with complex mechanical and building infrastructure supporting a scientific research environment.

Professional Growth: Opportunity to expand technical expertise within an organization with evolving facility needs.

Collaborative Team: Work alongside facilities professionals supporting essential building operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the daily operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of critical building systems within a scientific research facility.

• Perform hands-on preventive and corrective maintenance on commercial mechanical equipment and building infrastructure.

• Troubleshoot issues involving HVAC, boilers, heating systems, pumps, electrical equipment, plumbing, and related mechanical systems.

• Identify equipment malfunctions, determine appropriate corrective actions, and complete repairs to maintain reliable building operations.

• Monitor building systems and respond promptly to maintenance concerns that could impact research activities.

• Utilize building automation and maintenance management systems to support equipment monitoring, work orders, and preventive maintenance activities.

• Collaborate with facilities personnel, vendors, and building occupants to coordinate maintenance activities and resolve operational concerns.

• Support safe, efficient, and reliable operation of building equipment and mechanical systems.

• Exercise independent judgment when evaluating urgent maintenance needs and determining appropriate solutions.

• Participate in occasional after-hours, weekend, and emergency on-call coverage as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Approximately 5–8 years of hands-on building engineering experience, preferably within commercial, institutional, or technically complex facilities.

• Strong mechanical aptitude with demonstrated experience maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing building equipment.

• Working knowledge of commercial HVAC, boilers, pumps, electrical systems, plumbing, and related mechanical infrastructure.

• Ability to confidently use hand tools and perform hands-on equipment maintenance and repairs.

• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, with the ability to independently identify and resolve building system issues.

• Ability to prioritize urgent maintenance requests and respond effectively to equipment failures.

• Strong communication, organizational, and teamwork skills.

• Ability to work fully onsite in San Francisco's Mission Bay neighborhood.

• Availability to respond to urgent building issues, including occasional after-hours or weekend emergencies.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous building engineering experience in a laboratory, biomedical research, biotechnology, healthcare, or similarly specialized environment.

• Hands-on boiler room experience.

• Familiarity with Siemens Building Automation Systems or comparable building management systems.

• Experience using Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS).

• Experience maintaining complex commercial building infrastructure and interconnected mechanical systems.

• COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• This full-time, direct-hire opportunity offers an annual salary of $160,000–$180,000, depending on experience, qualifications, and internal pay equity.

• The position is based onsite in San Francisco's Mission Bay neighborhood, with a standard 40-hour workweek. Occasional overtime, after-hours response, and emergency on-call coverage may be required.

• Relocation assistance is not available.