Project Engineer (Chief Engineer)

Mahalo for your interest in this role! Please see the full position description below and click Start Your Application when ready.

Project Engineer (Chief Engineer) - Central Utility Plant

Location: Boulder, CO

Position Summary

LAUKOA is seeking a dedicated Project Engineer to provide on-site technical leadership for the NIST Boulder Central Utility Plant. The Project Engineer will coordinate quality service delivery, provide technical assistance, recommend system improvements, support quality assurance, and oversee daily operating documentation for boilers, chillers, air compressors, compressed air dryers, and related central plant systems.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide on-site technical leadership during core hours, generally 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• Coordinate the delivery of quality operations, maintenance, preventive maintenance, and repair services.
• Provide technical assistance to Stationary Engineers, HVAC Mechanics, management, and subcontractors.
• Evaluate system performance and recommend practical improvements to reliability, efficiency, safety, and maintainability.
• Implement quality assurance through review and submission of accurate daily logs by 9:00 a.m. using the Government-provided format.
• Support operation of steam, chilled water, laboratory-grade compressed air, water treatment, and associated mechanical systems.
• Review alarms, operating trends, meter readings, chemical logs, preventive maintenance records, and repair documentation.
• Support planned outage coordination, troubleshooting, incident response, and restoration of critical services.
• Participate in weekly meetings with the Project Manager and Government representatives.
• Perform Stationary Engineer functions when assigned and when all licensing and staffing requirements remain satisfied.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be a qualified Stationary Engineer with experience operating large mechanical systems, including boilers, chillers, air compressors, and central utility plant equipment.
• Minimum four years of verifiable stationary engineering experience, including at least three years operating qualifying high-pressure steam or high-temperature water boilers and at least one year operating refrigeration equipment requiring an operator.
• Must possess or be able to obtain a valid City and County of Denver Stationary Engineer Certificate within 180 days of starting work and maintain it throughout employment.
• Experience with direct digital controls and building management systems; Johnson Controls Metasys experience is preferred.
• Experience with technical reporting, quality assurance, preventive maintenance, and troubleshooting of critical mechanical systems.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of boiler, chiller, compressed air, pumping, cooling tower, water treatment, and central plant operations.
• Ability to diagnose equipment and system problems using operating data, inspections, alarms, and control system information.
• Ability to prepare clear daily logs, technical reports, recommendations, and maintenance documentation.
• Strong leadership, communication, planning, and coordination skills.
• Proficiency with Maximo or comparable computerized maintenance management systems, Microsoft Excel, and electronic reporting.

Security Requirements

• Must successfully complete all required NIST badging, access, background, and security processes.
• Must be able to maintain site access and comply with all Government security procedures.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in a central utility plant, mechanical rooms, tunnels, rooftops, and industrial environments with heat, noise, and moving equipment.
• Ability to stand, walk, climb stairs and ladders, bend, stoop, and access equipment areas.
• Ability to wear required PPE and safely perform inspections and technical oversight duties.

Wage Rate

• Wage rates and benefits will be determined in accordance with the Local One International Union of Operating Engineers Collective Bargaining Agreement in effect at the time of solicitation. The values shown are estimates and are subject to change.
• Estimated hourly rate between $55.00 - $65.00 per hour
• Includes an estimated $1,250 per month towards Health and Welfare
• Includes an estimated $3.50 per hour towards retirement

*This Position is Contingent Upon Award.

We are an Equal Opportunity/VEVRAA federal contractor. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We offer a best-in-class benefits program including medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) program with employer match; paid vacation and sick leave; employer-paid basic life and AD&D insurance; an Employee Assistance Program; and a flexible work environment. Additionally, employees can choose from several voluntary benefits including critical illness coverage; accident insurance; identity theft coverage; pet insurance, and more.

We give preference to internal candidates. If no internal candidate meets our qualifications, external candidates will be given consideration.