MEP Building Engineer

Building Bridges Across the River manages THEARC (Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus), a 233,000 square foot nonprofit center serving communities east of the Anacostia River in Washington, DC. The campus houses 14 nonprofit partners delivering comprehensive programming in arts, health, education, and workforce development. We are committed to creating inclusive spaces that empower residents and strengthen communities through collaborative partnerships and quality facilities management.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Building Bridges Across the River is seeking a highly skilled, hands-on MEP Building Engineer to directly operate, maintain, and repair the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems across our 233,000 square foot nonprofit commercial campus, THEARC. This facility houses 14 nonprofit partners serving communities east of the Anacostia River in Washington, DC through arts, health, education, and workforce development programs. This position requires extensive field work and technical expertise to personally manage building systems, with outside contractors utilized when specialized expertise is needed. The MEP Building Engineer will work closely with the Facilities Manager to ensure optimal performance, safety, and efficiency of all building systems while managing departmental budgets.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Hands-On MEP Systems Operations & Maintenance

Personally perform daily operations, troubleshooting, maintenance, and repairs of all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems across the 233,000 square foot campus including HVAC equipment, chillers, boilers, electrical distribution panels, plumbing systems, fire protection systems, and life safety equipment

Conduct hands-on inspections, testing, and preventive maintenance on all MEP systems including filter changes, belt replacements, motor maintenance, electrical testing, and plumbing repairs

Diagnose and repair complex MEP system failures using technical manuals, diagnostic equipment, and troubleshooting expertise to minimize downtime and maintain continuous operations.

Perform electrical work including circuit repairs, outlet and switch replacements, lighting maintenance, panel troubleshooting, and emergency power system testing

Execute plumbing repairs and maintenance including fixture repairs, pipe repairs, drain clearing, water heater maintenance, and backflow prevention testing

Service and maintain HVAC systems including cleaning coils, replacing filters, adjusting controls, repairing ductwork, and performing seasonal equipment startups and shutdowns

Monitor and adjust building automation systems (BAS) and energy management systems to optimize equipment performance and energy efficiency

Respond immediately to emergency situations including equipment failures, power outages, water leaks, and HVAC malfunctions, performing hands-on repairs to restore operations

Maintain detailed logs of equipment performance, repairs completed, parts used, and maintenance schedules

Develop and implement preventive maintenance schedules based on manufacturer specifications and industry best practices

Technical Project Execution

Plan and execute equipment installations, upgrades, and replacement projects including pumps, motors, control systems, and mechanical equipment

Perform system modifications and improvements to enhance efficiency, reliability, and performance

Coordinate with facilities staff to plan and execute building improvement projects requiring MEP expertise

Develop long-term capital improvement plans for MEP infrastructure based on hands-on assessment of equipment condition and performance

Budget Management

Develop and manage annual operating and capital budgets for MEP systems, equipment, parts inventory, and maintenance programs

Track and analyze expenditures, prioritizing in-house repairs and identifying cost-saving opportunities through hands-on maintenance

Maintain parts inventory and procurement systems to support efficient in-house repairs

Prepare financial reports and budget forecasts for leadership review, including variance analyses and recommendations

Monitor utility consumption and implement hands-on strategies to reduce energy and water

usage

Develop capital project proposals with detailed cost estimates and ROI calculations based on

field assessments

Outside Contractor Coordination (When Specialized Expertise is Needed)

Determine when work requires specialized expertise, licensing, or certifications beyond inhouse capabilities

Obtain competitive bids and manage outside contractors for specialized work such as elevator service, fire alarm testing, refrigerant handling, or major equipment replacements requiring specialized expertise

Provide technical oversight and quality control for contractor work, ensuring proper installation and compliance with

specifications

Review and approve contractor invoices for accuracy and work completion

Compliance & Documentation

Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local building cod…