Building Operating Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $48,666.12 - $55,966.04 Annually
Location : 201 East Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk, VA
Job Type: Permanent Full-time
Job Number: 14027
Department: General Services
Division: Facility Maintenance
Opening Date: 05/19/2026
Closing Date: 5/31/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Description
The General Services Facilities Maintenance Division is responsible for the repair and maintenance of over 250 city government facilities, including office buildings, libraries, public safety facilities, recreation centers, pools, the Virginia Zoo, Nauticus, and downtown entertainment venues. The Division employs skilled trades and operations staff who perform electrical, HVAC, plumbing, carpentry, and other essential services to keep city facilities safe, efficient, and welcoming for residents, visitors, and staff.
Within this Division, the SevenVenues Maintenance Team provides specialized support to Norfolk's cultural and entertainment venues, including Scope Arena, Chrysler Hall, Harrison Opera House, Wells Theatre, Attucks Theatre, Harbor Park, and the MacArthur Memorial. These unique public assembly facilities host concerts, sporting events, theatrical performances, and civic events, making this a fast-paced, dynamic work environment where reliability and customer service are critical.
The Facility Maintenance Division is seeking an Operating Engineer II to join the SevenVenues Maintenance Team. This position will be responsible for operating and monitoring Direct Digital Control (DDC) building automation systems, with emphasis on Siemens controls, to ensure proper operation of pumps, chillers, boilers, and auxiliary equipment. The Operating Engineer II will identify irregularities, troubleshoot system issues, and take corrective action using established operating procedures to ensure reliable service delivery.
In addition to monitoring and maintaining building systems, this position performs preventive and corrective maintenance, responds to alarms and service calls, and documents work using the city's work order management system (Asset Essentials). The role requires strong communication skills to work with tenants, contractors, and fellow staff across multiple venues and occasionally at other city facilities such as Nauticus or the Virginia Zoo.This Operating Engineer II may also serve as the duty engineer, carrying a radio and cell phone to respond to calls and coordinate corrective actions during assigned shifts. This is a customer-facing position that requires flexibility, strong problem-solving ability, and a commitment to delivering dependable facility operations in support of Norfolk's entertainment and cultural venues.
Essential Functions

• Operates and monitors building automation systems (DDC/Siemens) to maintain environmental conditions across SevenVenues facilities.
• Identifies plant/system irregularities and initiates corrective actions following established procedures.
• Performs preventive and corrective maintenance on pumps, motors, chillers, boilers, and auxiliary systems.
• Responds to alarms, work orders, and tenant service requests, ensuring timely resolution and follow-up communication.
• Documents all work performed in the Asset Essentials work order management system, maintaining accurate and complete records.
• Provides customer service by communicating directly with tenants, event managers, and city staff regarding system status and repairs.
• Serves as duty engineer on a rotational basis, carrying assigned communication devices and responding to calls during the day shift.
• Assists with monitoring and maintaining specialized systems such as the Scope Arena ice plant that supports professional hockey operations.
• Supports occasional maintenance needs at other city facilities (e.g., Nauticus, Virginia Zoo) as assigned.
• Ensures compliance with OSHA and city safety standards, including lockout/tagout procedures and other facility safety protocols.

Education/Experience
Work requires knowledge of technical, vocational, or mechanical systems obtained through one year of advanced study or training beyond high school equivalency.
Required:

• Two (2) years of experience in the operation, repair, or maintenance of boilers, chillers, building automation systems, or related plant equipment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with Direct Digital Control (DDC) systems such as Siemens, Johnson Controls, Trane, or Automated Logic is highly desirable.

Additional Information & Requirements

• Valid Driver's License required.

Work Schedule:

• This position is scheduled for a standard day shift from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with rotating off-days to align with the event schedule across SevenVenues facilities.
• Flexibility is essential, as work hours may occasionally include evenings, weekends, or holidays to support events and facility needs. On call duties may be required on rotating basiss.

Signing Bonus:

• This position is eligible for a $5,000 signing bonus.

• Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.
  
• Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.
  
• Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.
  
• Retirement

If you are hired October 5, 2010, or after to a position with City of Norfolk Retirement System benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.
If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

• The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant's school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.

NOTE:
The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.
Non-City
Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.
01
The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications for specific experience being sought. Please be specific in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given further consideration in the process. Do not answer "see resume" or "see application" as these are not valid answers. Please note that if you are invited to be interviewed by the department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.

• I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.

02
If you were referred for this position by a current City of Norfolk employee, please provide the employee's full name, department, and job title, and your relationship to the employee. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A."
03
Please select the highest level of education you have completed.

• High School Diploma/GED
• Some College (6 months or more)
• Vocational/Technical Degree
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree or higher

04
Do you have at least two (2) years of experience operating or maintaining plant equipment such as boilers, chillers, or building automation systems?

• Yes
• No

05
Which DDC systems have you worked with? (Select all that apply)

• Siemens
• Johnson Controls
• Trane
• Automated Logic
• Other
• No experience with DDC systems

06
Which types of maintenance work are you most experienced with? (Select all that apply)

• Preventive maintenance (filters, belts, lubrication, etc.)
• Corrective maintenance (repairs, replacements)
• Troubleshooting system alarms or irregularities
• Overseeing contractor work
• None of the above

07
Which best describes your experience documenting plant operations or maintenance in a computerized maintenance management system?

• No experience
• Limited experience
• Regular use in past positions
• Expert user

08
This position may serve as duty engineer and carry a radio/cell phone for immediate response during shifts. Are you comfortable with this responsibility?

• No, I am not comfortable
• Yes, I am comfortable with training
• Yes, I have done this before

09
How would you describe your familiarity with standard operating procedures (SOPs) in a plant environment?

• Not familiar
• Basic understanding
• Regularly followed SOPs in past roles
• Experienced in developing or training others on SOPs

10
What best describes your ability to work independently?

• I require close supervision
• I can work independently but prefer periodic check-ins
• I regularly work independently and make sound decisions
• I often train or guide others in independent roles

11
Do you hold or have you held any of the following certifications?

• 2nd Class or higher Operating Engineer License
• Boiler Operator Certification
• EPA Refrigerant Certification
• None of the above

12
This position requires attention to detail and proactive problem solving. Which statement best matches your approach?

• I wait for direction before acting
• I handle issues as they occur
• I look for early signs of problems and act quickly to address them
• I anticipate potential issues and take preventive steps to avoid them

13
Do you have a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

14
Do you have the legal right to work in the United States and, upon employment, can you provide documentation to verify this?

• Yes
• No

15
Are you a current or previous City of Norfolk employee?

• Yes - I am a current City of Norfolk Employee
• Yes - I am a previous City of Norfolk Employee
• No - I am not a previous or current City of Norfolk employee

16
Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 may be required)

• I am not a Veteran
• I am a Veteran
• I am a Disabled Veteran

Required Question