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Chief Operating Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Jobtailor

Chief Operating Officer

Denver, CO · On-site

$250 - $380/hr

Support the CTO in the rebuild of IO's engineering and delivery organisation, providing the ... Partner with the CTO to help import the operating disciplines of elite software companies ...

Blue Forest

Chief Operating Officer

Sacramento, CA · Remote

$200K - $225K/yr

Blue Forest is made up of an interdisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, foresters, finance ... The COO oversees Human Resources, Information Technology, and business operations, building the ...

Matter.

Chief Operating Officer

Bristol, VA · On-site

$160.64 - $240.96/hr

Chief Operating Officer Application Deadline: 9 August 2026 Department: Operations Employment Type ... Do you want to join a purpose-driven engineering team tackling some of the world's most critical ...

P&C Recruiting and HR

$275K - $300K/yr

Chief Operating Officer This is a unique leadership opportunity for a senior mining professional to ... Engineers, NRC/Wyoming DEQ, as well as other state Federal and state regulatory bodies) • ...

Hyphen Connect Limited

As we transition from a lean engineering-heavy team to a global powerhouse, we need a Chief Operating Officer to build the engine that powers our growth. You won't just be managing-you will be ...

MSD

Chief Operating Officer

Rockville, MD · On-site

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for comprehensive planning, development, and ... Engineering, Operations & Manufacturing (including supply chain and distribution), and Customer ...

Social Influence LLC

COO

Cincinnati, OH · On-site

$175 - $200/hr

Chief Operating Officer (COO) The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for the operational ... Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business, or related field ...

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All JobsChief Operating Engineer Jobs

Chief Operating Engineer information

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$30

$57

$84

How much do chief operating engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 22, 2026, the average hourly pay for chief operating engineer in the United States is $57.57, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $36.30 and $61.54 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Chief Operating Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Chief Operating Engineer, you need deep expertise in building systems operations, mechanical and electrical engineering, and typically a Stationary Engineer license or relevant certifications. Proficiency in HVAC, boiler controls, computerized building management systems, and compliance with safety regulations is essential. Leadership, problem-solving, and effective communication are key soft skills for managing teams and responding swiftly to facility issues. These skills ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operation of critical infrastructure, minimizing risks and costly downtime.

What is the difference between Chief Operating Engineer vs Maintenance Engineer?

AspectChief Operating EngineerMaintenance Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires HVAC, boiler operator licenses, or engineering certificationsOften requires HVAC or electrical certifications, technical training
Work EnvironmentSupervises building systems, mechanical equipment, and facilities managementPerforms maintenance, repairs, and inspections of equipment and systems
Employer & IndustryFound in commercial, industrial, or institutional facilitiesCommon in manufacturing, facilities, and building management

The Chief Operating Engineer oversees the operation and maintenance of building systems, ensuring safety and efficiency, while the Maintenance Engineer focuses on repairing and maintaining equipment. Both roles require technical certifications and work in similar environments, but the Chief Operating Engineer has broader supervisory responsibilities.

What are some common challenges faced by a Chief Operating Engineer, and how can they be addressed?

Chief Operating Engineers often face the challenge of balancing operational efficiency with strict safety regulations and budget constraints. They must ensure that all engineering systems run smoothly while coordinating maintenance schedules and responding quickly to unexpected mechanical issues. Effective communication with cross-functional teams and proactive planning are essential to minimize downtime and optimize resource allocation. Staying updated on industry best practices and investing in staff training can help address these challenges and lead to more efficient operations.

What is the highest salary of Chief Engineer?

The highest salary for a Chief Operating Engineer can exceed $150,000 annually, especially in large facilities or high-cost regions. Compensation varies based on experience, certifications, and the complexity of the environment they manage.

What is a Chief Operating Engineer?

A Chief Operating Engineer is a senior professional responsible for overseeing the daily operations and maintenance of engineering systems within a facility, such as HVAC, electrical, and mechanical systems. They lead a team of engineers and technicians, ensuring that all equipment runs efficiently and safely. Their role often includes managing budgets, coordinating repairs, ensuring compliance with safety regulations, and implementing preventative maintenance programs. Chief Operating Engineers typically work in large buildings, industrial plants, or commercial complexes. This position requires extensive technical knowledge, leadership skills, and relevant certifications.

What engineers make $500,000 a year?

Chief Operating Engineers in large facilities or industrial settings can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, certifications, and management responsibilities. High salaries are often associated with senior roles overseeing complex operations, often requiring specialized skills and long hours.

What does a chief operating engineer do?

A chief operating engineer oversees the operation and maintenance of building systems such as HVAC, electrical, and plumbing to ensure safety and efficiency. They typically manage staff, perform inspections, and ensure compliance with safety regulations, often requiring relevant certifications and technical skills.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Chief Operating Engineers in large facilities or industrial settings can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, certifications, and management responsibilities. High salaries are often associated with roles overseeing complex systems, such as HVAC, electrical, or mechanical operations in commercial or industrial environments.
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Chief Operating Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Chief Operating Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 93% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,748 per year, or $57.6 per hour.

Chief Operating Officer

Jobtailor

Denver, CO • On-site

$250 - $380/hr

Other

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

Responsibilities
  • Own IO’s operational model, including the structures, systems, and rhythms that keep the organisation coherent across business units and geographies.
  • Build the frameworks that enable functional autonomy while maintaining enterprise-wide alignment.
  • Serve as the primary operational decision-maker for the company, with a clear view of what is happening, what is stuck, and what needs to change. This includes decision authority on facilities costs and M&A costs.
  • Manage IO’s Book of Work, including what is in flight, what is next, what is blocked, and what needs to stop.
  • Lead the Executive Committee, driving the operating cadence of the executive team, including agenda, decisions, and follow-through.
  • Set the meeting philosophy for the executive team: meetings exist to answer why IO is not hitting its KPIs and what remedy needs to be installed.
  • Partner with the CEO to agree the internal communications strategy, including how change is explained and adopted across the company.
  • Own the design and deployment of IO’s business operating system, including the frameworks, workflows, metrics, and governance structures that enable the organisation to run at scale without person-dependency.
  • Partner with the Business Operating System Design team to ensure the operating model is built for adoption, and that it works for the people using it.
  • Lead the transition from informal processes to systematic, AI-enabled infrastructure, replacing individual expertise with scalable, institutional knowledge.
  • Ensure the operating system continuously adapts through feedback loops and AI-driven insights, so that the infrastructure improves itself over time.
  • Identify the metrics that matter for the survival and success of the business, and build the operating system tuned to those metrics.
  • Set the KPI framework across the organisation, including how KPIs are defined, cascaded, measured, and reviewed.
  • Ensure decisions are grounded in measurement, and hold executive peers and function leaders accountable for the metrics in their domain.
  • Drive continuous improvement through visible, quantitative signals rather than opinion or narrative.
  • Support the CTO in the rebuild of IO’s engineering and delivery organisation, providing the operational scaffolding, governance, and enterprise services required.
  • Partner with the CTO to help import the operating disciplines of elite software companies, including delivery discipline, product‑engineering collaboration, and technical hiring standards, into IO’s wider operating model.
  • Partner with the CTO and the Chief People Officer on technical headcount strategy and workforce planning, ensuring IO can attract and retain the calibre of engineers and product leaders the mission requires.
  • Support the integration of engineering velocity and delivery metrics into IO’s performance management framework, so that delivery is measurable and improving.
  • Drive the Enterprise Services model, ensuring People, ICT, Finance, and Legal operate as a coherent, SLA‑driven internal service capability.
  • Set service standards and performance expectations across enterprise functions, and hold function leaders accountable for delivery.
  • Own contracts management, procurement, and vendor strategy at the enterprise level, including major supplier relationships and cross‑functional contracts.
  • Own enterprise facilities, workplace, and remote‑first operations, including how IO supports a globally distributed workforce.
  • Set IO’s strategy for how AI is used across the business, partnering with the VP of AI and Data to build AI‑first workflows across operations.
  • Own the workforce architecture model, including where AI agents operate, where humans direct, and how that balance evolves.
  • Apply cybernetic principles, including feedback loops, requisite variety, and distributed control, to real operational problems, and design systems that self‑regulate and improve.
  • Champion IO as a demonstration case for what an AI‑enabled organisation can achieve, including the practical build‑out of agentic systems in support of operations.
  • Work with the Chief People Officer (CPO) to ensure IO attracts, develops, and retains the talent it needs to execute its mission.
  • Partner with the CEO and CPO on organisational design decisions, acting as the operational architect of the structure while the CEO sets strategic direction.
  • Partner with the CPO to oversee compensation frameworks, performance management, and enterprise learning and development.
  • Drive a culture of accountability, psychological safety, and continuous improvement, and set the standard through how the role operates.
  • Champion leadership excellence across the functions in the COO’s remit.
  • Hold group‑level budget authority across the functions in the COO’s remit, ensuring resources are always allocated to strategic priorities.
  • Partner with the CFO to deliver rigorous annual and quarterly budgeting, reliable reporting, and a clear view of IO’s financial health.
  • Bring strong risk and cost sensing to major operational decisions, including a clear‑eyed view of sunk costs, hidden dependencies, and what IO is signing up for when it commits.
  • Ensure Legal and Compliance operate proactively, identifying risks before they become incidents.
  • Own enterprise operational risk, business continuity, and incident response at the executive level.
  • Partner with ICT and Legal on information security, data governance, and privacy at enterprise level.
  • Own the operating model of IO’s Venture Studio, including how ventures are incubated, resourced, and moved through the studio pipeline.
  • Ensure ventures have access to the enterprise services they need, and that shared infrastructure scales with the portfolio.
  • Partner with the CTO, Chief Product Officer, and Chief Innovation Officer on the operational side of technical incubation and spin‑outs.
  • Act as the CEO’s operational peer, taking the weight of running the company so the CEO can operate at highest leverage on strategy, external relationships, research direction, and ecosystem leadership.
  • Represent IO in high‑stakes operational and governance contexts, including board reporting, regulatory conversations, and partner negotiations.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with IO’s functional leaders, board members, and key external partners.
  • Tell the CEO what needs to be heard, with the honesty and directness that peer‑level trust requires.
  • Oversees organisation‑wide and enterprise‑level operational functions across IO, including Enterprise Operations, ICT, AI, People, Finance, Legal, and Venture Studio operations.
  • Manages multiple VPs and divisional leaders across those functions.
  • Influences the company’s overall direction and performance through broad functional leadership.
  • Shapes and aligns organisation‑wide strategic decisions alongside the CEO and President.
  • Ensures that functional areas, including finance, operations, technology, and people, are aligned to support key growth and transformation goals.
  • Operates with executive‑level autonomy to set policies, allocate resources, and shape strategic initiatives across the operational domain.
Requirements
  • Extensive experience as a progressive leader, including significant time at C‑suite or equivalent executive level with a broad functional remit.
  • Proven track record leading operations at scale inside an engineering‑led company. The industry (software, hardware, chemical, or other) matters less than the depth of operational experience in an engineering environment.
  • Experience leading multiple functions simultaneously, including operations, people, finance, and technology‑adjacent functions, in a complex, global organisation.
  • Experience leading large‑scale organisational transformation, particularly transitions to distributed operating models.
  • Background at a world‑class software or technology company in a senior operational or general management role.
  • Experience as a genuine peer or operational partner to a CEO or founder, operating as a co‑leader rather than as a subordinate executing instructions.
  • Strong background in OKR design, governance frameworks, and cross‑functional programme delivery.
  • Demonstrated experience of AI, agentic systems, and AI‑enabled operations, including hands‑on experimentation and experience building agentic systems.
  • Familiarity with Web3, blockchain, or deep tech is advantageous, and intellectual curiosity about the space is required.
  • Advanced degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or equivalent professional experience.
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