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Union Building Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Union Engineer

Pasadena, CA · On-site

$54.76/hr

As a CBRE Union Engineer, you will be a part of a team responsible for a site's equipment ... Building Operations & Experience (facilities management, property management, flex space ...

Minimum of four (4) years of technical experience in all aspects of building engineering with a strong background in the technical aspects of HVAC/R, plumbing, electrical, production equipment repair ...

Minimum of four (4) years of technical experience in all aspects of building engineering with a strong background in the technical aspects of HVAC/R, plumbing, electrical, production equipment repair ...

As a CBRE Union Chief Engineer, you will be responsible for engineering operations and directing ... Building Operations & Experience (facilities management, property management, flex space ...

As a CBRE Union Chief Engineer, you will be responsible for engineering operations and directing ... Monitor building systems including fire alarms, HVAC, and plumbing to ensure the operation of ...

Cloud Data Engineer

Napa, CA · On-site

$115K - $151K/yr

Redwood Credit Union is looking for a Cloud Data Engineer, responsibilities include designing ... Experience building and optimizing 'big data' data pipelines, architectures, and data sets.

Cloud Data Engineer

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$115K - $151K/yr

Redwood Credit Union is looking for a Cloud Data Engineer, responsibilities include designing ... Experience building and optimizing 'big data' data pipelines, architectures, and data sets.

Showing results 41-60

Union Building Engineer information

See California salary details

$17

$31

$51

How much do union building engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for union building engineer in California is $31.93, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $25.14 and $36.06 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a union building engineer?

Union Building Engineers are skilled professionals responsible for the operation, maintenance, and repair of building systems, such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, and electrical systems, in commercial or residential properties. They are members of a labor union, which often provides them with benefits like collective bargaining, job security, and specialized training. Their daily tasks include troubleshooting equipment, performing preventive maintenance, and ensuring that facilities operate efficiently and safely. Union Building Engineers play a critical role in maintaining the comfort and functionality of buildings, often working closely with property managers and other maintenance staff.

What is the difference between Union Building Engineer vs Maintenance Technician?

AspectUnion Building EngineerMaintenance Technician
CertificationsRelevant HVAC, electrical, or plumbing licenses; often union-certifiedBasic HVAC, electrical, or plumbing certifications; may be non-union
Work EnvironmentLarge commercial or institutional buildings, unionized settingsVariety of settings including residential, commercial, or industrial
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily in unionized facilities like hospitals, schools, government buildingsWidely used across industries, often non-union

The Union Building Engineer typically has union certifications and works in large, unionized facilities maintaining complex building systems. Maintenance Technicians often have similar certifications but work in a broader range of environments, including non-union settings. The key difference lies in union affiliation and the scope of responsibilities within large institutional buildings.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a union building engineer?

To thrive as a Union Building Engineer, you need a strong background in building systems maintenance, HVAC, electrical, and plumbing, often backed by a technical diploma and union apprenticeship or journeyman status. Familiarity with building automation systems, preventative maintenance software, and relevant safety certifications such as OSHA are typically required. Excellent problem-solving abilities, reliability, and effective communication set standout candidates apart in this role. These skills ensure safe, efficient building operations and rapid response to maintenance issues, which are critical for occupant comfort and regulatory compliance.

What challenges do union building engineers face when managing older facilities?

Union Building Engineers working in older facilities often encounter challenges such as outdated mechanical systems, limited access to replacement parts, and the need to comply with current safety and energy regulations. Troubleshooting legacy HVAC, electrical, or plumbing systems requires both technical expertise and creative problem-solving. Collaboration with vendors, contractors, and the facilities management team is essential to prioritize upgrades while minimizing downtime for tenants or building occupants.
What are the most commonly searched types of Building Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Building Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Union Building Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Union Building Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Union Building Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 74% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 16% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $66,404 per year, or $31.9 per hour.

Chief Engineer (Union Local 39) - Critical Cloud Infrastructure Site

CBRE

Oakland, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago


CBRE rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 348 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

104th of 482 rated business services


Job description

Job Details
Job Title: Chief Engineer (Union Local 39)
Job Information
Location: Oakland, CA (1587 Franklin Street)
Client: AT&T

About the Role
As a CBRE Chief Engineer, you will be responsible for the hands-on operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, and reliability of building systems supporting an approximately 800,000-square-foot mission-critical cloud infrastructure facility in Oakland, California.
This job is part of the Engineering & Technical Services function, which is responsible for providing technical support, preventive maintenance, repairs, and operational excellence across facility systems and infrastructure. The successful candidate will ensure critical building systems operate safely, efficiently, and reliably while supporting client business continuity requirements.
This is a stationary, on-site position supporting a high-profile cloud infrastructure environment. The schedule is Monday through Friday with emergency on-call responsibilities and response time requirements. Due to client operational needs, candidates must reside within 30 miles of 1587 Franklin Street, Oakland, CA, with closer proximity strongly preferred. Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

What You'll Do
  • Perform hands-on operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, and inspection of critical building systems including electrical, HVAC, plumbing, fire/life safety, building automation, and mechanical infrastructure systems.
  • Develop and implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs to maximize equipment reliability, operational performance, and asset life expectancy.
  • Monitor building systems to ensure equipment performs within design specifications and meets all client operational requirements.
  • Consult with clients and facility stakeholders to schedule maintenance activities and minimize operational disruptions.
  • Respond to emergency situations, equipment failures, and critical incidents, including participation in on-call support and required response time expectations.
  • Coordinate and oversee contractors and vendors performing maintenance, testing, repairs, inspections, and capital improvement projects.
  • Review and interpret engineering schematics, construction documents, specifications, as-built drawings, operating procedures, and equipment manuals.
  • Support facility capital projects, infrastructure upgrades, commissioning activities, and system replacements.
  • Maintain accurate maintenance records, work orders, testing documentation, inspection reports, and operational logs.
  • Identify opportunities to improve reliability, operational efficiency, safety performance, and energy management initiatives.
  • Develop and maintain building-specific maintenance and safety procedure manuals.
  • Manage and maintain an operations document library including construction and structural plans, MEP schedules, schematics, equipment manuals, warranties, maintenance procedures, and other critical facility documentation.

What You'll Need
  • High School Diploma, GED, technical certification, or trade school diploma. A combination of education and experience will be considered.
  • Minimum of 8 years of experience in commercial building engineering, critical facilities, mission-critical environments, cloud infrastructure, telecommunications, data centers, or similar technical facilities.
  • EPA Universal Certification required at the time of hire.
  • Strong hands-on experience operating, maintaining, and repairing commercial building systems.
  • Strong project management, budgeting, and compliance skills.
  • Proficiency reading and interpreting schematics, construction specifications, engineering drawings, and as-built documentation.
  • Experience coordinating contractors, vendors, asset services teams, and engineering leadership to support facility operations and projects.
  • Strong troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and problem-solving abilities.
  • Experience supporting preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
  • Strong organizational, documentation, and communication skills.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Excel, and Word.
  • Ability to work independently in a fast-paced mission-critical environment.
  • Ability to meet the physical requirements of the role, including standing, walking, climbing ladders, working in mechanical spaces, and lifting up to 50 pounds.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Stationary Engineer Local 39 Chief Certification preferred.
  • The successful candidate that does not currently hold a Local 39 Chief Certification must obtain the certification within one (1) year of employment.
  • Experience supporting mission-critical cloud infrastructure, data center, telecommunications, or other high-availability environments.
  • Familiarity with building automation systems and critical facility operations.
  • Experience working in union environments.

Why CBRE
When you join CBRE, you become part of the global leader in commercial real estate services and investment that helps businesses and people thrive. We are dynamic problem solvers and forward-thinking professionals who create significant impact. Our collaborative culture is built on our shared values - respect, integrity, service and excellence - and we value the diverse perspectives, backgrounds and skillsets of our people. At CBRE, you have the opportunity to chart your own course and realize your potential. We welcome all applicants.
Applicant AI Use Disclosure
We value human interaction to understand each candidate's unique experience, skills and aspirations. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to make hiring decisions, and we ask that candidates disclose any use of AI in the application and interview process.
Disclaimers
Location Requirement:
This position supports a critical cloud infrastructure customer with emergency response requirements. Candidates must reside within 40 miles of 1587 Franklin Street, Oakland, CA, with closer proximity preferred. Relocation assistance is not available for this position.
Compensation Disclosure:
The hourly rate for this position is $93.35 per hour. Compensation for this role is determined in accordance with the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and is not individually negotiated. As a union-represented position, the established wage rate, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment are governed by the CBA. All qualified employees in this classification are compensated in accordance with the applicable union agreement, consistent with California pay transparency and equal pay requirements.

The hourly rate for this position is $93.35 per hour. Compensation for this role is determined in accordance with the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and is not individually negotiated. As a union-represented position, the established wage rate, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment are governed by the CBA. All qualified employees in this classification are compensated in accordance with the applicable union agreement, consistent with California pay transparency and equal pay requirements.
Equal Employment Opportunity: CBRE has a long-standing commitment to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, veteran status, political belief, or any other basis protected by applicable law.
Candidate Accommodations: CBRE values the differences of all current and prospective employees and recognizes how every employee contributes to our company's success. CBRE provides reasonable accommodations in job application procedures for individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request via email at recruitingaccommodations@cbre.com or via telephone at +1 866 225 3099 (U.S.) and +1 866 388 4346 (Canada).
CBRE GWS
CBRE Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) works with clients to make real estate a meaningful contributor to organizational productivity and performance. Our account management model is at the heart of our client-centric approach to delivering integrated real estate solutions. Each client is entrusted with a dedicated leader and is supported by regional and global resources, leveraging the industry's most robust platform. CBRE GWS delivers consistent, measurably superior outcomes for our clients at every stage of the lifecycle, and across industries and geographies.
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About CBRE

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

The real estate industry is undergoing significant and exciting change, increasingly driven by data and technology. At CBRE, the world's premier commercial real estate services company, we empower teams to take ownership over that technology and shape it, offering both nimble, research-driven product design and the resources of a Fortune 500 business. We approach culture with intention, valuing camaraderie, collaboration, inclusivity and a healthy work/life balance. The user experience team is passionate about the quality, usability, and simplicity of the experiences we create. Individuals in these roles gather these key user insights, and then use them to inspire and inform product strategy and design solutions. We partner closely with each other, engineering, and product management to create innovative, usable, great-looking products.

Industry

Real estate

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Dallas, TX, US

Year founded

1906

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