What Is a Building Maintenance Engineer and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

Building maintenance engineers, also known as building maintenance technicians or building mechanics, maintain the structure and systems of a building, such as plumbing, electrical, and air conditioning systems. They work in large buildings, schools, hospitals, and other organizations that have extensive facilities. In this role, you repair or replace equipment, perform regular checks on all systems running through the building, and ensure common areas are clean. Despite the name, this is not an engineering position as most people understand the term. Engineers usually design and build systems, while building maintenance personnel focus on maintaining systems that already exist in a building.

A building maintenance engineer is responsible for the mechanical and structural upkeep of a building and ensuring the building is safe and running smoothly. To become a building maintenance engineer at smaller buildings or properties, you need a high school degree and vocational training. For larger facilities, employers prefer candidates with several years of experience in building maintenance and who are licensed or certified. Earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering may make you a more valuable candidate in the job market. Apprentice or acquire an entry-level position for a maintenance company to gain experience in fixing a variety of problems in a property before seeking a building maintenance engineer positions.