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Facilities Engineer Job Description
Facilities engineer jobs involve taking on many hats and roles, and they can be very diversified in nature. Facilities engineers work in the broader field of civil engineering, and their job is to apply their knowledge of engineering principles in the planning, development, design, and maintenance of facilities and various building structures, which can range from bridges, dams, channels, roads, and railroads to airports, pipelines, water and sewage systems, and power plants.
Facilities engineers typically conduct research, collect information, and analyze reports, blueprints, topographical and geologic data, and use the findings when planning projects. Their responsiblities include estimating the costs and use of labour, equipment and materials, determining the feasibility of a project, and providing clients and management with the relevant reports.
Facilities engineers will usually supervise and manage the technical personnel at construction sites, and oversee all operations and maintenance activities. They will advise management on design and construction, propose modifications to existing designs and solutions, and recommend structural repairs when necessary.
Skills and qualifications
Facilities engineers must have an excellent knowledge of engineering, design, technology, construction, and mathematics. They usually have academic degrees in civil engineering, construction engineering, structural engineering, or geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering.
Facilities engineer jobs are an excellent career choice for people who care about maintenance of property. The engineers must have an excellent knowledge of procurement rules and contract management. They must understand the importance of cultivating a high level of maintenance at all times. They must know and understand how a little preventative maintenance can go a long way to saving a property lots of money in the long run. Poor management can result in deterioration and high maintenance costs, so a good degree of responsibility and dependability is essential in this profession. Strong leadeership and interpersonal skills are an asset, too.
Facilities engineers must be good at critical thinking, operations analysis, decision making and complex problem solving. They must show good judgement on a daily basis, because the nature of the work demands it at all times.
Work
The typical day-to-day duties of a facilities engineer include going into work, checking their email or help box to see if anyone has reported any new problems, and then logging in any problems that arise. Next they will go out and perform an assessment of the situation, and call in experts from relevant fields to discuss the problem and find a solution. Facilities engineers are responsible for determining which solutions will be implemented and for setting the priorities and estimating costs and deadlines. Their duties can include calling for quotes on projects that were set up for the day, drafting contracts, and overseeing maintenance and custodial operations. The facilities engineer may also file for rebates and refunds for different products or services when necessary, as well as handle any insurance requests. All in all, this is a highly skilled, diversified job that takes a lot of time, effort and focus and involves managing an entire organization, but the work itself can be very rewarding once the project is complete.
