| Location | San Francisco, CA |
| Salary | $160,000–$180,000 Per Year |
Senior Building Engineer
Location San Francisco, California 94158 Date Posted November 06, 2026 Job ID 15971 Employment Type Direct Hire
Scion Nonprofit Staffing has been engaged to conduct a search for an experienced Senior Building Engineer on behalf of a leading nonprofit biomedical research organization in San Francisco, CA! This is an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled, hands-on building engineering professional to support critical facility operations within a sophisticated scientific research environment.
Our client is seeking an experienced engineer with strong mechanical troubleshooting capabilities, extensive knowledge of commercial building systems, and the ability to independently address complex maintenance challenges. This position offers the opportunity to contribute directly to an organization advancing biomedical research and scientific discovery.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Senior Building Engineer will play an important role in maintaining the reliability, safety, and operational efficiency of a specialized research facility. This position requires an experienced facilities professional capable of troubleshooting complex mechanical systems, performing hands-on maintenance, and responding promptly to critical building issues.
The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in commercial building engineering, excellent mechanical aptitude, and the ability to work independently while collaborating with the Facilities team.
Because building system interruptions can directly impact scientific research, the successful candidate must demonstrate sound technical judgment, urgency, and a proactive approach to facility maintenance and emergency response.
PERKS
Competitive Compensation: Annual salary ranging from $160,000-$180,000, depending on experience, qualifications, and internal pay equity.
Direct-Hire Opportunity: Join an established nonprofit organization in a full-time, permanent, in-house engineering position.
Mission-Driven Environment: Support innovative biomedical research and scientific discovery.
Specialized Facility Experience: Work with complex mechanical and building infrastructure supporting a scientific research environment.
Professional Growth: Opportunity to expand technical expertise within an organization with evolving facility needs.
Collaborative Team: Work alongside facilities professionals supporting essential building operations.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Support the daily operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of critical building systems within a scientific research facility.
Perform hands-on preventive and corrective maintenance on commercial mechanical equipment and building infrastructure.
Troubleshoot issues involving HVAC, boilers, heating systems, pumps, electrical equipment, plumbing, and related mechanical systems.
Identify equipment malfunctions, determine appropriate corrective actions, and complete repairs to maintain reliable building operations.
Monitor building systems and respond promptly to maintenance concerns that could impact research activities.
Utilize building automation and maintenance management systems to support equipment monitoring, work orders, and preventive maintenance activities.
Collaborate with facilities personnel, vendors, and building occupants to coordinate maintenance activities and resolve operational concerns.
Support safe, efficient, and reliable operation of building equipment and mechanical systems.
Exercise independent judgment when evaluating urgent maintenance needs and determining appropriate solutions.
Participate in occasional after-hours, weekend, and emergency on-call coverage as required.
QUALIFICATIONS
Approximately 5-8 years of hands-on building engineering experience, preferably within commercial, institutional, or technically complex facilities.
Strong mechanical aptitude with demonstrated experience maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing building equipment.
Working knowledge of commercial HVAC, boilers, pumps, electrical systems, plumbing, and related mechanical infrastructure.
Ability to confidently use hand tools and perform hands-on equipment maintenance and repairs.
Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, with the ability to independently identify and resolve building system issues.
Ability to prioritize urgent maintenance requests and respond effectively to equipment failures.
Strong communication, organizational, and teamwork skills.
Ability to work fully onsite in San Francisco's Mission Bay neighborhood.
Availability to respond to urgent building issues, including occasional after-hours or weekend emergencies.
Preferred Qualifications:
Previous building engineering experience in a laboratory, biomedical research, biotechnology, healthcare, or similarly specialized environment.
Hands-on boiler room experience.
Familiarity with Siemens Building Automation Systems or comparable building management systems.
Experience using Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS).
Experience maintaining complex commercial building infrastructure and interconnected mechanical systems.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
This full-time, direct-hire opportunity offers an annual salary of $160,000-$180,000, depending on experience, qualifications, and internal pay equity.
The position is based onsite in San Francisco's Mission Bay neighborhood, with a standard 40-hour workweek. Occasional overtime, after-hours response, and emergency on-call coverage may be required.
Relocation assistance is not available.
HOW TO APPLY
For immediate consideration, please submit your resume through the application process. Scion Nonprofit Staffing is actively reviewing qualified candidates for this opportunity.
We look forward to connecting with experienced Senior Building Engineers who are passionate about hands-on technical work, complex facility operations, and contributing their expertise to a mission-driven research environment!
ABOUT OUR FIRM
Scion Nonprofit Staffing is an award-winning national nonprofit recruitment and staffing specialist for nonprofit organizations, foundations, associations, and educational institutions! Since 2006, we have had the pleasure of successfully placing thousands of talented professionals supporting incredible missions and programs. Through our innovative team building and recruiting solutions, we bridge the gap in executive leadership searches, direct hire nonprofit recruiting, interim leadership placement, and temporary professional staffing.
We are proud to be part of the Forbes lists of the Best Recruitment Firms and the Best Executive Search Firms in America. Additionally, Scion has been recognized as a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing firm as well as a top recruitment firm by The Business Times. Additional information about our firm and our practices can be found online. Scion Nonprofit Staffing is an equal opportunity employer and service provider and does not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value, for ourselves, our client companies, and the candidates we represent.
For opportunities located in a region that has enacted fair chance, arrest, or conviction based employment ordinances, Scion Nonprofit Staffing proactively follows the enacted guidance and considers for employment all qualified applications with arrest and conviction records. We engage in socially conscious business practices and believe that diverse, equitable, inclusive, and non-biased talent and recruitment processes are foundational to the success of Scion as well as every client organization with whom we partner.