Director of Engineering

Director of Engineering

Job Summary

The Director of Engineering is a key leadership role within the Syracuse Operations team and serves as a technical authority for the organization. Reporting directly to the SVP of Concessions, this role operates in a highly collaborative, flat organizational structure with direct visibility and access to senior leadership.

The Director of Engineering will lead engineering strategy, oversee technical operations for district energy systems, and drive performance, reliability, and continuous improvement across utility infrastructure. The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise in district energy systems along with strong leadership in capital projects, system optimization, and regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for district energy systems including steam, chilled water, HVAC, and CHP operations
• Oversee engineering design, construction, commissioning, and optimization of utility infrastructure projects
• Lead capital planning, scope development (SOW), budgeting, and execution of major infrastructure initiatives
• Drive system performance improvements through data analysis, KPI development, and operational benchmarking
• Partner with operations teams to troubleshoot complex system issues and implement long-term reliability solutions
• Ensure compliance with environmental and regulatory requirements, including Title V permitting and related standards
• Review and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and construction documentation
• Develop technical reports, operational procedures, and engineering documentation to support system performance and compliance
• Support asset management strategies, including lifecycle planning and preventative maintenance optimization
• Collaborate across multi-discipline engineering, construction, and operations teams to deliver projects and improve system efficiency

Technical Qualifications

District Energy & Utility Systems

• Extensive experience with district energy systems (steam, hot water, chilled water, CHP)
• Strong HVAC design knowledge with application of ASHRAE standards
• Understanding of piping systems, controls engineering, and thermal energy distribution systems
• Experience working in large-scale facilities, campuses, or utility environments

Energy Analysis & System Optimization

• Proven ability to analyze energy consumption data and identify optimization opportunities
• Experience developing and tracking operational KPIs for plant or utility systems
• Strong root cause analysis skills for identifying and resolving system performance issues
• Experience maintaining or working with operational performance databases or dashboards

Capital Projects & Engineering Design

• Demonstrated leadership in full project lifecycle delivery (design through commissioning)
• Experience developing scopes of work, capital plans, and project budgets
• Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary engineering and construction teams
• Strong understanding of construction management principles and execution planning

Regulatory & Compliance

• Experience supporting environmental compliance programs (including Title V or similar permitting)
• Working knowledge of safety, environmental, and energy regulations affecting utility operations
• Familiarity with emissions compliance and infrastructure regulatory requirements

Technical Documentation & Tools

• Ability to read, interpret, and apply engineering drawings and construction documents
• Strong technical writing skills for reports, procedures, and operational documentation
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook)
• Experience with project scheduling tools (e.g., MS Project or equivalent)

Operations & Reliability

• Experience supporting operations teams in troubleshooting and system optimization
• Knowledge of preventative maintenance strategies and asset lifecycle management
• Experience specifying, selecting, and managing technical equipment and systems
• Strong focus on improving system reliability, efficiency, and long-term performance

Industry Experience

• Background in utility, district energy, or large-scale infrastructure systems
• Experience with boilers, chillers, and thermal energy systems
• Familiarity with campus or municipal heating and cooling distribution systems
• Exposure to emergency response planning and infrastructure resilience strategies

Physical Requirements

This role requires both office and field-based work within active utility environments:

• Regular use of hands, tools, and controls; ability to communicate effectively in operational settings
• Frequent standing, walking, climbing, and balancing
• Occasional kneeling, crouching, or crawling
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs
• Work may include confined spaces and environments with elevated temperature/humidity
• Occasional work at heights, including roofs and cooling towers

Health, Safety & Environment (HSE)

• Promote and maintain a safe and healthy work environment for all employees
• Comply with all applicable health, safety, and environmental regulations and company policies
• Identify, report, and help resolve workplace hazards immediately
• Report all incidents and injuries promptly in accordance with company procedures

Conditions of Employment

• Occasional travel across company locations
• Must meet requirements for authorized vehicle operation, including valid driver’s license and clean driving record
• Driving record will be reviewed during pre-employment screening and annually