The State of Colorado is seeking a Campus Engineer to serve as the primary engineering resource for building systems at the Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) in Denver. This onsite role supports three shared academic institutions and spans engineering review, commissioning leadership, asset and preventive maintenance data ownership in CMMS, energy audits and M&V, storm water compliance support, and capital planning and engineering assistance.
Working closely with AHEC Facilities Services leadership, the Campus Architect, trades teams, and contracted consultants, you will help ensure campus mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and controls systems meet standards and perform as intended across design, construction, and operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as the primary engineering contact to the AHEC Facilities Services Project Management Team and the Campus Architect for building-system projects, from scoping and design through construction and closeout.
- Review architect and engineer plans, specifications, and submittals for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and controls systems to confirm conformance with campus standards, applicable codes, maintainability, and energy-efficiency goals, coordinating input with the HVAC and Plumbing Manager and trades supervisors.
- Develop and maintain campus construction standards and specifications for building systems, partnering with the Campus Architect to keep requirements current with industry changes, applicable codes, and ASHRAE best practices.
- Coordinate with the Energy Manager to ensure energy, metering, and utility requirements are incorporated into design, product selection, and specifications.
- Propose capital Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing projects and provide engineering support during development, design, construction, and closeout to support sustainable, maintainable building practices.
- Direct the technical work of assigned contracted engineering consultants and coordinate regularly with AHEC Facilities and project teams to confirm implementation feasibility.
- Lead commissioning for new construction and major renovations, including review of commissioning plans, witnessing functional performance testing, and verifying turnover with complete O&M documentation, as-built drawings, and staff training.
- Lead retro-commissioning of existing buildings and systems to identify and correct performance deficiencies and restore design intent, coordinating energy-related findings with the Energy Manager.
- Use the campus Building Automation System (JCI Metasys) for engineering analysis, including trend analysis, review of control sequences, and diagnosis of control performance issues, and develop and maintain standard control sequences (including ASHRAE Guideline 36 high-performance sequences where appropriate).
- Provide engineering support to HVAC, Electrical, and Plumbing trades for complex or recurring system failures, performing root-cause analysis and recommending corrective or preventive solutions.
- Own campus equipment and asset inventory in the CMMS (TMA), adding, updating, and retiring assets based on acquisition, sale, demolition, renovation, and new construction.
- Set equipment data requirements for construction projects and review equipment data submissions for completeness and accuracy prior to project closeout.
- Partner with trades supervisors to develop and maintain Preventive Maintenance task codes, task lists, and frequencies based on manufacturer O&M requirements, code requirements, and campus experience, ensuring new equipment is linked to appropriate work orders.
- Evaluate asset and equipment records for accuracy and determine where verification, updates, or removal are needed.
- Direct engineering student interns in asset data collection and field verification.
- Conduct ASHRAE energy audits (Levels 1–3) to identify and prioritize energy conservation measures and coordinate findings and project priorities with the Energy Manager.
- Monitor energy efficiency and renewable energy project effectiveness, perform measurement and verification (M&V) of projected savings, and report progress when requested.
- Support Environmental Health and Safety efforts related to storm water compliance for the AHEC campus.
- Lead periodic building audits with trades supervisors to identify and catalogue system deficiencies and maintain records that inform the campus Deferred Maintenance list.
- Support development of engineering scopes, cost estimates, and justifications for Controlled Maintenance and capital renewal requests through State of Colorado processes.
- Evaluate building component life cycles using asset condition, age, and maintenance history data to recommend priorities for major repair and replacement.
- Support training and education of engineering interns or engineering students, and assist the Operations Division with other duties as assigned, including snow removal, campus events, and emergency engineering support during outages.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Architectural Engineering (or a closely related field).
- At least four (4) years of professional engineering experience with commercial, institutional, or campus building systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, or controls), including design, design review, commissioning, or facilities engineering.
- Experience reviewing construction documents, specifications, and submittals for mechanical, electrical, or plumbing systems.
- Experience with commissioning or retro-commissioning of building systems.
- Experience working with Building Automation Systems (campus uses Johnson Controls Metasys) or building controls, including trend analysis and troubleshooting control sequences.
- Proven ability to organize, analyze, and maintain technical data such as equipment inventories or maintenance records.
- Valid, unencumbered Colorado driver’s license at the time of application.
Technologies
- CMMS (TMA)
- JCI Metasys
- Building Automation System
- ASHRAE Guideline 36
- ASHRAE energy audit procedures (Levels 1–3)
- Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
Benefits
- Paid vacation
- Holidays
- Sick leave
- Multiple medical, dental and vision options
- Discounted RTD Eco-Pass
- BenefitHub
- Outstanding retirement plan
Application Requirements
- Complete the online application, and submit a resume and cover letter.
- The cover letter must specifically explain how education and professional experience meet the minimum qualifications and any preferred qualifications in the posting.
- Failure to submit a completed application, resume, and cover letter may result in removal from further consideration.
Preferred Qualifications
- Professional Engineer (PE) license or Engineer in Training (EIT) certification.
- Commissioning credential (such as CxA, BCxP, or CCP).
- Certified Energy Auditor (CEA) and/or Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP).
- Experience using a CMMS for asset and Preventive Maintenance data (TMA is used at Auraria).
- Familiarity with ASHRAE standards and guidelines, including ASHRAE Guideline 36.
- Experience conducting ASHRAE Level 1–3 energy audits or measurement and verification of energy projects.
- Experience with State of Colorado Controlled Maintenance or capital construction processes.
- Experience working in higher education, government, or a campus environment.
Additional Information and Conditions of Employment
- Must be a State of Colorado resident.
- Must be able to successfully pass a criminal background check.
- Must maintain a valid unencumbered driver’s license.
- If offered employment, candidates will be required to furnish a copy of their motor vehicle report (MVR) as part of the background check process.
- All correspondence about the selection/examination process will be conducted by email.
- The role is designated as a “Not Covered” position under the Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs and Services Act and does not fall into representation eligibility by COWINS (the union).
- Resume (required) detailing a summary of work history.
- Cover letter (required) describing how education and experience meet minimum and preferred qualifications.
- Supplemental questions (required) must be completed within the online application before it can be submitted.
- Equity, diversity, and inclusion are supported, and reasonable accommodation is available for individuals with disabilities.
Location: Denver, CO (onsite). Salary: USD 92,000 - 115,000 per year. Experience: 4 years minimum.
