Building Engineer - Part Time

ableserve · Carlsbad, CA

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Role at a Glance

Part-time opening in Carlsbad, CA. Pay: $36.00/hr. Schedule: 12 hours per week — 4 hours each on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Fully onsite; no remote option. Experience: 3–5 years in commercial facilities engineering. Hard requirement: Universal EPA 608 Refrigerant Handling Certification. No benefits package included with this position.

About the Role

This Building Engineer position covers hands-on operation, upkeep, and repair of the full mechanical infrastructure of a commercial facility in Carlsbad — spanning HVAC, boilers, refrigeration circuits, plumbing, gas distribution, and electrical motor systems. Running on a fixed three-day-per-week schedule, you will execute planned preventive maintenance while also handling reactive repairs as equipment needs arise. The role is best suited for a trade-certified engineer who works well independently and is comfortable across a wide range of interconnected building systems.

About Ableserve

Ableserve is a facilities services company placing building engineering talent at commercial properties. This opening is site-specific to a Carlsbad, CA location, and the breadth of systems covered — boilers, HVAC, refrigeration, fuel oil, life-safety, and more — points to a large-scale commercial or industrial building environment. Candidates should expect a focused, single-site assignment rather than a multi-property portfolio. Note: the employer has explicitly stated this part-time position does not include a benefits package.

What You'll Do

  • Keep steam and hot-water distribution systems running — including boilers, heaters, pumps, and all associated valves and piping.
  • Maintain refrigeration circuits end-to-end: compressors, condensers, evaporators, expansion valves, and all refrigerant control devices.
  • Service secondary refrigerant (brine) loops, covering pumps, valves, appurtenances, and distribution lines.
  • Operate and maintain compressed-air systems along with their distribution lines and air-control devices.
  • Inspect and repair both natural and manufactured gas distribution lines, including all associated control valves.
  • Keep domestic water systems functional — filters, softeners, pumps, piping, fixtures, drains, and supply and waste lines.
  • Service the electrical motors and engines that power pumps, compressors, and fans throughout the building.
  • Maintain fuel oil systems, including storage tanks, pumps, lines, and controls.
  • Ensure sanitary sewer infrastructure stays operational — sump pumps, basins, closets, urinals, and drain piping.
  • Maintain trash compactors, addressing both electrical and hydraulic subsystems.
  • Service commercial kitchen equipment as needed.
  • Oversee building electrical distribution and lighting maintenance across mechanical, plumbing, and control systems.
  • Recalibrate building controls between seasons to sustain energy-efficient performance.
  • Complete all Preventive Maintenance tasks on schedule per manufacturer specifications.
  • Maintain life-safety and security systems within the defined engineer scope.
  • Fulfill additional site duties as directed by building management.

Must-Have Qualifications

  • High school diploma or GED
  • 3–5 years of hands-on experience in building engineering or commercial facilities maintenance
  • Universal EPA 608 Refrigerant Handling Certification — active and valid at time of hire
  • Practical working knowledge of HVAC, boiler, plumbing, electrical, and life-safety systems
  • Ability to read and interpret mechanical, electrical, and plumbing drawings
  • Demonstrated experience executing structured Preventive Maintenance programs
  • Comfortable working independently and responding to unplanned equipment failures
  • Physical capability to lift heavy loads, climb ladders, and work in confined spaces

Nice to Have

  • Vocational, trade school, or technical degree in a relevant discipline
  • Stationary Engineer or Operating Engineer license
  • Boiler Operator license
  • Familiarity with Building Automation Systems (BAS) or Building Management Systems (BMS)

Skills Breakdown: What Matters Most

This is a multi-system role — not a single-trade position. Solid working competency across HVAC, refrigeration, and boiler systems is the baseline, not a differentiator. The Universal EPA 608 certification is a hard gate with no stated path to obtain it post-hire. Electrical and plumbing knowledge must be hands-on and practical, not theoretical. BAS/BMS familiarity and a licensed engineer credential are genuine differentiators that strengthen your candidacy but are not disqualifying if absent. At 3–5 years of required experience, this is solidly mid-level — the part-time schedule does not lower the bar on technical depth.

Pay & Schedule

The posted rate is $36.00 per hour. The role is structured as 12 hours per week — four-hour blocks on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday — making weekly gross earnings $432 at the stated rate. The employer notes that final offers may vary depending on individual experience, skills, geographic alignment, and prevailing market data. No benefits package is included. Prospective applicants should factor the part-time hours and benefits absence into their total-compensation assessment.

Benefits

  • No benefits package included with this part-time position

Location & Work Model

This is a fully onsite position at a facility in Carlsbad, CA. All duties are performed on-site; no remote or hybrid arrangement is offered. The listing makes no mention of relocation assistance or visa sponsorship — candidates are expected to be locally based or independently able to commute to the Carlsbad area.

Frequently asked questions

What is the exact schedule for this part-time Building Engineer role?

The position runs 12 hours per week, split into three four-hour shifts on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The listing describes this as a fixed schedule with no variation mentioned.

Is the EPA 608 certification required before applying, or can it be obtained after hire?

The Universal EPA 608 Refrigerant Handling Certification is listed as a required qualification with no indication of a grace period or employer-sponsored path to obtain it after joining. Applicants should hold an active certification at the time of application.

What building systems will I be responsible for maintaining?

The scope is broad: HVAC, steam boilers, refrigeration circuits, compressed air, gas distribution, domestic water, fuel oil, sanitary sewer, electrical motors, building lighting and controls, commercial kitchen equipment, trash compactors, and life-safety systems. This is a full-plant engineering role across mechanical, electrical, and plumbing disciplines.

Does this role include health insurance or other benefits?

No. The listing explicitly states that no benefits package is included with this part-time position.

Can the pay rate be negotiated based on experience?

The employer states that the $36.00/hr figure represents the pay range for this role, and that specific offers may vary based on an applicant's experience, skills, abilities, and alignment with local market data. There is no stated floor or ceiling beyond that rate.

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