A critical facilities engineer job description should tell candidates exactly which power, cooling and life-safety systems they will keep running, what shift they will work, and which licenses or certifications are truly required.
Below is a copy-ready template you can paste into your applicant tracking system, plus variations by level and focus, writing tips, and public pay benchmarks to help you set a range. If you are staffing a new campus, our US data center map shows where other large projects are being built in the same region.
Key takeaways
- A critical facilities engineer (CFE) operates and maintains the electrical and mechanical infrastructure behind uptime: UPS, generators, switchgear, chillers, CRAHs and controls.
- Name the equipment, the site type and the shift pattern in the posting. Vague postings attract vague candidates.
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has no CFE occupation, so benchmark pay against electrical engineers ($120,630), mechanical engineers ($104,110), electricians ($63,190) and HVAC mechanics ($61,010), all May 2025 medians.
- Require only what the role needs on day one. Treat most data center certifications as preferred, not mandatory.
- Several states, including Colorado, California, Washington and New York, require pay ranges in job postings.
What does a critical facilities engineer do?
A critical facilities engineer keeps the physical infrastructure of a mission critical site running without interruption. In a data center, that means the power chain (utility feeds, switchgear, UPS systems, batteries, generators and PDUs) and the cooling plant (chillers, cooling towers, CRAH and CRAC units, pumps and, more and more often, liquid cooling loops). The same role exists in hospitals, research labs, trading floors, telecom hubs and manufacturing plants where downtime is expensive or dangerous.
Day to day, a CFE runs preventive maintenance, performs switching under method of procedure (MOP) documents, responds to alarms, supervises vendors, and keeps the building management system (BMS) and electrical power monitoring system (EPMS) honest. On new builds, the CFE often joins commissioning and learns the site before it goes live.
Demand for this skill set is high. In AFCOM’s State of the Data Center 2026 executive summary, data center engineers were the most in-demand role, cited by 56% of respondents, up from 50% the year before. Uptime Institute’s 2025 annual survey found that 46% of operators report difficulty finding qualified candidates for open roles. For the wider numbers, see our data center statistics roundup.
How is a CFE different from a technician or an IT data center engineer?
- Critical facilities technician: performs rounds, readings and routine maintenance tasks, usually under direction. A CFE plans the work, writes or approves MOPs, leads switching and owns root cause analysis.
- IT data center engineer: works on servers, storage, network and cabling inside the white space. A CFE works on the infrastructure that powers and cools that equipment. Our guide to what a data center engineer does covers the IT side.
- Chief engineer or facilities manager: owns budgets, staffing and the site’s operating program. A senior CFE may step into this role.
What should a critical facilities engineer job description include?
Copy the template below and replace the bracketed text. Delete anything that does not apply to your site. A shorter, accurate posting beats a long, generic one.
Critical facilities engineer job description template
Job title
Critical Facilities Engineer [I / II / III] – [Data Center / Hospital / Lab], [City, State] – [Shift, e.g., 2-2-3 rotating 12-hour days]
Summary
[Company] is hiring a Critical Facilities Engineer to operate and maintain the electrical and mechanical systems at our [size, e.g., 36 MW] [Tier / redundancy level, e.g., N+1] [site type] in [city]. You will keep UPS, generator, switchgear and cooling systems running around the clock, lead maintenance and switching under approved MOPs, and respond to alarms and incidents. You will report to the [Chief Engineer / Facilities Manager] and work with a team of [number] engineers and technicians.
Key responsibilities
- Operate and maintain critical electrical systems: medium and low voltage switchgear, [UPS make/model], batteries, static transfer switches, PDUs, RPPs and [number] standby generators with fuel systems.
- Operate and maintain mechanical systems: [chillers, cooling towers, CRAH/CRAC units, pumps, heat exchangers, direct-to-chip or rear-door liquid cooling].
- Perform scheduled rounds, readings and preventive maintenance in the [CMMS name] system.
- Write, review and execute methods of procedure (MOPs), standard operating procedures (SOPs) and emergency operating procedures (EOPs).
- Monitor the BMS and EPMS, respond to alarms, and escalate according to the site’s incident process.
- Follow lockout/tagout and arc flash safety programs on every job.
- Coordinate and escort vendors for load bank testing, infrared scans, breaker testing and warranty work.
- Participate in root cause analysis and write clear incident reports.
- Support capacity planning, change management and customer or auditor walkthroughs.
- [New build only] Support Level 3 to 5 commissioning, punch lists and turnover to operations.
Required qualifications
- [3+] years operating or maintaining electrical and/or mechanical systems in a data center, hospital, lab or other mission critical facility, or equivalent military experience (for example, Navy nuclear or electrician’s mate).
- Working knowledge of UPS systems, generators, switchgear and chilled water or DX cooling.
- Ability to read one-line diagrams, P&IDs and sequence of operations documents.
- Experience with a BMS or EPMS and a CMMS.
- Willingness to work rotating shifts, weekends, holidays and on-call.
- [State] electrical license or HVAC license, only if your jurisdiction or scope of work requires it.
Preferred qualifications and certifications
- Uptime Institute CDCTP, ATS or AOS.
- NFPA 70E electrical safety training.
- EPA Section 608 technician certification (Universal or Type II/III).
- NETA technician certification (Level 2 or higher) for roles that include electrical testing.
- Associate or bachelor’s degree in electrical or mechanical engineering, engineering technology, or a related field.
- Experience with [specific platforms, e.g., Schneider, Vertiv, Eaton, Caterpillar, Trane].
Physical requirements
- Stand, walk and climb ladders for extended periods; lift up to [50] lbs.
- Work in hot, cold and loud environments, including rooftops and generator yards.
- Wear required PPE, including arc-rated clothing.
Schedule and shift notes
[Shift pattern, e.g., 2-2-3 rotating 12-hour days, or 4×10 day shift with on-call rotation]. Shift differential: [amount]. On-call pay: [amount or none]. Overtime: [expected hours per month].
Pay and benefits
Base pay range: $[min] to $[max] per [year/hour], depending on experience and license. Bonus: [target]. Benefits: [medical, dental, vision, 401(k) match, PTO, training budget, certification reimbursement]. How to apply: [link and deadline].
Recruiter tip: Put the shift pattern in the job title or the first line of the summary. Shift work is the first thing experienced CFEs screen for, and hiding it until the phone screen wastes time on both sides.
How should the template change by level and focus?
One template will not fit every opening. Adjust it along three lines.
Level I, II, III or technician, engineer and chief engineer
| Level | Typical scope | What to change in the posting |
|---|---|---|
| Technician / CFE I | Rounds, readings, routine PMs under supervision | Lower years of experience; list training provided; drop MOP authorship |
| CFE II | Leads PMs and switching, writes MOPs, first responder on shift | Require hands-on switching; list the systems they will own |
| CFE III / Lead | Shift lead, mentors, owns RCA and vendor oversight | Add leadership duties and escalation authority |
| Chief engineer | Site operating program, budget, staffing | Add budget size, headcount and reporting line |
Electrical-focused vs. mechanical-focused
An electrical-focused CFE spends more time on switchgear, UPS, batteries and generators. List voltage classes, the arc flash program and any testing work, and consider NETA certification or an electrical license. A mechanical-focused CFE spends more time on chillers, towers, pumps and liquid cooling. List the cooling architecture and refrigerants, and ask for EPA Section 608. If you need help with either profile, see our electrical engineering recruiters and mechanical engineering recruiters pages. Our piece on AI data center power and cooling skills covers what is changing on high-density sites.
New build and commissioning vs. steady-state operations
Commissioning roles are usually day shift, project based and heavy on documentation, functional testing and punch lists. They may suit a contract engagement; our comparison of contract staffing vs. direct hire explains the tradeoffs. Steady-state roles are 24/7 and value calm incident response, clean MOP execution and long tenure. Say which one you are hiring for, because the candidate pools overlap but are not the same.
What are the best tips for writing a critical facilities engineer job description?
- Name the equipment. “UPS systems” tells a candidate little. “Double-conversion UPS in a 2N configuration with lithium-ion batteries” tells them whether their experience fits.
- State the site size and redundancy. Megawatts and redundancy level signal complexity better than adjectives.
- Post the shift pattern and differential. Candidates compare total pay, and night or rotating shift premiums change the math.
- Do not overfilter on certifications. Uptime Institute courses and NETA levels are useful, but many strong CFEs come from the military, the trades or hospital plants without them. Offer to pay for training instead.
- Separate licenses from preferences. Require a state license only when the law or your scope of work calls for it.
- Keep it scannable. Short bullets, plain language and no internal jargon. Our guide on how to write a great job posting covers structure in more detail.
Recruiter tip: If you are losing candidates to competing sites, ask your last three hires what nearly made them pass on your posting. The answer is often the shift schedule or a missing pay range, not the base salary.
Which certifications are worth mentioning?
| Certification or standard | Issuer | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| CDCTP | Uptime Institute | Certified Data Center Technician Professional: core technical skills for data center environments |
| ATS | Uptime Institute | Accredited Tier Specialist: Tier Standard principles and methodology |
| AOS | Uptime Institute | Accredited Operations Specialist: operations best practices for mission critical facilities |
| NFPA 70E | National Fire Protection Association | Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, including arc flash practices |
| OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 | U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA | The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) |
| EPA Section 608 | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Required for technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release ozone-depleting refrigerants |
| NETA technician certification | InterNational Electrical Testing Association | Levels 1 to 4 for electrical testing technicians, from trainee to certified senior technician |
| State electrical or HVAC license | State licensing boards | Requirements vary by state and scope of work |
Note that lockout/tagout under OSHA 1910.147 is a regulation employers must follow, not a certification candidates earn. List it under safety duties rather than requirements.
How much should you pay a critical facilities engineer?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track critical facilities engineers as a separate occupation. The closest benchmarks in the Occupational Outlook Handbook cover the engineering and trade roles that CFE candidates come from.
| BLS occupation | Median annual wage (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| Electrical engineers | $120,630 |
| Mechanical engineers | $104,110 |
| Electricians | $63,190 |
| Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $61,010 |
For context on spread, BLS reports that the lowest 10% of electrical engineers earned less than $76,550 and the highest 10% earned more than $184,300 in May 2025. Most CFE roles land between the trade and engineering benchmarks, with site type, shift pattern, license, and metro area moving the number. Treat these medians as a starting point, then check against your local market and the offers your candidates are weighing. Our guide on how to hire data center engineers covers pay by role in more depth.
Do you have to post a pay range?
In several states, yes. Colorado’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Act requires compensation and benefits in job postings. California requires employers with 15 or more employees to include the pay scale in any job posting. Washington requires employers with 15 or more employees to post a wage scale or salary range and a general description of benefits. New York requires employers with four or more employees to list compensation ranges for covered job opportunities. Rules differ on thresholds, remote roles and what counts as a posting, so confirm the details with your employment counsel. This is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is a critical facilities engineer the same as a data center engineer?
Not always. “Data center engineer” can mean an IT role working on servers and networks or a facilities role working on power and cooling. A critical facilities engineer is always the facilities side. Use the CFE title, or add “facilities” or “critical environment” to the title, so IT candidates do not apply by mistake.
Does a critical facilities engineer need an engineering degree?
Usually not. Many CFEs come from military, electrician, HVAC or hospital plant backgrounds. Titles that include “engineer” in operations roles rarely require a degree or PE license. If you are unsure where to draw the line, our article on PE vs. EIT vs. no license explains when licensure matters.
What interview questions should I ask a critical facilities engineer?
Ask candidates to walk through a switching procedure they led, a time an alarm turned into an incident, and how they handle a MOP that does not match field conditions. Our list of data center technician interview questions works for CFE interviews too.
How long does it take to hire a critical facilities engineer?
It depends on your market, shift and pay, and there is no reliable public benchmark for this specific role. What is clear is that the talent pool is tight: 46% of operators in Uptime Institute’s 2025 survey reported difficulty finding qualified candidates. Plan for a search that takes longer than a standard facilities hire.
Need help filling a critical facilities engineer role? Apollo Technical recruits engineers and technicians for mission critical sites. Learn more about our data center recruiting services.
