ASST CHIEF OPERATING ENGINEER-CDA, 2026
BID ANNOUNCEMENT
NOTE TO BIDDERS: Per Contractual Bargaining Agreement, current City of Chicago employees, members of BU 12 Operating Engineers Local 399, who wish to exercise their contractual rights and bid for this position, cannot be considered for this vacancy unless at least one (1) year has passed since their most recent appointment date, at the time this posting closes.
ASSISTANT CHIEF OPERATING ENGINEER
CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION
HVAC Plant Division
Number of Positions: 1
(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)
2026 Starting Salary: $70.31 HOURLY (PR)
Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 9/29/2026
This position is covered under the City's collective bargaining agreement with the INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS UNION, LOCAL 399 (SELECT BARGAINING UNIT 12). Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.
BID INSTRUCTIONS: Apply on the bid site: AND
1. Check the box on your profile titled "Currently employed by the City of Chicago"
2. Enter your employee ID (located on your pay stub labeled 'payee/employee number')
3. Select your correct bargaining unit
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL RESULT IN A REJECTED BID APPLICATION
Under general supervision, assists in supervising the operation and maintenance of City buildings, institutions, or plants which operate large steam or electric pumping, power generating, incinerating, refrigeration, and heating facilities, and performs related duties as required.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES: Assigns and monitors the work activities of personnel engaged in the operation and maintenance of boilers, pumps, or heating, ventilation, air conditioning refrigeration and related equipment. Inspects pumping units, electric generating units, boilers, or heating, ventilating, air conditioning refrigeration and related equipment to ascertain their working condition and determine maintenance and repair needs. Supervises and adjusts facility and equipment controls to meet varying load conditions and to promote safe, economical, and dependable operation. Supervises and participates in the starting and shutting down of major units as a safeguard to equipment. Implements safety and training programs to improve maintenance and repair skills of trades personnel. Changes and supervises the changing of charts on all recording instruments to supply data and maintain a record of operation for statistical purposes and as a guide to increase efficiency and to forecast breakdowns in equipment. Performs emergency repairs on equipment. Orders and records receipt of supplies and materials and logs repair and replacement activities performed on equipment. Receives, stores, and/or handles industrial chemicals (e.g., liquid chlorine, fluorosilicic acid, aluminum sulfate liquid), as required.
Oversees and/or works with contractors performing construction work and various equipment maintenance and repair projects, as required. Performs other related duties as required.
Additional duties may be required for this position
Location: CDA-HVAC Plant, Chicago, IL
Days: M-F.
Hours: 8:30AM-4:30PM
THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE
Candidate(s) selected for hire must pass a background check and a Security Threat Assessment (STA).
Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Three (3) years of work experience in the operation and maintenance of high pressure boilers, pumping units, and related mechanical equipment, of which one (1) year is in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position.
Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications
A valid Stationary Engineer's license as issued by the City of Chicago is required.
Certification as a Universal technician as required by 40CFR part 82 subpart F of the EPA.
A valid Illinois Driver's License is required.
Must pass the basic (yellow) airfield driving test to drive in the Non-Movement areas of the airfield within 60 days of hire.
Working Conditions
General office, industrial and plant environment
Exposure to loud noise
Exposure to extreme temperatures
Exposure to hazardous materials, chemicals, fumes or dust
Exposure to oily or wet environment
Physical Requirements
Substantial lifting (up to 50 pounds) is required
Ability to stand and walk for extended or continuous periods of time
Ability to quickly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with one's body, arms, and/or legs
Ability to move one's hands and arms to grasp or manipulate objects
Ability to climb staircases, ladders, and/or step stools
Ability to operate applicable hand tools, power tools, and equipment
NOTE TO BIDDERS: Per Contractual Bargaining Agreement, current City of Chicago employees, members of BU 12 Operating Engineers Local 399, who wish to exercise their contractual rights and bid for this position, cannot be considered for this vacancy unless at least one (1) year has passed since their most recent appointment date, at the time this posting closes.
SELECTION REQUIREMENTS
This position requires the successful completion of an online application and an initial screening process. Applicants who meet the established screening criteria may be invited to participate in one or more assessments designed to evaluate the knowledge, skills, or competencies relevant to the role. This position requires candidates to take a skills assessment test with multiple components. BIDDERS who successfully apply for the position, meet the minimum qualifications, and PASS the skills assessment test with multiple components, will be INTERVIEWED. Bidders who possess the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be selected and hired in seniority order and according to C.B.A rules .
For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:
For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:
APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices click here.
ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.
The City of Chicago in an Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer.
City of Chicago
Brandon Johnson, Mayor
Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 9/29/2026