Chief Engineer

Discover Sofitel Sydney Wentworth – Where Heritage Meets Modern Luxury

Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, Sydney’s first international five-star hotel, is an icon of Australian hospitality and a landmark of culture and creativity in the heart of the city. The hotel holds a special place in Sydney’s story, with a rich heritage that continues to shape its character and reputation both locally and internationally. 

Featuring 436 beautifully redesigned rooms and suites, an exclusive executive lounge, 14 versatile event spaces including one of Sydney’s largest ballrooms, and four award-winning dining venues, each reflecting Sydney’s evolving culinary scene, at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, we don’t just maintain a hotel — we preserve an icon. And now, we’re looking for an experienced Chief Engineer to lead the engine room behind it all.

As Chief Engineer, you will lead the hotel’s engineering and maintenance operations, ensuring the property is maintained to the highest standard across all guest and back-of-house areas.

You’ll oversee preventative maintenance, compliance, capital works, contractor management and asset performance while leading a hands-on engineering team within a fast-paced luxury hotel environment.

Working closely with senior hotel leadership, you’ll play a key role in protecting the hotel’s legacy while helping shape its future.

What You'll Be Responsible For

• Leading the overall engineering and maintenance function across the hotel
• Driving preventative maintenance programs across HVAC, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire/life safety systems
• Managing engineering budgets, forecasting, procurement and stock control
• Overseeing contractor relationships, compliance and onsite works
• Leading projects and capital improvement initiatives
• Championing WHS compliance and safety culture across the property
• Maintaining all machinery, asset and technical documentation
• Embedding sustainability and energy-efficiency initiatives across the property
• Managing risk assessments, emergency procedures and crisis response planning
• Partnering closely with operational departments to deliver a flawless guest experience
• Coaching, mentoring and developing a high-performing engineering team and culture
• Providing hands-on operational support when required, including shift engineering coverage if needed

Ideally you will bring: 

• Experience managing large and complex hotel assets, ideally within premium full-service properties
• Strong technical knowledge across HVAC, electrical, plumbing, BMS and fire/life safety systems
• Demonstrated experience leading CAPEX projects,
• Strong understanding of WHS legislation, statutory compliance and building regulations
• Excellent contractor, stakeholder and project management capabilities
• Exceptional leadership, communication and problem-solving skills
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with strong commercial acumen
• Qualifications in Mechanical, Electrical, Civil Engineering or a related discipline are highly regarded
• Knowledge of sustainability practices and energy management systems will be highly regarded
• Experience working within heritage or highly regulated environments is advantageous

Additional Information - Why Join Sofitel Sydney Wentworth?

We value our people and offer:

• Career development opportunities within a globally recognised luxury hospitality brand
• Ongoing learning and development, working alongside industry leaders
• Global discounts on accommodation, dining, bars and more across 100+ Accor hotels and partner venues worldwide
• Generous paid leave entitlements, including birthday leave, exam leave and up to 12 weeks parental leave
• 30% team member dining discount across our signature venues: Tilda, Bar Tilda, Delta Rue and Wentworth Bar
• Onsite perks including laundered uniforms, complimentary nespresso coffee, $2 barista-made coffee, a $5 staff lunch buffet, and discounted city parking
• A complimentary hotel stay package to celebrate your work anniversary
• Free 24/7 access to our Employee Assistance Program for confidential wellbeing support

Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
We are an inclusive company, and our ambition is to attract, recruit and promote diverse talent. We offer reasonable adjustments to support you. If you require an adjustment to be made during the recruitment process, you're welcome to let us know. 

Please note that full working rights in Australia are required for this role.