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Power Plant Stationary Engineer Full Time Days

Northwestern Medicine · Palos Heights, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you had to work on a system while it stayed in service.

What they are checking: Practical experience of a hospital, where nothing can simply be shut down.

What would you do

A boiler alarms in the middle of the night. What do you do first?

What they are checking: Whether they have a structured response or start turning things off.

How is running utilities for a hospital different from running them for any other building?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that patients depend on this, which changes every decision.

When do you fix something yourself and when do you call the supervisor?

What they are checking: Where their limit is, which the posting names directly.

About the work

Tell me about your City of Chicago stationary engineer license and how long you have held it.

What they are checking: That the license is current, since the posting makes it a hard requirement.

Walk me through your rounds at the start of an evening shift.

What they are checking: Whether they have a systematic routine, which is what prevents a failure.

Tell me about a piece of equipment you diagnosed that had been failing intermittently.

What they are checking: Real troubleshooting rather than replacing parts until it stops.

What systems have you maintained beyond boilers?

What they are checking: The breadth of a hospital plant, which is more than most applicants have covered.

How do you hand over to the next shift so nothing is missed?

What they are checking: Handover, which is where plant problems are created.

What do you document during a shift, and why does it matter?

What they are checking: Whether the log is a habit, which regulators and the next engineer both rely on.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

REQUIRED: Valid City of Chicago Stationary Engineer License The Engineer reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. Responsibilities: • Troubleshoots malfunctioning equipment. Evaluates and analyzes problems and takes the appropriate corrective action or refers to the supervisor or manager. • Responsible for the servicing and repairing of the hospital utility and equipment systems. • Performs duties as required in order to repair or fabricate equipment. • Performs preventative maintenance according to the schedule and continually updates preventative tasks to assure that all hospital equipment is properly maintained. • Responds to service requests and performs problem assessment, troubleshooting, correction, and documentation. • Inspects, repairs, and installs components or equipment to maintain the hospital utility system. • Assists with snow and ice removal as required. • Performs a variety of routine manual duties as required, such as moving supplies and equipment. • Responds to fire alarms. • Performs other duties as assigned. • Works with outside contractors on hospital equipment and other projects. **** Competencies/Performance Expectations: • Please refer to NMHC Performance (Standard/Leadership) Competencies. • Provides the highest quality of services to the patients and staff while being constantly aware of the consequences that may result from the verbal and physical actions taken while carrying out daily job duties. • Establishes and maintains courteous and cooperative relations when interacting with other personnel, medical staff and hospital guests. • Ability to work weekends, holidays, and shift coverage as required. • Ability to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action. • Critical thinking skills, decisive judgment, problem solving, and the ability to work with minimal supervision. Other: Management Responsibility • N/A Population Served • Patients, Employees, Visitors, and Contractors Addendums: Addendum #1: Engineer, Stationary Responsibilities: • Responsible for the proper operation and maintenance of boilers and feedwater treatment system. • Responsible for the proper operation and maintenance of the chillers, cooling tower, and related pumping equipment. • Responsible for the proper operation and maintenance of the control air compressor system, medical air compressor system, vacuum pump system, and medical gas system. • Responsible for monitoring and maintaining appropriate supplies of medical gases. • Responsible for the proper operation and maintenance of the domestic cold and hot water systems. • Responsible for the proper operation and maintenance, including exercising and full load operation, of the emergency diesel generators. • Responsible for the testing, maintenance, and operation of the fire pump. • Logs designated instrument and meter readings, observing for trends indicating equipment malfunctions. Maintains operating records and logs to verify operating efficiency and utility • consumption. Completes rounds and takes readings of the hospital mechanical equipment when adequate staff is available. • Responsible for performing chemical testing of various water and steam systems. Interpret the results and add the necessary chemicals to maintain the proper chemical balances in the systems. • Check proper automatic operations of aforementioned equipment and make correct adjustments and/or manually operate said equipment to its designated parameters. • Provide assistance to the maintenance and electrical staff as necessary. Required: • Valid City of Chicago Stationary Engineer License • Thorough knowledge of the principles of steam generation and refrigeration. This position is full time, 80 hours per pay period, day shift, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. This position is also a vacation relief position; will need to be available for 2nd and 3rd shift coverage. This position is union, Local 399. Benefits are provided through the union. Minimum Requirements: Education: • High School Diploma or GED Licensure: • Valid Driver’s License • **May require additional certification or licensure Experience: • 1-2 years position related experience Preferred: • Technical training in the job-related field. • Five years of relevant experience, preferably in a hospital setting. **** Competencies/Performance Expectations: • Please refer to NMHC Performance (Standard/Leadership) Competencies. • Provides the highest quality of services to the patients and staff while being constantly aware of the consequences that may result from the verbal and physical actions taken while carrying out daily job duties. • Establishes and maintains courteous and cooperative relations when interacting with other personnel, medical staff and hospital guests. • Ability to work weekends, holidays, and shift coverage as required. • Ability to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action. • Critical thinking skills, decisive judgment, problem solving, and the ability to work with minimal supervision. Other: Management Responsibility • N/A Population Served • Patients, Employees, Visitors, and Contractors Addendums: Addendum #1: Engineer, Stationary Responsibilities: • Responsible for the proper operation and maintenance of boilers and feedwater treatment system. • Responsible for the proper operation and maintenance of the chillers, cooling tower, and related pumping equipment. • Responsible for the proper operation and maintenance of the control air compressor system, medical air compressor system, vacuum pump system, and medical gas system. • Responsible for monitoring and maintaining appropriate supplies of medical gases. • Responsible for the proper operation and maintenance of the domestic cold and hot water systems. • Responsible for the proper operation and maintenance, including exercising and full load operation, of the emergency diesel generators. • Responsible for the testing, maintenance, and operation of the fire pump. • Logs designated instrument and meter readings, observing for trends indicating equipment malfunctions. Maintains operating records and logs to verify operating efficiency and utility • consumption. Completes rounds and takes readings of the hospital mechanical equipment when adequate staff is available. • Responsible for performing chemical testing of various water and steam systems. Interpret the results and add the necessary chemicals to maintain the proper chemical balances in the systems. • Check proper automatic operations of aforementioned equipment and make correct adjustments and/or manually operate said equipment to its designated parameters. • Provide assistance to the maintenance and electrical staff as necessary. Required: • Valid City of Chicago Stationary Engineer License • Thorough knowledge of the principles of steam generation and refrigeration. Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more. Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position): Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.

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