Building services engineer

Building services engineers are responsible for ensuring the safe and reliable operation of services within buildings, including electrical and mechanical

Your role as a building services engineer is to design, install and maintain the services that allow a building to do what it's designed to.

You'll maintain a range of services in a building, including:

• acoustics
• health and safety
• heating
• lifts and escalators
• lighting
• power and supply
• security.

Sustainability is an important issue, and you may be involved in designing, developing and managing new technologies to help reduce the carbon emissions of buildings.

Types of building services engineer

You may specialise in an area such as:

• electrical engineering
• façade engineering
• heating, ventilating, refrigeration and air conditioning
• lighting
• mechanical engineering
• public health
• sustainable and renewable energy.

Responsibilities

As a building services engineer, you'll need to:

• negotiate and develop project contracts and agree these with clients, particularly in consultancy roles involving tenders
• commission, organise and evaluate the work of contractors and subcontractors interpret and produce detailed technical drawings, diagrams and plans
• use specialist software such as computer-aided design (CAD) and building simulation tools to design mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems
• apply and develop Building Information Modelling (BIM) to coordinate building services in complex construction or refurbishment projects
• manage and forecast costs using whole-life-cycle costing techniques, ensuring projects stay on budget and incorporate energy-efficient solutions
• design or adapt site-specific equipment where needed
• supervise the installation and commissioning of building systems and develop maintenance and operational procedures
• monitor and optimise building systems to improve performance and efficiency assess the condition of ageing systems and determine when upgrades or replacements are needed
• liaise with other professionals, including architects, structural engineers, contractors, surveyors and client project teams
• attend technical and project meetings to report on progress and coordinate with stakeholders
• ensure all systems comply with current legislation, building codes, and health and safety requirements
• advise clients, architects and design teams on sustainability, energy conservation, and decarbonisation strategies across various building types work on multiple projects across different sectors, sometimes within tight timescales
• keep up to date with emerging technologies, such as smart building systems, renewable energy integration and low-carbon heating and cooling solutions.

Salary

• Starting salaries for graduate building services engineers are generally around £28,000.
• CIBSE reports that the current average salary for an experienced engineer is £38,600.
• Having chartered (CEng MCIBSE) or incorporated (IEng ACIBSE) status will generally increase your level of pay and you can expect to earn up to £45,000 to £50,000. Senior and leadership roles may pay around £70,000 to £100,000.

Pay can vary significantly by region, with higher salaries often found in London and the South East. Rates are generally comparable to those in civil engineering and are influenced by the wider economic conditions in the construction sector. Currently, there is strong demand for construction professionals, particularly those with skills in sustainable building design and energy-efficient systems.

Income data from the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

You'll often work longer than standard office hours in this role, although weekend or shift work is not usually required. However, you may occasionally need to be on standby as part of an emergency call-out rota.

Part-time work can be an option, especially as contract staff are often brought in to manage busy periods or specific projects.

What to expect

• Your time is likely to be split between office-based and on-site work, with the balance depending on your role and sector. Some positions are mainly office-based, focusing on design and cost estimation, with occasional site visits for planning and coordinating installations.
• You could work on a variety of building types, from brand-new developments to historic heritage properties. There are many opportunities to develop specialist skills.
• It's sometimes possible to work on a self-employed or freelance basis. With chartered status and significant experience, you may choose to operate as an independent consultant.
• While the profession has traditionally been divided into electrical and mechanical roles, it's becoming increasingly multidisciplinary. There are opportunities to specialise in areas such as renewable energy, building automation, and low-carbon technologies.
• Overseas work and travel opportunities are available, as UK-qualified building services engineers are in demand around the world.

Qualifications

Entry into building services engineering is typically through an engineering qualification. A degree in one of the following subjects is particularly useful:

• building services engineering
• built environment engineering
• electrical engineering
• energy engineering
• mechanical engineering
• other engineering degrees.

Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) or foundation degrees in engineering or technology can meet the academic requirements to become an Engineering Technician (EngTech), or form part of the requirements for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status. To progress further in the profession, you'll usually need to top up to a relevant accredited degree.

You can gain Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status through membership of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), or another professional engineering institution licensed by the Engineering Council.

For CEng registration, you'll generally need an accredited BEng (Hons) degree plus an accredited MSc, or an integrated MEng degree. You can check whether a course is accredited using the Engineering Council’s Accredited Course Search (ACAD).

If you hold qualifications not listed on the Engineering Council website, you can still be assessed on an individual basis and may qualify for IEng or CEng status.

CIBSE offers student membership to those on relevant courses. This provides access to networking opportunities, discounted resources, and industry events - valuable benefits for anyone entering the field.

Skills

You'll need to show evidence of:

• problem-solving ability
• analytical skills
• communication skills
• your ability to work as part of a team
• a good grasp of numeracy
• time-management
• 3D visualisation, computer modelling and IT competence.

Work experience

Pre-entry experience is not formally required, but if you can gain relevant work experience during the holidays or through industry sponsorship, this will enhance your job applications and help with making contacts in the sector.

Employers

Building services engineers can find opportunities with a variety of employers, including:

• consultancies, providing services such as building services design, sustainable energy systems, installation inspections, specification and cost control to a variety of client companies
• multidisciplinary construction companies, requiring specialist design and planning skills for a range of projects
• major house building companies, advising on energy efficiency in design
• universities and other educational institutions, requiring ongoing building systems support and maintenance in addition to occasional customised design work
• local authorities, requiring systems maintenance and design support across a range of facilities
• the public health and healthcare sectors, including hospitals and care homes

With significant experience, it’s possible to work as a self-employed consultant.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Building4Jobs.com
• CIBSE Journal Jobs
• Fish4Jobs Engineering
• Modern Building Services

Specialist recruitment agencies, such as Hays Building Services, also handle vacancies and short-term contract opportunities.

Professional development

You can work towards becoming a professionally registered building services engineer with the Engineering Council. To do this, you must be a member of a licensed institution, in this case CIBSE.

To achieve Chartered (CEng) or Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status, you'll need to demonstrate the required knowledge and competence, usually through a combination of accredited qualifications and relevant work experience. CIBSE provides detailed guidance on how to meet these requirements.

It's essential to keep your skills and knowledge up to date, as new technologies, systems, and regulations are continually emerging in building services engineering.

Professional bodies like CIBSE and trade associations such as the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) offer a range of CPD opportunities, including short courses, conferences, and workshops in areas such as:

• design legislation
• updates to standards
• amendments to UK building regulations
• UK and EU health and safety regulations.

CIBSE also runs the Young Engineers Network (YEN), a national and regional platform offering networking, career support and events for engineers new to the profession.

Career prospects

Progression within building services engineering is usually clear and structured. In roles with clients or contractors, the typical career path moves from engineer to manager.

In consultancy firms (especially the larger companies) the progression path often includes:

• graduate engineer
• project engineer
• associate
• partner or director
• senior partner or managing director.

However, career routes can vary depending on your employer, its size, and your chosen specialism.

Being strategic early in your career is important. The type of qualification you choose and the practical experience you gain can shape your future specialisation. General building services degrees offer a broad understanding of the sector, while degrees in mechanical or electrical engineering allow you to develop more focused technical skills.

Promotion usually depends on gaining relevant experience and professional qualifications. It's a good idea to join a professional body such as CIBSE early in your career and work towards Incorporated (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, which are recognised both in the UK and internationally.

There is currently a skills shortage across the engineering sector. The push towards low-carbon buildings and the drive to reach net zero are creating strong demand for engineers with expertise in sustainable and energy-efficient systems.