Favourites
Not a student?
Further info
Are you
a problem solver? Try our
new game
Are you a problem solver? Try our new game
Air conditioning vent outside building

Building Systems Technician

Designing energy management systems, like heating and ventilation to create comfortable environments for people

How this role makes a difference

Industrial, commercial and public buildings all have mechanical, electrical, and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems, which are used to create safe, comfortable, and effective operating environments for people and products.

The role of a building systems technician is defining and managing where and how these systems are used, to ensure easy access and control, reliable performance, and high levels of energy efficiency. Design and operation decisions need to balance cost, comfort, safety, health and wellbeing. You could be the technician that helps to create positive working environments and to reduce energy consumption.

White bathroom heated towel rail

The kind of work you’ll do

  • Designing and creating building systems technical information
  • Creating wiring and power plans
  • Designing and writing software for control systems to industry approved standards
  • Designing interfaces for the operation of different systems
  • Reviewing control panel drawings and specifications
  • Installing system control equipment and wiring systems
  • Carrying out a maintenance review of an installed control system
  • Working with a wide range of people including owners and operators of buildings, facilities management, and diverse businesses using office spaces and buildings
Useful skills
Attention to detail
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Communicating complex ideas
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Logical thinking
Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the role

An interest in understanding how mechanical and electrical equipment works.

A desire to help buildings and businesses reduce the amount of energy they use.

The natural ability to look at a problem logically and review all solutions before deciding on the best way forward.

The ability to focus on your work and make accurate decisions.

The knack for explaining complex ideas and systems to other people.

The confidence to work with a range of different people and collaborate on solving problems.

This role could also be right for you if you have any of the following interests:

- science and technology

- building, making and fixing things

- sustainability

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per year *
£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities

With experience, you could lead a building system design team. This could be for an engineering consultancy, a national or international building firm, or in central and local government.

There are also career opportunities inside organisations that do their own construction work, such as major retailers, energy and water companies, and the NHS.

How to get into this role

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:  

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

As well as being involved in the design of building systems, you could also write related software, produce control system graphics, and be involved in the installation and maintenance of control systems. As technology evolves, more buildings are connecting and integrating electrical, mechanical, and security systems to create ‘Smart Buildings’. So you could get involved in analysing data and developing very energy efficient environments.

Other job titles...

This role can also be known by some other job titles including:

BEMS (Building Energy Management System) Engineer
BEMS Control Engineer

Discover
technicians who
do this role

Building Systems Technician

Leteesha Flore
Paper aeroplane

What are your next steps?

Discover our expert advice on the different pathways available and how to get into your dream role.

3 glass beakers and vases with different amounts of red liquid in

Browse more technican roles

Discover what qualifications you’ll need, how much you can earn, and what the next steps are.
Like the sound of
this role? Read a technician's story