Air Cond Equip Mechanic

About the role

This position serves as an Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic in the ECC/Pipe Shop under the supervision of the ECC Pipe Shop Maintenance Supervisor, with second level direction provided by the Maintenance Control Manager.

What you will do

• Incumbents work involves installing, recognizing the cause of faulty equipment and making repairs on large systems that provide for a variety of air conditioning functions such as heating, cooling, humidifying, dehumidifying, cleaning, filtering, and circulating.
• Installs and repairs are used to condition the air for different kinds of structures such as warehouses, ships, hangars, hospitals, submarines, and large office buildings.
• Incumbent works on a variety of commercial and industrial systems to locate and check elements such as those which control low side and high side pressure; the temperature of the cooling units; the temperatures of the liquid and suction lines; and the running time of the various mechanisms.
• Incumbent checks for the probability of leaks by visual and audible examination of equipment components; by applying prescribed test procedures and equipment; and by exploration of probable reasons for equipment failure.
• Incumbent uses principles and theories of air conditioning and refrigeration such as the refrigeration cycle, heat transfer Jaws, the use of refrigerant tables; how to calculate airflow, and the pressure-temperature characteristics for the different systems in order to troubleshoot, locate and repair faulty equipment swiftly and to reduce inoperative time to a minimum.
• The incumbent works on a variety of compressors such as gear, reciprocating, centrifugal, or rotary pump, and a variety of refrigerant controls such as those with low and high pressure side floats, automatic thermostatic expansion valves, capillary or choke types, and those based on volume or quantity changes.
• A variety of complicated motor controls are also used such as hennetically sealed motors and pressure controls, thermostatic motor controls (remote and double remote), full and semi-automatic defrosting controls, relays, and other controls to protect against overload or overheating.
• Various types of power sources are used with various combinations or pulleys, belts, horsepower capacity, and tensioners.
• Incumbents dismantle repairs and reassemble units such as pumps, impellers, compressors, chillers, receivers and evaporators.
• Incumbent installs and fits connecting rods, crank shafts, piston rings, bearings, and bushings; overhauling valves by adjusting or replacing gaskets, springs, floats, diaphragms, valve fittings, seals and couplings; and aligning motors and flywheel drives; plans test procedures.
• Incumbent installs and repairs systems for areas with special requirements.
• Installs and repairs are used to condition the air for buildings and complexes with areas that have special requirements such as communication centers, electronic data processing centers, operating rooms, laboratories, clean rooms, link training rooms, and other areas with sensitive equipment.
• The systems use a variety of methods of air conditioning such as mechanical compression, vapor compression, absorption, steam jet or air cycle.
• Incumbent installs special systems for areas with sensitive equipment; determines the size, shape, and the location of close-fitting ducts and installs or plans the installation of them so that the heat and exhaust is directed outside the test chamber or refrigeration unit without affecting the critical conditions.
• Incumbent recognizes the cause of faulty equipment, and repairs, modifies and relocates equipment on various special-purpose air conditioning units and systems that are frequently modified to provide specific and critical climatic conditions in laboratories and other experimental or test activities.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:00am to 3:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Air Cond Equip Mechanic/PD01343A Preferred Experience: Chiller and Walk-in freezer experience in a hospital setting.
• Physical Requirements: The work requires carrying equipment, tools and testing devices that seldom weigh over 50 pounds.
• Most of the equipment can be reached from the floor or from ladders.
• Occasionally, platforms and scaffolding are needed to reach parts of the systems such as fans, electrical and water lines and duct work.
• The incumbent is required to stoop, stretch, bend, kneel and work in tiring and uncomfortable positions.
• Working Conditions: Most of the work is usually performed inside, but the incumbent is frequently subject to sudden temperature changes when working on equipment such as walk-in freezer units.
• He/She is occasionally subjected to cuts, burns, electrical shocks, and respiratory ailments; and exposed to repeated, prolonged or concentrated amounts of refrigerant gases that may cause toxic effects on eyes, skin, and internal organs.
• There is an occasional requirement to work outside, on top of tall buildings, in drafty attic spaces, and in cramped areas with low overheads.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Services Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (***).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

How you will be evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Documents you must provide

• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) PCS Orders Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.
• Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information.
• Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.
• Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply.
• Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.
• Applications are accepted online.
• Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

What to expect next

After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted.

HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties.

VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities.

HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities.

HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at ***

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service.

This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.