Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic

About the role

The position is located within the Facilities Management Service Line (FMSL), Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Team at the Beckley VA Medical Center.

The purpose of this position is to perform work installing, troubleshooting, and repairing, modifying and relocating complex heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment tracked by the Building Maintenance System (BMS) to provide specific and critical climatic condition throughout the Beckley VA Healthcare System.

What you will do

• Responsible for maintaining, repairing, installing and modifying complex HVAC equipment and systems.
• The HVAC systems throughout the MC are controlled by the Siemens Energy Management System (EMS) and all related controls, which is a complex, computerized central environmental monitoring and control system.
• Operates, maintains and modifies this system to optimize efficiency and energy savings, while maintaining environmental functions, i.e., temperature, humidity, ventilation and fire & smoke dampers at proper levels for patient care and other facility operations.
• Operates stand-alone control units (SCU); Powers 600 Siemans Controls using both analog and digital control (DCU) modules; Turbocore 1.35 for the Daikin chillers installed at the Beckley VAMC.
• Troubleshoots complex systems of electronic sensing and control, such as operating systems that control the BMS by direct digital control; operates devices that are attached to the air handler units, fan coils, air/exhaust dampers, steam valves, water valves, variable air boxes, and fan switches; stand-alone control units (SCU) that operate specific equipment and are components of the domestic hot water systems; rooftop package heating and cooling units; and hot water heating, specialty air handlers in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Same Day Surgery, and surgical suites.
• Uses the BMS dedicated computers to store operating parameters and initiate adjustments that allows temperature set-backs for cooling/heating in unoccupied areas with direct digital controllers.
• Responsible for troubleshooting, repairing, and replacing these devices.
• Locates and corrects problems, calibrates equipment, and uses various precision measuring instruments, adjusts and makes improvements to various systems in the performance of duties.
• Reviews and interprets construction plans in order to cut, braze and solder piping, wiring and circuit boards.
• Works with journeyman, maintenance mechanics or helpers, and engineering staff to accomplish repairs or preventative maintenance (PMs).
• Provides expertise and innovative ideas to reduce energy usage through awareness of energy conservation measures.
• Performs preventive and corrective maintenance and acts as technical specialist to other employees and station management staff as assigned by the supervisor.
• Makes recommendations or suggestions to the supervisor for final approval and action.
• Makes data entries in the Automated Engineering Management System/Medical Equipment Reporting System (AEMS/MERS) work order system.
• Inputs and closes out work orders.
• Routinely makes 2237 requests (Request, Turn-In, and Receipt for Property or Services) for parts and materials required to accomplish assigned tasks, and follows-up on status with supervisor using the work order system and other methods to ensure acquisition requests are being processed.
• Works with temperature and humidity monitoring systems such as TempTrak to track temperature, humidity and room pressures in the MC for compliance and correction.
• In addition, all parts and components will be ordered and installed as needed and upon receipt of service line requests.
• Skill and Knowledge Required: Thorough knowledge of logic circuits, electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, and/or pneumatic components that applies to HVAC systems and well-grounded skills in operating and performing repairs on these various HVAC system components.
• Skill in troubleshooting software and ability to maintain hardware in outboard panels and HVAC systems.
• Performs repairs to the following: Powers System 600 Front End, Digital Systems Controller, EMCS and SCU computers as well as the Turbocore 1.35 to support the chillers.
• Skilled in the interpretation of engineering drawings that combine electrical and electronic schematics, logic diagrams, and mechanical drawings.
• Incumbent will trace signal flow through the system while troubleshooting malfunctions of units with dedicated computers that store operating parameters and initiate adjustments.
• Knowledge of the characteristic voltage, current, and signal input and output of a wide variety of microprocessors, and integrated and discrete solid-state circuits.
• This knowledge allows incumbent to recognize indications of improper operation and differentiate them from temporary anomalies introduced by the testing itself.
• Skill in the interpretation of installation and repair manuals that frequently describe only general applications for various components rather than their interface with the other components.
• Ability to program simple test instructions using available software or an input console to check specific circuits or functions.
• Work Schedule: FT, Monday-Friday; 8:00am to 4:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic/PD517-19008-O Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved.
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Requirements

• In accordance with Section 608 of the Clean Air Act, this position requires a current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved Universal Certification.
• Applicants who do not meet this requirement are ineligible for further consideration.
• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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 or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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 (VA) References Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action 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.

Benefits

Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care.

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.