Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic

About the role

The Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic, works at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center and will be required to use Journeyman knowledge and skills of the crafts to perform scheduled preventive maintenance inspections, systematic troubleshooting. maintenance and repair of various sizes and types of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and system components.

What you will do

• The Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic must possess the skill and abilities of a Journeyman.
• The incumbent will perform tasks in the fields of air conditioning. refrigeration and steam distribution.
• Incumbent will perform the installation. maintenance, modification, and repair of various types of air conditioning equipment.
• Items serviced at this level can be self-contained and functionally independent or can be part of a facility-wide system consisting of many subsystems.
• The air conditioning systems are large and complex requiring work on air cooled chill water units, direct exchange air cooled equipment of various sizes. large air banding equipment including variable speed drives.
• Additional air conditioning work will be in areas which have special requirements such as electronic data processing centers, operating rooms, laboratories and other areas with sensitive equipment.
• Duties Include: Utilizes the energy management control system in the information and command modes to operate equipment and provide the ability to troubleshoot HV AC systems.
• Performs vibration analysis of major building service equipment such as circulating pumps, air handlers, cooling tower fans, medical air compressors and vacuum pumps, etc. Make recommendations for planned maintenance and perform quality assurance follow-up inspections after major repair and overhauls to assure excellence in workmanship.
• Tests systems and equipment for leaks, evacuates air and moisture or other foreign matter from refrigerant systems or components using proper refrigerant dryers, chemical dryers and, high vacuum pump.
• Incumbent charges systems with proper refrigerants to obtain optimum operating levels.
• Installs, maintains, and repairs tubing, valves, fittings, castings, and equipment by welding, brazing, Examines equipment for wear or damage, replaces parts or repairs deficiencies.
• Properly installs belts, pulleys, connecting rods, crank shafts, pistons, rings, fans, overhauls valves by adjusting or replacing gaskets, springs, Boats, diagrams, valve fittings, seals and couplings, and abrasive motors and flywheel devices.
• Repairs, installs. and modifies all types of air conditioning, heat, and ventilation duct work throughout the various buildings of this medical complex.
• Construct necessary dust barriers and/or block off areas as needed for the safety and protection of patients, staff; visitors, and equipment.
• Ensures that job site is clean of all debris and equipment upon the completion of work.
• Erect or suspend scaffolding in the performance of the duties and is responsible for the proper care and maintenance of his tools and equipment.
• Insure that all tools and equipment arc properly functioning and are safe for use.
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 3:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic/PD01149A Physical Requirements/Working Conditions: Mechanic frequently carry and set up parts and equipment that weigh up to 23 kilograms (50 pounds).
• Hoists, holders, and pulleys are operated when removing units such as large compressors, condensers, and chillers.
• Air conditioning equipment mechanics make repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding and platforms where the parts of systems worked on are frequently in hard-to-reach places; therefore, stooping, stretching, bending, and kneeling are frequently for long periods of time.
• Mechanic is occasionally required 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.

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

• Resume 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 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 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.