Pipefitter

About the role

Provides journeyman-level pipefitting services for the Kansas City VA Medical Center. Installs, modifies, and repairs new and existing pressure piping systems, including steam, heating, generators, pumps, hydraulic systems, natural gas lines, compressed air systems, and sprinkler systems. Reads blueprints and layouts to ensure safe, leak-free, code-compliant piping installations.

What you will do

• This announcement is amended to extend the closing date to 11/16/2026.
• Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Installs, modifies, and repairs new and existing pressure piping systems for steam, heating, steam generators, heat exchangers, circulating pumps, water pumps, condensate and vacuum pumps, radiators, hydraulic systems, natural gas lines, flash and expansion tanks, compressed air systems, and sprinkler systems.
• Reads and follows blueprints, sketches, and building plans when planning and laying out piping systems.
• Sizes and determines proper pitch, elevation, and placement of piping to ensure correct pressure, reduction, expansion, and safe operation of piping systems and related equipment.
• Routes piping installations and ensures installations are mechanically correct by selecting proper pipe strips, hangers, and performing routine cutting tasks.
• Joins, seals, and tests all piping joints to ensure leak-free performance and proper system operation.
• Uses hand and power tools of the pipefitter trade, including pipe threaders, sewer augers, acetylene torches, drills, pipe cutters, wrenches, and other common tools, to complete installation and repair work safely and efficiently.
• Ensures all work complies with VA standards, safety requirements, and established trade practices.
• Preferred Experience: Ability to diagnose system issues, perform corrective actions, and coordinate with engineering, maintenance, and operations teams to minimize downtime.
• Knowledgeable in OSHA and VA safety requirements, lockout/tagout procedures, and proper material handling for industrial environments.
• Extensive experience in commercial and industrial pipefitting, including installation, maintenance, and repair of complex piping systems.
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm Compressed Schedule: This position may be eligible for a Compressed Work Schedule (CWS) in accordance with 5 U.S.C.
• 6120 et seq. and Agency policy.
• Participation in CWS is voluntary, subject to supervisory approval, and may be approved after entrance on duty based on operational needs.
• Position Description Title/PD#: Pipefitter/PD10575A Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Physical Requirements: Incumbent works on ladders, scaffolds, platforms and hard to reach places.
• Works in locations and positions which are uncomfortable.
• Stands, stoops, kneels, climbs and often must lift objects weighing 50 lbs. or more, is exposed to scalding, bruises, abrasions and lacerations which could cause infection, rashes and diseases.
• Is exposed to noxious and caustic odors and fumes.
• Working Conditions: Work is performed inside and outside and is usually dirty, dusty, and greasy and very often in extremely warm or cold environments.
• Assignments are required to be performed outside in inclement weather, crawl spaces, tunnels and other locations where the ambience is challenging.

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

• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) License 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.