Summary This position is located in the Operations Section of the Facilities Management Service at the East Orange Campus in New Jersey. Responsibilities Major duties and responsibilities include: Performs all duties required to maintain the safe and efficient operation of a 2400 horsepower high pressure steam boiler plant, operating steam pressure of boilers up to 110 psi, consisting of four (4) 600-HP fire tube boilers automatic and manually fired combination oil and natural gas burning. Operates the feed water system, the steam system, domestic water, natural gas, fuel oil, and local control panels at each individual boiler and the main control panel with plant and boiler master controls along with all associated transmitters and recorders. Operates the feedwater system consists of backflow preventers, water softeners, make-up tank, transfer pumps, an 80,000 lbs/hr Deaerating Feedwater Heater and feed water pumps. Checks all equipment to determine that no hazards exist that will endanger equipment or personnel. Starts, operates and stops manually controlled equipment, to include boiler feed water pumps, chemical pumps, condensate return unit, transfer pumps, water softener unit, and oil pumps. Periodically checks equipment to evaluate and determine proper operation and makes adjustment and takes corrective action as required. Periodically checks boilers, tanks and piping for leaks, vibration, soundness and unusual conditions. Performs operator level routine maintenance and repairs to include minor leak repairs, component replacement and safety testing. Responsible for maintaining the oil system free from leaks, identifying leaks and taking appropriate action. Maintains hourly and daily logs, charts and other records as required. Calculates steam production, steam usage, water usage, fuel usage, boiler hours and efficiency for each 8 hour shift and 24 hour day calendar. Performs boiler feed water tests and treats boilers with chemicals as determined by tests. Adjusts continuous blowdowns as required by tests. Regenerates water softening system manually when required. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:00am-3:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Pre-employment physical required 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) This position requires a current/valid New Jersey Blue Seal 3rd Class Engineer's License. NOTE: A copy of your certification must be submitted with your application to receive credit. 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. Qualifications NOTE: This position requires a current/valid New Jersey Blue Seal 3rd Class Engineer's License. A copy of your certification MUST be submitted with your application to receive credit. PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: The work performed requires walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, sitting, crouching, climbing ladders, stairs and steps. When performing repairs or making installations or performing preventive maintenance, the employee is required to use both hands above the head as well as below the shoulders. The employee must also be able to lift weights of over fifty pounds. Must have good eyesight and hearing. Required to enter confined spaces when cleaning and inspecting boilers and boiler tubes. The employee is required to work around moving machinery. The employee works generally indoors, but some tanks and equipment are outdoors, where it is necessary to work under all weather conditions. The employee is exposed to contact with high pressure steam, high pressure oil, hot water, high voltage, moving equipment and heavy duty equipment. The employee is exposed to dangerous situations (boilers may burst and release scalding water). Operator may be exposed to gas, oil, or chemical fumes, and/or may be subject to cuts, bruises, and broken bones resulting from accidents while working around machinery and equipment. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume. You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Dexterity and Safety Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading) Measuring Instruments Operation of Equipment/Machinery Technical Practices Without more than normal supervision IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Education Additional Information Note: Per "Executive Order 14251: Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs", this position is no longer eligible for bargaining unit participation. 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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. 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.
