Summary The Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic, is located within the Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) shop of the Maintenance and Operations section of the Facilities Management Service Line within Michael E. DeBakey VAMC. The purpose is to provide critical HVAC and refrigeration support, service, and repair to the Veterans, visitors and staff within the Medical Center and outer campus buildings. Responsibilities The general duties of an Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic are to maintain and operate all heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems through the medical center and outer campus buildings. This includes general repair, maintenance, modifications, dismantling and reassembling ice machines, freezers, walk-in coolers, refrigerators, food and nutrition modules, air conditioning roof top units, medical unit refrigerators, cooling towers, chillers, heating and cooling pumps, Liebert Units (air handling units), morgue refrigeration units, kitchen refrigeration, and all heating and ventilation systems. The work in this position involves installing and recognizing the cause of faulty equipment. The Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic also makes repairs to large industrial @types of air conditioning equipment by modifying the equipment (if necessary). The repair process can include relocation of equipment such as nutrition freezers, pharmacy refrigerators, laboratory refrigerators and other various special purpose air conditioning units and/or systems that provide specific climate conditions, from patient care areas, patient units, and research areas. The work also includes all related valves, piping, electronic and pneumatic controls, pumps, cooling towers, converters, fans, centrifuges, computers and computer associated controls, variable frequency drives (VFD's), air compressors, and chemical water treatment stations. Duties also include: Performing air balancing, modifying various elements of the system, air quality surveys, and isolation of HVAC control and maintenance systems. The Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic will consult with the respective engineer and inspect newly constructed areas. The Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic is able to perform his/her duties at the journeyman level, read blue prints and diagrams to troubleshoot equipment. Incumbent performs maintenance and repair to several hundred stand-alone expansion units, ice makers, drinking fountains, walk-in refrigerators and freezers. Incumbent assumes duties of an operator for the Energy Control Center as needed. He/she performs general repairs, maintenance, modifications, along with dismantling and reassembling major centrifugal A/C units. He/she must have the skill and knowledge to size, alter, modify or substitute components and elements in order to provide specific and climatic conditions. He/she must have the skill and highly technical knowledge of air balancing in order to maintain the testing and balancing of isolation areas in accordance with Infection Control, Safety, Life Safety, and Engineering requirements. He/she must be able to meet specified pressure and temperature characteristics within environmental growth chambers, controlled temperature rooms and existing ultra-cold systems within this medical center. He/she must be able to work directly with project engineers, contractors, and VA staff when planning and modifying a system in order to meet specific conditions which are required by technical personnel, researchers, staff and physicians. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm; subject to changed based on facility needs Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic/PD03697A Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Relocation/Recruitment Incentive: Not authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment 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 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 (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. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Driver's License Requirement: Applicants must possess a valid, unrestricted State driver's license, have a safe driving record, and demonstrate that he or she is medically qualified to operate the appropriate motor vehicle safely. Applicants are required to pass agency Government Vehicle Drivers physical examination. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your driver's license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you may be required to provide a copy of your valid state-issued driver's license. Pre-employment physical is required 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 To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards. SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements: Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading) Materials Technical Practices Troubleshooting Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Without more than normal supervision 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Pulling hand over hand 2 hours; Pushing 2 hours; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking 8 hours; Standing 8 hours; Crawling 3 hours; Kneeling 3 hours; Repeated bending 2 hours; Climbing, legs only 2 hours; Climbing, use of legs and arms; Both legs required; Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Both eyes required; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid may be permitted); Hearing without aid. 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 shock, and respiratory ailments; and exposed to repeated, prolonged or concentrated amounts of refrigerant gasses that may cause toxic effects on eyes, skin, and internal organs. There is an occupational requirement to work outside, on top of tall buildings, in drafty attic spaces, and in cramped areas with low overheads. Education 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 https://www.opm.gov/. 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.
