Summary Pipefitter at the Robley Rex VA performs a variety of tasks needed to install, troubleshoot, test, repair, modify, and provide general maintenance on a wide variety of plumbing and piping systems used for waste, drain and vent systems, hot and cold potable water distribution systems, HVAC heating and air conditioning piping systems, pneumatics, medical air and gases, hydraulics, natural gas, steam, and condensate systems commonly used at a medical facility and in ·a modern industrial laundry. Responsibilities Pipefitter at the Robley Rex VA is expected to work both independently on small building maintenance jobs and as part of team of specialists to perform larger installation or repair jobs with limited oral or written technical and administrative guidance or assistance from the Maintenance and Repair (M&R) Supervisor. In the performance of this work, duties include, but are not limited to: 1. Layout, install, test, adjust, and maintain several @types of piping systems and allied equipment such as pumps, heat exchangers, chemical feed systems, filters, etc. 2. Perform new installations of plumbing and steam equipment from laying-out, ordering materials, roughing-in, and finishing work. 3. Perform preventive maintenance and corrective maintenance on a variety of piping systems and allied equipment such as compressors, vacuum pumps, strainers, grease traps, steam traps, meters, regulating valves, etc. 4. Install and maintain pipe insulation of various materials, i.e. rubber, fiberglass, etc. 5. Install, repair, and maintain complex equipment such as dishwashers, steam sterilizers, hot water heaters and converters, and other hospital equipment as designated. 6. Install, repair, and maintain HVAC plumbing equipment such as heat exchangers, coils, steam traps, and regulating valves. 7. Fit, install, and maintain hospital plumbing and laboratory equipment including fixtures such as drinking fountains, lavatories, urinals, sinks, etc. in accordance with prescribes methods and AD.A. requirements. Provide support for automatic fixtures including routine flushing and battery replacement. 8. Install, test, and repair life support and life safety systems such as medical gas, medical air, dental air, medical vacuum, natural gas, and fire suppression systems using a variety of piping materials such as copper, brass, cast iron, steel, PVC, and various fastening methods including threading, soldering, brazing, welding, crimping, PVC cement, and Victaulic. 9. Maintain shop inventory of bench stock including ordering materials for jobs and bench stock replacement. 10. Install firestop when necessary in accordance with prescribed UL methods. 11. He or she develops an understanding of how their work supports VA's mission, carries out instructions, as defined by the supervisor, in order to achieve organizational goals, and participates in the performance management process. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 0800-1600 Position Description Title/PD#: Pipefitter/PD40173A Physical Requirements: Daily handles objects weighing up to 45 pounds and occasionally carries heavier objects for considerable distances on the medical center campus. Required to push, pull, reach, walk, stand, crawl, kneel, bend and work in cramped positions over and under piping and operating equipment of all @types for sustained periods of time to accomplish assigned tasks. 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. Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job 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. 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) Measurement and Layout 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. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation. 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.
