Summary This position serves as a Pipefitter within the Engineering Service at the VA Medical Center, located in Bedford, MA. The primary functions include working with pipes and fittings from a range of high pressure to low pressure steam. Responsibilities Duties may include, but are not limited to: Layout pipe, thread, rough-in and finish bathroom, rough-in and finish kitchen; Conducts minor welding repairs and fabrication requiring the use of oxygen, acetylene, arc welding, and pipe welding; Inspects, adjusts, cleans, and repairs plumbing fixtures and systems, steam operated equipment, heating and water systems, waste lines, kitchen and laundry equipment, air compressors, medical compressed air systems, vacuum systems, oxygen systems, and natural gas distribution systems; Reads and interprets blueprints and manufacturers' specifications for installing and repairing equipment; Conducts safety and preventive maintenance inspections of utility systems and equipment in accordance with VA regulations and National Codes; Interprets and applies building plans and blueprints to layout angles, arcs, and circles; Utilizes tools and equipment such as sliding squares, measuring tapes, dividers, and chalk lines; Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 3:30 pm. 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) 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 (SCREEN-OUT): Must have the ability to perform the duties of the work of a Pipefitter (WG-10) without more than normal supervision. Related Journeyman skill level experience includes: safely and independently performing pipefitter work assignments; reading and following blueprints, building plans, schematics and specifications; estimating accurately the time and materials required to install, repair, or replace equipment or components; checking, troubleshooting, repairing, replacing all @types of low to high pressure piping and steam systems; troubleshoots, repairs, and diagnoses problems with facility steam and heating control devices; properly selecting and using tools, parts and materials to accomplish a task quickly, neatly and safely; and using hand and power tools of the trade, i.e., pipe threader, sewer augers, acetylene torch, reciprocation saws, corded and battery-powered drills, pipe cutters, pipe wrench, hammer drills, and other common hand tools of the trade. A Quality Ranking Factor has been requested by the facility to help determine which of the basically qualified applicants are likely to be better qualified for a position. The quality ranking factor for this position are: Do you possess a current, valid journeyman plumbing license? Quality Ranking Factors are skills, knowledge, abilities, or other worker characteristics which could be expected to result in superior performance on the job. Quality ranking factors will not be used for screening, but may be used as ranking criteria. Applicants with higher proficiency levels may rank above those with lower proficiency levels on a quality ranking factor. PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: Employee will make repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding and platforms, and where the systems and equipment worked on are in hard-to-reach places. Employee will be standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing and working in tiring and uncomfortable positions. Employee will frequently handle, lift, carry and set up parts and equipment that weigh up to 50 pounds. Occasionally items may weigh more than 50 pounds. Work is done inside and outside, and is usually dirty, dusty, greasy, and smelly. There is frequent exposure to the possibility of uncomfortable heat conditions. The employee is exposed to the possibility of strains, cuts, scrapes, bruises, burns, and infections. The employee is occasionally exposed to the possibility of broken bones. Employee may be required to work in areas that have asbestos containing materials and will, therefore, be required to use personal protective equipment (PPE) including respirators and other equipment to prevent possible asbestos exposure. You will be responsible for completing respirator training, fit testing and training in the proper use and maintenance of general PPE. 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: Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading) Measurement and Layout Quality Ranking Factor Technical Practices Troubleshooting Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment 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.
