Summary The Pipefitter is responsible for the installation, maintenance and repair of all Medical Center piping systems and related operations. This position is located in Facilities Management Service under the Mechanical/Structural Unit. Responsibilities Major Duties: Repairs plumbing systems. Installs, modifies, and repairs new and existing utility, supply, and disposal systems. Repairs equipment such as sewage, water, oil, and gas distribution systems and water closets, tubs, fire sprinkler systems, and showers. Works from building plans, blueprints, and sketches, to plan and lay out the routing, placement, slant, slope, fall, and proper operation, of systems and equipment. Uses tools and equipment such as plumb bobs, mercury gauges, dividers, closet augers and hydrostatic pumps. Installs Plumbing Systems. Installs, modifies, and repairs systems by locating and tapping main lines, setting up system routes, placing and cutting route openings, placing hangers for proper level and slope. Determines and installs valves, traps, and unions needed for proper operation systems. Installs equipment by completing the routing and placement of systems leading to the equipment, determining and placing the equipment at the proper levels and points in the systems, and joining, sealing, seating, hooking up, and testing the systems and equipment for proper pressures, leak-free joints, and operation. Modifies plumbing systems. Plans and lays out the needed routing, placement, slant, slope and fall of systems. The plumber tests and makes needed adjustments to systems and equipment for proper operation, flow, drainage, and sanitary conditions. Installs, modifies, repairs, and maintains high temperature water and high-pressure piping systems such as hydraulic, nitrogen, oxygen, steam-heating, and steam-generating systems. Installs and repairs such items as steam generators, vacuum, air, water, and condensate pumps, radiators, automatic and manual valves and flash and expansion tanks. Piping systems include water, natural gas, high/medium/low pressure steam and condensate, medical gases, compressed air, heating and cooling, sewer, fire protection, irrigation, and deionized water. Sets up system routes, places and cuts route openings, installs regulating devices, and places hangers for proper pitch and elevation. Determines and installs risers, flexible branches, expansion joints, pumps, gauges, and pressure regulators in the combination needed to support the pressures of the systems and that ensure the proper operation of the systems. Reads and interprets blueprints, layout sketches, manufacturers' literature and specifications for sizing, estimating, installing, and repairing new or existing piping systems. Replaces sections of pipe, repairs steam traps and relief and control valves. Cuts, threads, and connects pipes by means of union, flanges, and sweating. Fits pipe sections by screwing, bolting, brazing, welding, gluing, fusing, and soldering. Tests systems and equipment for proper operation, circulation, flow, pressure, and leak-free joints. Traces and troubleshoots pipe lines, systems, and equipment to locate and repair leaks and trouble spots. Performs safety and preventive maintenance inspections of systems and equipment. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Tuesday - Saturday; 2:00pm - 10:30pm. PST Position Description Title/PD#: Pipefitter/PD20799A Physical Requirements: Makes repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding, and platforms, and where the systems and equipment worked on are in hard-to-reach places. Stands, stoops, and bends, kneels, climbs and works in tiring and uncomfortable positions. Frequently handles, lifts, carries, and sets up parts and equipment that weigh up to 23 kilograms (50 pounds). Occasionally, lifts and carry items that weigh over 23 kilograms (50 pounds). Working Conditions: Work is done inside and outside, and is usually dirty, dusty, and greasy. Sometimes required to make installations and repairs in areas where bad smelling fumes are present. Frequently exposed to the possibility of uncomfortable heat conditions, live steam, and hot pipes. Frequently exposed to the possibility of strains, cuts, scrapes, bruises, burns, and infections. Occasionally exposed to the possibility of broken bones. 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. 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. Examples of experience include: Safely and independently performing pipefitter work assignments; reading and following blueprints and specifications; estimating accurately the time and materials required to install, repair, or replace equipment or components; 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., (grinders, pipe threading machines, oxygen/acetylene torches, hand tools, electric sewer augers, fans, pumps, welders, and other trade related tools and equipment.) Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month & year starting and year ending dates AND hours worked per week. 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. Education There is no educational substitute for this grade level. 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/. 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.
