Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic

Veterans Health Administration • Grand Island, NE

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic is assigned to either Grand Island or Omaha, Nebraska. The mechanic operates and maintains air handling units, make-up air units, chilled-water distribution systems, variable-frequency-drive motor systems, split systems, rooftop units, terminal units, exhaust and supply fans, and building-specific air distribution and HVAC systems. The role also involves repairing a broad range of refrigeration and smaller air-conditioning units and systems.

The position performs journeyman-level preventive and corrective maintenance on building airside HVAC equipment; inspects, replaces, and verifies filters; cleans and restores coils; rebuilds airside mechanical components; performs electrical and control repairs; and uses diagnostic instruments to assess system performance. The mechanic repairs refrigerant-based cooling systems, brazes and solders refrigerant piping, reviews alarms and trend data to identify faults, and diagnoses failures in pumps, heat exchangers, control valves, and associated piping. Other duties may be assigned.

This position supports the VA Midwest Health Care Network's Whole Health System approach, which promotes personalized health plans for Veterans through healing relationships and environments and connection to the Veteran's community. The position requires a current EPA-approved Universal Certification. No specific length of training or experience is required, but applicants must demonstrate sufficient training or experience to perform the work. The job has no education qualification requirement.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, with negotiable hours and a start time that may vary from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.; details will be discussed during the interview. A one-year probationary period is required. Recruitment and relocation incentives and permanent change-of-station benefits are not authorized. Student Loan Repayment Program assistance is authorized for qualified applicants.

Requirements

• Current EPA-approved Universal Certification.
• Demonstrated training or experience of sufficient scope and quality to perform the work; no specific length of training or experience is required.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Must be suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Must complete the required online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period.
• Must meet the position's physical demands, including frequent lifting and handling of HVAC/R components weighing up to 75 pounds; standing, walking, kneeling, working in cramped or awkward spaces, climbing ladders and stairs, working at heights, and using rigging or lift equipment.
• Must be able to sustain manual dexterity during equipment disassembly, alignment, brazing, electrical repair, and use of diagnostic instruments.
• Must follow safety and environmental procedures and use appropriate personal protective equipment.

Responsibilities

• Perform journeyman-level preventive and corrective maintenance on building airside HVAC equipment.
• Inspect, replace, and verify the correct installation of filters.
• Clean and restore coils using chemical application, low-pressure rinsing, fin straightening, and removal of debris or microbial buildup.
• Rebuild airside mechanical components.
• Perform electrical and control repairs.
• Use diagnostic instruments to verify airflow, static pressure, temperature, mechanical stability, and electrical performance.
• Repair and restore refrigerant-based cooling systems.
• Perform brazing and soldering on refrigerant piping.
• Review alarms, dashboards, and short-interval trend data to isolate mechanical, electrical, or control-related faults.
• Diagnose failures in circulating pumps, heat exchangers, control valves, and associated piping.
• Operate and maintain air handling units, make-up air units, chilled-water distribution, variable-frequency-drive motor systems, split systems, rooftop units, terminal units, exhaust and supply fans, and building-specific air distribution and HVAC systems.
• Repair refrigeration and smaller air-conditioning units and systems.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Student Loan Repayment Program assistance is authorized for qualified applicants.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.
• Potential credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual, subject to request and approval before appointment and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed