Air Conditioning Equipment Operator

Veterans Health Administration • Temple, TX

2d

About The Position

Air Conditioning Equipment Operators operate and maintain centralized, multiple-zone air-conditioning plants and related systems to provide safe, efficient cooling and maintain comfort in critical buildings. They use knowledge of electrically driven centrifugal compressors, auxiliary machinery, diesel-driven generators, refrigeration, heat transfer, chilled-water generation, water chemistry, and related systems to respond to operating conditions and equipment demands. Operators analyze indicators, alarms, computers, and instruments, correct abnormal conditions, isolate or bypass faults when appropriate, and contact Engineering Service personnel or contractors when needed. They respond to emergency calls during normal duty hours and to trouble calls involving engineering systems after hours. They monitor critical refrigeration areas, inspect water-treatment equipment, operate air-conditioning auxiliaries, test and treat a therapy swimming pool, and monitor applicable Joint Commission requirements. They perform operational repairs and maintenance, troubleshoot advanced equipment and systems, and make repairs to related systems. Operators read and interpret blueprints, diagrams, drawings, work orders, and verbal instructions, and start, adjust, operate, maintain, and secure chiller-plant machinery according to load demands, weather, and equipment condition. A valid refrigerants compliance license issued by a competent authority is required. The work schedule is rotating. Some work may involve travel between offices, hospitals, warehouses, or similar locations and attendance at meetings or conferences. The position may require walking, standing, and carrying or lifting items weighing less than 50 pounds. A one-year probationary period is required. Applicants must meet federal employment and screening conditions, including U.S. citizenship unless an exception applies, suitability for federal employment, and Selective Service registration when applicable. No specific length of training or experience is required, but applicants must demonstrate sufficient training or experience to perform the work. There is no education qualification requirement or substitution.

Requirements

• Possess a valid refrigerants compliance license issued by a competent authority.
• Demonstrate training or experience of sufficient scope and quality to perform the work; no specific length of training or experience is required.
• Provide detailed resume descriptions supporting the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for the duties.
• Meet the screen-out requirement and demonstrate applicable job elements, including dexterity and safety, equipment assembly, installation and repair, interpretation of instructions and specifications (including blueprint reading), use of measuring instruments, equipment and machinery operation, technical practices, and ability to work without more than normal supervision.
• Meet federal employment conditions, including U.S. citizenship unless non-citizens can be appointed under VA policy, suitability as determined by a background investigation, and Selective Service registration for applicable males.
• Complete required online onboarding and provide acceptable identification and application documents.
• Serve a one-year probationary period.
• For individuals required to operate a government-owned or leased vehicle, obtain medical clearance and meet the stated vision, field-of-vision, color-vision, and hearing standards.

Responsibilities

• Analyze indicators, alarms, computer information, and instruments to detect abnormal operating conditions and make appropriate corrections.
• Isolate or bypass equipment faults when appropriate, or call Engineering Service personnel and contractors to maintain services.
• Respond during normal duty hours to emergency calls involving air conditioning, elevators, and other assigned duties.
• After normal working hours, respond to trouble calls involving engineering systems such as elevators, nurse call systems, fire alarms, water supply, electrical systems, sewer, plumbing, and therapy pools; take necessary action to modify, repair, or ensure safe operation.
• Monitor critical areas and equipment, including the blood bank, kitchen refrigerators and freezers, and morgue.
• Inspect the SPS softener and operate air-conditioning auxiliary equipment, including pumps, fans, and cooling towers.
• Test and treat the therapy swimming pool and monitor The Joint Commission requirements.
• Perform operational repairs of moderate complexity, including cleaning, painting, lubricating equipment, power-cleaning chiller tubes, and repairing or replacing valves, gauges, switches, sight glasses, pump assemblies, and piping leaks.
• Use basic electrical knowledge to test and replace wires, switches, and other basic electrical components.
• Operate and maintain centralized, multiple-zone air-conditioning plants and related systems, including water treatment, electrical generators, fuel-oil systems, and pollution-control systems.
• Apply refrigeration, heat-transfer, chilled-water-generation, refrigerant-regulation, environmental, pollution-control, water-treatment, and water-analysis practices.
• Perform maintenance, troubleshoot malfunctions in advanced equipment and systems using standard testing techniques and equipment, and repair related systems.
• Read and interpret blueprints, diagrams, drawings, work orders, and verbal instructions.
• Start, operate, adjust, maintain, and secure chiller-plant machinery; operate chillers and perform shutdowns based on weather, machinery condition, and load demands.

Benefits

• A comprehensive federal employee benefits package is available; specific eligibility and benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• VA may grant approved credit for qualifying non-federal job-related experience or active-duty uniformed military service toward the annual-leave accrual rate; this is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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