Pipefitter

Veterans Health Administration•Iron Mountain, MI

About The Position

This position is located at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, Michigan, and is organizationally aligned under the Engineering Service line. The primary purpose of the position is to perform pipefitter and plumber duties. The Pipefitter plans, lays out, routes, installs, repairs, tests, and maintains steam, water, drain, and specialty piping systems and associated equipment. The position also maintains insulation on steam piping systems and inspects, adjusts, cleans, and repairs a range of plumbing, heating, water, waste, and steam-operated systems and equipment. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized. Work takes place indoors and outdoors, including exposure to weather and hot, humid, cold, dirty, wet, dusty, or greasy environments. The employee may encounter fumes, noise, and risks such as strains, cuts, burns, eye damage, bruises, infection, and asbestos-contaminated materials. Personal protective equipment and procedures are required. The position requires working from ladders, scaffolding, and platforms and may involve standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing, and working in tiring or uncomfortable positions. It occasionally requires lifting and carrying items weighing more than 50 pounds. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and meet the position's experience-based qualification standard by the announcement closing date, November 9, 2026. No specific length of training or experience is required, but applicants must provide evidence of training or experience demonstrating the ability to perform the work. The job has no education qualification requirement. The selected applicant must complete a pre-employment evaluation, background/security investigation, onboarding, and a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.

Requirements

Provide evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality to demonstrate the ability to perform the work; no specific length of training or experience is required.
Support qualifications with detailed descriptions of relevant duties and responsibilities on the resume.
Be a U.S. citizen.
Meet the applicable screen-out element and OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards.
Complete a pre-employment evaluation and background/security investigation.
Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a condition applicable to VA health care personnel.
Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
Be able to work from ladders, scaffolding, and platforms; stand, stoop, bend, kneel, climb, and work in tiring or uncomfortable positions; and occasionally lift and carry items over 50 pounds.
Use required personal protective equipment and procedures, including when potentially working with asbestos-contaminated materials.

Responsibilities

Plan, lay out, and route steam piping systems and associated components using building plans, blueprints, codes, and regulations.
Plan, lay out, and route water and drain piping systems and associated components using building plans, blueprints, codes, regulations, and the International Plumbing Code.
Install, repair, test, and maintain specialty piping systems and equipment.
Install and maintain fiberglass, molded magnesium, cork, and rubber insulation on steam piping systems.
Inspect, adjust, clean, and repair plumbing fixtures and systems; steam-operated equipment; heating and water systems; waste lines; heat exchangers; convectors; water heaters; sterilizers; coils; and similar equipment.
Read and interpret the International Plumbing Code, blueprints, and manufacturers' specifications when installing and repairing equipment.
Conduct safety and preventive maintenance inspections of utility systems and equipment in accordance with VA regulations and national codes.
Maintain stock levels of repair parts and supplies; research and order required equipment and parts.
Interpret and apply building plans and blueprints to lay out angles, arcs, and circles.
Safely use hand tools, drills, motorized equipment, test equipment, temperature meters, pressure meters and gauges, and other trade-specific equipment.
Perform other related duties as assigned.