Pipefitter

Veterans Health Administration•Tampa, FL

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Pipefitter serves at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, a tertiary medical facility in Tampa, Florida. Under the direct supervision of the Structural Shop Supervisor, the position coordinates, schedules, and completes assigned work in a timely manner. The work involves installing, modifying, repairing, and maintaining new and existing utilities, supply and disposal systems, including high-temperature water and high-pressure piping systems. The Pipefitter uses building plans, blueprints, sketches, and verbal instructions to plan system routes and equipment placement, and tests and adjusts systems to ensure proper operation, flow, drainage, and sanitary conditions in accordance with VA and national plumbing codes. The role also includes maintaining Facilities Management Service utility systems and associated building equipment, troubleshooting and repairing systems, conducting safety and preventive maintenance inspections, and maintaining or altering fire sprinkler systems in accordance with applicable codes. The Pipefitter may construct dust barriers or block off work areas to protect patients, staff, visitors, and equipment, and must leave the worksite clean after completing work. The position requires preparing rough sketches or prints of newly installed or modified systems for updates to master piping and plumbing blueprints. The work schedule is 3:00 PM to 11:30 PM.

Requirements

Evidence of training or experience sufficient in scope and quality to demonstrate the ability to perform Pipefitter work; no specific length of training or experience is required.
Ability to perform Pipefitter duties (WG-10) without more than normal supervision.
Knowledge and ability in equipment assembly, installation, and repair.
Ability to interpret instructions and specifications, including reading blueprints.
Knowledge of measurement and layout and technical practices.
Ability to troubleshoot and use and maintain tools and equipment.
Ability to read and use building and system blueprints, schematics, and drawings to trace systems, locate failures, and determine corrective action.
Ability to handle, lift, carry, and set up equipment weighing up to 50 pounds; occasionally lift and carry equipment weighing over 50 pounds with assistance.
Ability to work from ladders, scaffolding, and platforms, including in hard-to-reach places, and to stand, stoop, bend, kneel, and climb.
U.S. citizenship is required, 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.
Selected applicants in testing-designated positions must submit to urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment.
Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
Must complete required onboarding and provide acceptable identification and application documents.
Must serve a one-year probationary period.
VA Health Care Personnel must receive an annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain a medical or religious exemption; those with an exemption must wear a face mask.

Responsibilities

Coordinate, schedule, and complete assigned work under the direct supervision of the Structural Shop Supervisor.
Install, modify, repair, and maintain high-temperature water and high-pressure piping systems and other utility, supply, and disposal systems.
Plan and lay out piping routes, placement, slopes, openings, and equipment using building plans, blueprints, sketches, and verbal instructions.
Install regulating devices, hangers, risers, flexible branches, expansion joints, pumps, gauges, and pressure regulators as needed for system operation.
Read and interpret blueprints, layout sketches, manufacturers' literature, and specifications for sizing, estimating, installing, and repairing piping systems.
Replace pipe sections and repair steam traps and relief control valves.
Cut, thread, connect, and fit pipes using methods including unions, flanges, sweating, screwing, bolting, brazing, welding, gluing, fusing, soldering, and caulking.
Test and adjust systems and equipment for proper operation, circulation, flow, pressure, drainage, sanitary conditions, and leak-free joints.
Trace and troubleshoot pipes, lines, systems, and equipment to locate and repair leaks and other problems.
Perform safety and preventive maintenance inspections of systems and equipment.
Perform maintenance, repairs, and alterations to fire sprinkler systems according to local and national codes.
Monitor and maintain utility systems, including potable and hot water, fire alarm, pumping stations, water conditioning units, medical oxygen and vacuum units, and dental, medical, and utility air compressors.
Monitor and control building systems and associated equipment.
Construct dust barriers or block off work areas as needed to protect patients, staff, visitors, and equipment.
Clean the job site of debris and equipment upon completion of work.
Review blueprints and other plans for compliance with local and national codes and proper trade practices, and recommend changes to proposed projects as appropriate.
Prepare rough sketches or prints of newly installed or modified equipment and systems for the Plumbing Work Leader to update master piping and plumbing blueprints.