Pipefitter

Veterans Health Administration • Newington, CT

33d • Onsite

About The Position

This Pipefitter position is located in the Facility Maintenance Service Line at the Department of Veterans Affairs, VHA Connecticut, Newington Campus and under the HVAC & Mechanical Pipe Shop Supervisor. This position, modifies, maintains and repairs a variety of high, medium and low pressure piping systems.

Requirements

• 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
• Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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.
• 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.
• The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements: 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Cuts, threads and installs pipe, hangers, pipe insulation, condensate tank and pump assemblies, steam & hot water heating devices, heat controls, condensate traps, circulating pumps, radiators, on demand and electric hot water heaters and other devices.
• Installs, plumbs and maintains a wide variety of lines (copper, cast & black iron, steel, brass and corrosive resistant plastic), drains, vents, fixtures, food service & medical equipment.
• Welding repairs and fabrication requiring the use of oxygen, acetylene, arc welding, and pipe welding.
• Tests systems and equipment after completing work.
• Inspecting, adjusting, cleaning, repairing, the following: plumbing fixtures and systems, steam operated equipment, heating and water systems, kitchen and laundry equipment, air compressors, medical compressed air systems, vacuum systems, oxygen systems and natural gas distribution systems.
• Reading and interpreting blueprints and manufacturers' specifications for installing and repairing equipment.
• Making safety and preventive maintenance inspections of utility systems and equipment in accordance with VA Regulations and National Codes.
• Figures pressures and fixtures units within a system and ensuring that piping, valves, fittings and equipment are proper for the work.
• Tests system and equipment after completion of work.
• Ensures preventive maintenance inspections of utility systems and equipment by using available resources such as cameras and other tools, to find the root cause of a problem or system failure, correct the failure and prevent future re-occurrences.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

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