Pipefitter

Veterans Health Administration • Shreveport, LA

9d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center and serves as a Pipefitter under the general supervision of the Chief, Maintenance and Operation Section. The Pipefitter installs, modifies, repairs, and maintains high-pressure piping, utility, supply, and disposal systems and related equipment. The work includes steam, hydraulic, water, sewage, oil, gas, fire suppression, vacuum, and condensate systems. The employee works from building plans, blueprints, and sketches, and may manufacture or re-machine component parts using machine tools.

The work is performed indoors and outdoors and is usually dirty, dusty, and greasy. It may involve bad-smelling fumes, uncomfortable heat, hazardous materials, and risks of strains, cuts, scrapes, bruises, burns, infections, or broken bones. Repairs and installations may require working on ladders, scaffolding, or platforms and in hard-to-reach locations. The employee must be able to work during emergency repairs at any time of day and for extended hours until the repair is complete or service is restored.

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.
• Demonstrate knowledge and ability in equipment assembly, installation, and repair; interpreting instructions and specifications, including blueprint reading; measurement and layout; technical practices; troubleshooting; and use and maintenance of tools and equipment without more than normal supervision.
• Be a U.S. citizen, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Be suitable for federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
• Meet Selective Service registration requirements, if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Complete required onboarding and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Serve a one-year probationary period.
• Meet the physical demands of the work, including standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing, working in tiring or uncomfortable positions, handling equipment weighing up to 50 pounds frequently and heavier items occasionally, and working while wearing a respirator or other breathing apparatus.
• Receive an annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain a medical or religious exemption; wear a face mask if exempt.

Responsibilities

• Determine the pipe, joint, and valve sizes needed to support system pressures.
• Set up and operate small lathes, milling machines, drill presses, and precision grinders to manufacture or re-machine component parts.
• Install, modify, and repair high-pressure piping systems and equipment, including steam heating and generation, hydraulic systems, steam generators, water tanks, fire suppression loops, flash and expansion tanks, condensate systems, vacuum and circulating pumps, and radiators.
• Use building plans, blueprints, and sketches to plan and lay out piping routes, placement, pitch, elevation, pressure reduction, expansion, and equipment operation.
• Repair and maintain outside water, sewer drainage, and gas distribution systems made of materials including cast iron, copper, black steel, terra-cotta, and concrete pipe.
• Install, modify, and repair utility, supply, and disposal systems and equipment, including sewage, water, oil, and gas distribution systems; water closets, tubs, fire sprinkler systems, and showers.
• Align pipes, valves, fittings, and joints for an accurate match.
• Perform emergency repairs, including working day or night and extended hours until work is accomplished or service to the medical center is adequately restored.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; eligibility and specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• VA may credit job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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