Summary The position is at the VA Southern Arizona Healthcare System in the Engineering Service, Maintenance and Operations Section, Operations Group, Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning Shop. The primary purpose of the position is to serve the under the supervision of the Operations Supervisor, which duties include the functioning of the air conditioning, HVAC systems and provides for a variety of refrigeration and air conditioning functions. Responsibilities Duties include but are not limited to: Performs maintenance and repair on a wide variety of systems that provide heating, cooling, humidification, and all controls that function in concert with climate conditioning at this facility. Install, recognize the cause of faulty equipment, and repair commercial and industrial systems that provide for a variety of refrigeration and air conditioning functions (i.e., heating, cooling, humidifying, dehumidifying, cleaning, filtering, and circulating) and uses a variety of methods of air conditioning (mechanical and vapor compression and absorption). Performs maintenance and repair on a variety of critical hospital equipment and systems that achieve required climatic conditions. Maintains, installs, repairs refrigeration, DDC, BAS, and air conditioning systems located in such areas as warehouses, hospital, and large office buildings and complexes. Maintains, installs, and repairs a variety of refrigeration equipment and systems such as ultra low freezers, walk-in and reach-in refrigerators and freezers, domestic refrigerators, x-ray developing refrigeration machines, deep freezers, ice cream boxes, water coolers, ice machines, centrifuges, cascade systems, cryostat, incubators, blood banks, direct expansion evaporator coils, compressors, condensers, chilled water systems, etc. Maintains systems by checking performance, diagnosing problems, and making necessary repairs or adjustments or by replacing defective parts. May work alone to locate and check elements such as those which control low side and high side pressure, temperature of the cooling units, pressure and temperature of the liquid and suction lines, and the running time of the various mechanisms. Changes and cleans filters in air conditioning and ventilation equipment. Troubleshoots entire systems. Repairs or replaces fans, pumps, thermostats, humidistats, motors, compressors, valves, gauges, pneumatic and electric controls, filters, and other related elements. Tests systems for leaks and proper/safe operations. Installs refrigeration and air conditioning systems by positioning compressors, motors, condensers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, evaporators, heaters, and other components in accordance with design specifications. Installs and connects auxiliary control mechanisms and piping or tubing. Responds immediately to service connections, makes splices, insulates exposed wires, and cleans and lubricates moving parts. Maintains logs relating to equipment, nature of repair, preventive maintenance frequency schedules, etc. Read and interprets mechanical blueprints, specifications and technical instructions to complete installation of equipment, repair specialized equipment, and make general repairs. Preferred Experience: At least 4 years of commercial air conditioning equipment mechanic experience and have their EPA universal refrigerant certification. Must have experience with industrial equipment such as complex refrigeration systems (1 to 750 tons), hydronic loops, air handler units, VAV boxes, variable frequency drive, EMCS, DCC, control system, pneumatics, electrical and electronic actuators, control valves and dampers. Incumbent shall have experience working on ice machines, refrigerators and low temperature refrigeration equipment. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic/PD10983A Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Physical Requirements: Light Lifting, usually not exceeding 50 lbs. work requires kneeling, crouching, stooping, bending, climbing ladders, reaching in inaccessible areas and standing for extended periods. Some eye hazard is present in working around control devices. Normal dexterity, eyesight and hearing required. Possible hazards from electrical shock, burns, moving machinery and obstacles in inaccessible areas. Danger from refrigerant gasses and toxic fumes and eye hazard during brazing and gasses control air. Exposed to extreme weather, hot, cold and wind, outside and inside work. Exposed to cold from Walk-In freezer. Work in dusty, dirty, slippery and greasy areas. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. 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. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements: Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading) Materials 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. Education Additional Information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. 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. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.