Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic

The incumbent will function as an Air Conditioning Mechanic, for the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) and is located within Engineering Service. Incumbent is a highly qualified journeyman industrial/commercial air conditioning mechanic responsible for maintaining, repairing, modifying, testing, inspecting, analyzing for defects, troubleshooting and eliminating malfunctions on all the non-medical heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigerated equipment in the facility. The duties include but are not limited to the following: Incumbent has skill and experience in troubleshooting, calibrating, installing and repairing a wide variety of heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigerating equipment, which operate within critical tolerances and specifications. Incumbent use knowledge of the refrigeration cycle of a variety of commercial and industrial systems to locate and check elements such as those which control low side and high side pressure, the temperature of the cooling units, the temperatures of the liquid and suction lines, and the running time of the various mechanisms. Incumbent checks for the probability of leaks by visual and audible examination of equipment components; by applying prescribed test procedures and equipment; and by exploration of probable reasons for equipment failure. Incumbent know principles and theories of air conditioning and refrigeration such as the refrigeration cycle, heat transfer laws, the use of refrigerant tables, how to calculate airflow, and the pressure temperature characteristics for the different systems in order to locate and repair faulty equipment swiftly and to reduce inoperative time to a minimum. Incumbent has skill and knowledge to troubleshoot and locate trouble before dismantling, and to make repairs, which insure proper functioning after assembly. Incumbent has the skill and knowledge, to work on systems that include a variety of compressors such as gear, reciprocating, centrifugal, or rotary pump, and a variety of refrigerant controls such as those with low and high pressure side floats, automatic thermostatic expansion valves, capillary or choke types, and those based on volume or quantity changes. A variety of complicated motor controls are also used such as hermetically sealed motors and pressure controls, thermostatic motor controls (remote and double remote), full and semi-automatic defrosting controls, relays, and other controls to protect against overload or overheating. Work Schedule: Monday • Friday, 0730-1600, 0800-1630 Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic/PD01018A Physical Requirements: Incumbent must wear appropriate safety gear, including full-face and half-face respirators when accomplishing work on certain equipment. This protective gear can place additional effort on employee in accomplishing work. Incumbent works from ladders, scaffolding, platforms, motorized high-lift, etc. as well as other hard to reach places. Incumbent stands, stoops, bends, kneels, crawls, climbs and works in tiring and uncomfortable positions for extended periods of time. Because the equipment in the air handling system is usually larger and must be maneuvered into and out of specific locations while dismantling and reassembling, the incumbent frequently lifts and carries tools, parts, equipment and material that weigh up to 50 pounds and less often up to 40 pounds. Grade 10 mechanics frequently carry and set up parts and equipment that weigh up to 23 kilograms (50 pounds). Hoists, holders, and pulleys are operated when removing units such as large compressors, condensers, and chillers. Incumbent make repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding and platforms where the parts of systems worked on are frequently in hard-to-reach places; therefore, stooping, stretching, bending, crawling and kneeling are frequently for long periods of time. Working Conditions: Incumbent is subject to be exposed to disagreeable fumes, work in oily or greasy areas, exposed to burns, cut, bruises, electrical shock and low environmental temperatures and possible exposure to live steam. They are occasionally required to work outside, on top of tall buildings, in hot or cold, cramped crawl spaces with low overheads. 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. 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 All 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. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.