Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic Job at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs i

This position serves as an Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic within the Facilities Management Service (FMS) at the VA Medical Center in Kansas City, MO. The Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic is responsible for installing, troubleshooting, performing preventative maintenance and repairing all HVAC&R (heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration) equipment and controls.

The position serves as the Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic for the In-House Construction section of FMS and is responsible for the installation, repair, and operation of all refrigeration, air conditioning and air handling parts and equipment to be installed, modified, retrofitted, removed, and maintained as part of any In House Construction Projects at the KCVAMC.

Responsibilities include:

• Repairing, troubleshooting, maintaining and installing air conditioning equipment in the hospital and ancillary buildings;
• Installing, troubleshooting, repairing and maintaining refrigerators, freezers and ice machines, including those utilized for patient food and drugs, laboratory specimens and blood products;
• Operating and repairing all aspects of the environmental control system to include adding and removing points in the system, building graphics, modifying and troubleshooting programming, repairing and replacing sensors, actuators and other control devices, and repairing and replacing LAN devices such as terminal equipment controllers;
• Troubleshooting, diagnosing and making repairs to a large variety of equipment and systems that provide a variety of air-conditioning functions, such as heating, cooling, humidification, dehumidification and air cleaning, filtering and circulating.

The Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic executes a full range of facilities management activities to include:

• Performs preventive maintenance on a variety of equipment, including refrigeration equipment, air compressors, evaporators, belt driven exhaust fans, ice makers, cooling towers, and pumps.
• Cleans and inspects units for proper operation, replaces worn/damaged belts and filters, and repairs leaks.
• Lubricates moving parts and drains and replaces oil.
• Change filters and cleans coil surfaces on a wide variety of heating and cooling equipment.
• Performs maintenance and repair to several hundred stand-alone expansion units, ice makers, drinking fountains, walk-in refrigerators and freezers.
• Replaces pump motors and pumps on air handling units.
• Evacuates, brazes, and recharges systems using proper trade guidelines.
• Uses various tools and equipment such as screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, grease guns, and compressed air blowers.
• Utilizes and maintains Siemens Controls and Temp Trak systems.
• Handles refrigerant in accordance with federal EPA regulations.
• Works from ladders, scaffolding and hydraulic platforms.
• Uses best trade practices in recovering refrigerant and leak testing.
• Disassembles and cleans HVAC units.
• Repairs or replaces electrical and mechanical components
• Assists journeyman mechanics in the execution of their duties.
• Follows electrical diagrams to connect wires to switches, relays, and thermostats.
• Follows preventive maintenance schedules.
• Interprets schedules, wiring diagrams, and equipment manuals.

Qualifications:

• 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.
• Selective Services Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Working Conditions: The work is usually done both indoors and outdoors and is often dirty, dusty and greasy. The incumbent is subject to work in all types of weather and in work areas that may be hot, noisy, and close quartered.

Physical Requirements: The incumbent may be required to bend, reach and hold awkward positions for prolonged periods. Frequently works from ladders platforms, high places and cramped spaces. Considerable climbing, walking, and stooping is also required for this position. Frequently lifts and moves objects up to 50 lbs. and occasionally lifts and carries objects over 50 lbs. either alone or with others.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is an equal opportunity employer.