What are the responsibilities and job description for the Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic position at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
Summary
This position serves as an Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic within the Engineering Service at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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.
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Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
Work Schedule: Full-time; 7:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Preferred Experience: Five years in commercial HVAC working on Air Handling Unit (AHU) systems moving up to 45,000 cubic feet per minute (CFM).
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Requirements
Conditions of Employment
(SCREEN OUT): ABILITY TO DO THE WORK OF AN AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT MECHANIC WITHOUT MORE THAN NORMAL SUPERVISION.
EPA CERTIFICATION: In accordance with 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), people working in this type of position must have and maintain proper EPA Certifications for working with refrigerants. You must have these EPA Certification Types I, II and III in order to meet the requirements of this position.
PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: Strenuous physical effort is required while dismantling and reassembling equipment. The incumbent frequently carries and sets up parts and equipment that weigh up to fifty (50) pounds. Occasionally, they lift or move with assistance moderately heavy objects, weighing more than seventy five (75) pounds. When at a job site, strenuous physical exertion is sometimes required when handling heavy and bulky materials, lifting, carrying, and pushing or pulling moderately heavy loads. The incumbent must work from ladders, catwalks, scaffolding, etc., where parts of systems worked on are frequently in uncomfortable, hard-to-reach places. Stooping, stretching, bending, climbing, and kneeling are frequently encountered for long periods of time. Hand dexterity is a critical requirement in completing most tasks.
Incumbent must be mentally alert and physically capable at all times, as this type of work is very hard and hazardous. The incumbent works both inside and outside of the Medical Center and is required to work in cramped areas with low overheads. The incumbent is subject to exposure from toxic refrigerants. Incumbent will be required to wear personal protective equipment while performing certain tasks.
Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume.
You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:
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; religious; 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.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
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.
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.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
This position serves as an Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic within the Engineering Service at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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.
Help
Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
- 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 programing, repairing and replacing sensors, actuators and other control devices, and repairing and replacing Local Area Network (LAN) devices such as terminal equipment controllers; and
- 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; and
- Performing other related duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Full-time; 7:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Preferred Experience: Five years in commercial HVAC working on Air Handling Unit (AHU) systems moving up to 45,000 cubic feet per minute (CFM).
Help
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
- 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 Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
- You may be required to serve a probationary period
- Pre-employment physical required
- Subject to background/security investigation
- 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.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
- Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
(SCREEN OUT): ABILITY TO DO THE WORK OF AN AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT MECHANIC WITHOUT MORE THAN NORMAL SUPERVISION.
EPA CERTIFICATION: In accordance with 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), people working in this type of position must have and maintain proper EPA Certifications for working with refrigerants. You must have these EPA Certification Types I, II and III in order to meet the requirements of this position.
PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: Strenuous physical effort is required while dismantling and reassembling equipment. The incumbent frequently carries and sets up parts and equipment that weigh up to fifty (50) pounds. Occasionally, they lift or move with assistance moderately heavy objects, weighing more than seventy five (75) pounds. When at a job site, strenuous physical exertion is sometimes required when handling heavy and bulky materials, lifting, carrying, and pushing or pulling moderately heavy loads. The incumbent must work from ladders, catwalks, scaffolding, etc., where parts of systems worked on are frequently in uncomfortable, hard-to-reach places. Stooping, stretching, bending, climbing, and kneeling are frequently encountered for long periods of time. Hand dexterity is a critical requirement in completing most tasks.
Incumbent must be mentally alert and physically capable at all times, as this type of work is very hard and hazardous. The incumbent works both inside and outside of the Medical Center and is required to work in cramped areas with low overheads. The incumbent is subject to exposure from toxic refrigerants. Incumbent will be required to wear personal protective equipment while performing certain tasks.
Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume.
You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:
- 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; religious; 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.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
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.
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.
Read more
- Help 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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
