Pipefitter

Pipefitter at the Robley Rex VA is expected to work both independently on small building maintenance jobs and as part of team of specialists to perform larger installation or repair jobs with limited oral or written technical and administrative guidance or assistance from the Maintenance and Repair(M&R) the performance of this work duties include but are not limited to:

• Layout install test adjust and maintain several types of piping systems and allied equipment such as pumps heat exchangers chemical feed systems filters etc.
• Perform new installations of plumbing and steam equipment from laying-out ordering materials roughing-in and finishing work.
• Perform preventive maintenance and corrective maintenance on a variety of piping systems and allied equipment such as compressors vacuum pumps strainers grease traps steam traps meters regulating valves etc.
• Install and maintain pipe insulation of various materials i.e. rubber fiberglass etc.
• Install repair and maintain complex equipment such as dishwashers steam sterilizers hot water heaters and converters and other hospital equipment as designated.
• Install repair and maintain HVAC plumbing equipment such as heat exchangers coils steam traps and regulating valves.
• Fit install and maintain hospital plumbing and laboratory equipment including fixtures such as drinking fountains lavatories urinals sinks accordance with prescribes methods and AD.A. requirements. Provide support for automatic fixtures including routine flushing and battery replacement.
• Install test and repair life support and life safety systems such as medical gas medical air dental air medical vacuum natural gas and fire suppression systems using a variety of piping materials such as copper brass cast iron steel PVC and various fastening methods including threading soldering brazing welding crimping PVC cement and Victaulic.
• Maintain shop inventory of bench stock including ordering materials for jobs and bench stock replacement.
• Install firestop when necessary in accordance with prescribed UL methods.
• He or she develops an understanding of how their work supports VAs mission carries out instructions as defined by the supervisor in order to achieve organizational goals and participates in the performance management process.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 0800-1630
Position Description Title/PD#: Pipefitter/PD40173A
Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: May be Authorized. Recruitment/Relocation incentive may be paid to a Highly Qualified candidate.
Physical Requirements: Daily handles objects weighing up to 45 pounds and occasionally carries heavier objects for considerable distances on the medical center campus. Required to push pull reach walk stand crawl kneel bend and work in cramped positions over and under piping and operating equipment of all types for sustained periods of time to accomplish assigned tasks.

• 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
• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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 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.

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)
• Measurement and Layout
• 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.

DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.