Senior Building Operator (HVAC)

The Senior Building Operator serves as the senior on-site technical resource for the operation maintenance and reliability of assigned PPPL facilities.
The position provides daily technical response coordinates maintenance and/or repairs across multiple PPPL shops performs and directs hands-on troubleshooting and maintenance. and supports safe reliable conditions for laboratory and research operations.
The role has primary operational oversight of complex HVAC hydronic steam/steam condensate geothermal energy-recovery energy-management and supporting building systems and is a key participant in commissioning turnover warranty coordination preventive-maintenance development and emergency response.

A U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory managed by Princeton University the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) is tackling the worlds toughest science and technology challenges using plasma the fourth state of matter. With more than 70 years of history PPPL is a leader in the science and engineering behind the development of fusion energy a potentially limitless energy source. PPPL is also using its expertise to advance research in the areas of microelectronics quantum sensors and devices and sustainability sciences. Whether it be through science engineering technology or professional services every team member has an opportunity to contribute to our mission and vision. Come join us!

Core Duties:

Building Operations and Critical-Facility Response

• Operate monitor inspect maintain and troubleshoot mission-critical mechanical utility and controls to support facility uptime occupant safety environmental control and research continuity.
• Serve as the first senior technical escalation point for abnormal conditions alarms loss of capacity leaks temperature or humidity excursions utility interruptions and equipment failures.
• Conduct and coordinate building systems inspections; review temperatures pressures flows differential pressures vibration noise equipment status alarms water conditions housekeeping and visible deficiencies.
• Verify field conditions establish safe interim controls perform or coordinate authorized repairs and adjustments and initiate follow-up work orders for unresolved conditions.
• Respond to equipment failures severe weather and other emergencies in accordance with PPPL procedures and assigned incident-response responsibilities.

Mechanical HVAC Hydronic Steam and Energy-Recovery Systems

• Operate and maintain central and distributed HVAC systems including water-cooled and air-cooled chillers packaged DX equipment heat exchangers air-handling units energy-recovery systems pumps fan coils fan-powered boxes chilled beams air terminal units hydronic coils VFDs valves dampers and associated air-distribution system components.
• Monitor and adjust mechanical and control equipment valves thermostats diffusers safeties and operating setpoints to maintain approved environmental and equipment conditions. Review temperature humidity pressure etc. points monitored through the BAS to determine Facility response.
• Diagnose refrigeration airflow hydronic mechanical electrical-control and sequence-related problems. Determine appropriate equipment repair scope before corrective work is assigned.
• Support cooling and heating optimization equipment staging differential-pressure control energy-recovery performance water-side balance seasonal changeover electrical load-shed procedure and reliable fallback operation.
• Operate and maintain site high pressure (80 psig) and low pressure (15 psig) steam and associated steam condensate system including condensate receiver units steam traps steam valves pressure reducing stations safety relief valves etc. Act as primary point person for system restarting from cold conditions.

Geothermal and Ground-Source Systems

• Operate monitor maintain and troubleshoot Princeton Plasma Innovation Center (PPIC) geothermal ground-loop source-water heat-transfer systems associated pumps distribution piping/components and modular chiller arrays.
• Evaluate entering and leaving water temperatures flows pressures pump and VFD performance heat-transfer effectiveness energy trends and seasonal ground-loop behavior against design and commissioning baselines.
• Identify and escalate system deficiencies and changes in long-term ground-loop performance.
• Participate in any mechanical system related PPIC commissioning (Cx) efforts.

Preventive Corrective and Reliability Maintenance

• Perform coordinate and verify preventive and corrective maintenance in accordance with PPPL procedures manufacturer recommendations approved job plans warranty requirements and applicable industry practices.
• Typical work includes filter replacement coil and condensate-system cleaning strainer service approved heat-exchanger cleaning motor/bearing lubrication and replacement belt inspection and adjustment pulley and shaft alignment valve and actuator inspection leak checks and scheduled equipment inspections.
• Review maintenance history operating data alarms trends and repeat failures to identify reliability risks deferred deficiencies spare-parts requirements and opportunities for predictive or condition-based maintenance.
• Support development and continuous improvement of PM job plans operating inspections standard readings seasonal-readiness plans troubleshooting guides shutdown/startup checklists and critical-spares lists.

Controls Energy Management and Performance Monitoring

• Monitor the building automation and energy-management systems; review alarms trends schedules setpoints overrides equipment commands feedback and utility performance.
• Partner with BAS personnel to validate sequences of operation diagnose unstable control loops confirm sensor and actuator performance and resolve mechanical-control interactions.
• Track and trend system performance using BAS metering commissioning data and CMMS history to improve energy efficiency reliability and operating stability without compromising research requirements.
• Support approved system improvements retro-commissioning and optimization efforts through data analysis field verification functional testing and documented change control.

Work Control Safety Compliance and Quality

• Ensure work is planned and executed safely and in accordance with DOE PPPL OSHA environmental quality-assurance configuration-management cybersecurity and site work-control requirements applicable to the assignment.
• Verify that permits lockout/tagout boundaries procedures drawings hazards personal protective equipment access requirements tools parts and restoration steps are established before work begins.
• Support inspections audits risk assessments and corrective-action activities by providing accurate technical documentation and subject-matter input.
• Identify commissioning design construction maintainability or warranty deficiencies; preserve evidence and route issues to the responsible contractor designer commissioning agent manufacturer or PPPL authority.
• Complete all required PPPL safety qualification and refresher training and maintain orderly clean and safe work areas.

Technical Leadership Coordination and Documentation

• Provide technical guidance and operational leadership to technicians during routine operations maintenance shutdowns and incident response; mentor personnel within assigned authority.
• Coordinate work among HVAC BAS electrical plumbing operations engineering planners researchers commissioning agents contractors and OEM service providers.
• Support weekly planning and scheduling by identifying priority labor permits parts outage windows research impacts vendor dependencies and restoration requirements.
• Use Planon or the designated CMMS to maintain accurate work orders asset history readings labor parts inspections deficiencies warranty records procedures and status updates.
• Communicate equipment status operational risk planned outages unresolved deficiencies and recommended actions clearly to Facilities leadership and affected stakeholders.
• Other duties assigned.

Education and Experience

Minimum Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Completion of a recognized HVAC/R stationary-engineering operating-engineer mechanical or apprenticeship/technical program.
• Valid drivers license.
• Minimum eight years of progressively responsible experience operating maintaining and troubleshooting complex commercial institutional industrial pharmaceutical laboratory research or mission-critical facilities.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating multi-trade technical work and providing operational leadership during maintenance outages abnormal conditions or emergency response.
• Working knowledge of refrigeration chilled-water and heating-water systems pumps VFDs heat exchangers air-handling and exhaust systems geothermal or ground-source HVAC principles controls water systems and mechanical infrastructure.
• Ability to interpret O&M manuals mechanical drawings P&IDs electrical and control schematics sequences of operation equipment submittals commissioning reports and maintenance history.
• Experience using a CMMS and standard office applications to document work analyze trends manage priorities and communicate status.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Applicable New Jersey refrigeration operator stationary engineer operating engineer license appropriate to assigned duties.
• Advanced training or hands-on experience with geothermal well fields ground-source heat-pump or source-water systems energy recovery modular chillers centrifugal chillers laboratory ventilation or complex hydronic systems.
• Experience with Siemens Desigo CC and or Automated Logic (ALC) WebCTRL BACnet VFDs packaged equipment controls utility metering and energy-performance analysis.
• Experience in a DOE or national laboratory GMP/pharmaceutical healthcare higher-education data-center or other highly regulated or mission-critical environment.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Strong troubleshooting analytical and decision-making skills with the ability to evaluate interacting mechanical electrical controls environmental and process conditions.

• Advanced understanding of heat transfer refrigeration cycles geothermal and ground-source heat exchange hydronic distribution air systems and energy-recovery principles.

• Ability to use hand and power tools electrical test instruments temperature pressure airflow vibration and water-side instruments and manufacturer service software within assigned qualifications.

• Clear written and verbal communication; ability to prepare concise technical updates work documentation procedures and recommendations.

• Self-motivated dependable accountable organized and able to manage multiple priorities while collaborating across operations engineering research ES&H and vendor teams.

• Commitment to safety quality configuration control customer service and operational excellence.

Certificates and Licenses:

• EPA Section 608 Universal certification.
• A2L Refrigerant certification.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to walk stand climb bend kneel work in equipment spaces use hand and power tools wear required personal protective equipment and lift or move materials within PPPL-established limits.

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in offices laboratories mechanical rooms rooftops equipment yards and active research environments.
• Work may involve heat cold noise vibration moving equipment energized systems refrigerants chemicals water systems confined or restricted spaces ladders scaffolds and aerial lifts under approved controls.
• Ability to walk stand climb bend kneel work in equipment spaces use hand and power tools wear required personal protective equipment and lift or move materials within PPPL-established limits.
• May be required to respond outside normal working hours for alarms outages leaks equipment failures severe weather or critical research support.
• All physical-demand medical-clearance respirator lifting and driving language should be validated by HR and ES&H before posting.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity or expression national origin disability status protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

The University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position candidates qualifications work experience education/training key skills market collective bargaining agreements as applicable and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The posted salary range represents the Universitys good faith and reasonable estimate for a full-time position; salaries for part-time positions are pro-rated accordingly.

If the salary range on the posted position shows an hourly rate this is the baseline; the actual hourly rate may be higher depending on the position and factors listed above.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. Please see this link for more information.

Please be aware that the Department of Energy (DOE) prohibits DOE employees and contractors from participation in certain foreign government talent recruitment programs. All PPPL employees are required to disclose any participation in a foreign government talent recruitment program and may be required to withdraw from such programs to remain employed under the DOE Contract.