Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results
 

Summary

This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Office of the Chief of Operations, Superintendent, House Office Buildings (HOB), Assistant Superintendent, Facility Operations Division, Mechanical Systems Branch, Mechanical Systems Day/Evening/Night Sections.

Overview

Help
Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
12/16/2025 to 01/02/2026
Salary
$24.25 to - $40.14 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 05 - 10
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - Permanent, Full-time
Work schedule
Full-time - This is an excepted service position and does not require or confer civil service competitive status.
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
HOB-2026-038
Control number
852626400

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

Please be advised that federal retired annuitant candidates may only be considered as a temporary employee if the role can be filled in that capacity.

Duties

Help

The tour of duty is Sunday-Thursday 10:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Hours may be flexible within core business hours or may change due to operational needs.

The incumbent serves as an expert Pipefitter performing troubleshooting, repair and installing plumbing systems and components in assigned Capitol Complex work sites that include monumental iconic historic buildings with a complex infrastructure.

Duties are stated at the WG-11 level. Candidate will have non-competitive promotion potential to the WG-11. This is a career ladder position and performs progressively more responsible duties and responsibilities on a gradual basis to develop journey level skills in plumbing and pipefitting.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Install, monitor, diagnose, repair and maintain multifaceted, diverse vendor products as required to sustain the operations of the U.S. Congress and preserve heritage assets, including moisture-controlled preservation requirements related to piping systems and outside irrigation systems.
  • Serve as an expert pipefitter and utilize the BAS system to troubleshoot, start/stop systems, pumps, motors, verifies operating parameters and makes adjustments to meet building requirements.
  • Adjust electronically controlled Variable Frequency Drives and related Direct Digital Controls utilized on plumbing systems.
  • Create work orders, document labor hours and annotate the nature of the tasks or problems.
  • Scan equipment and identify defective parts to expedite procurement of replacement parts.
  • Install, troubleshoot and replace faulty electronic Direct Digital Control Energy valves.
  • Adjust system temperatures and pressures to support AC operations on the secondary heating system, steam systems and makes repairs as required.
  • Perform maintenance repairs on all systems: steam, chilled water, domestic water and heating, etc.
  • Plan and perform layouts on a larger scale up to and including $500,000 plus projects.
  • Perform maintenance, repair, installation and inspection of steel, copper and Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC) life safety sprinkler systems in multi-story, historic buildings.
  • Layout and install steel, copper and CPVC life safety sprinkler systems in 100-foot-high ceilings.
  • Install, modify and repair new and existing high and low pressure steam lines, gas, air vacuum and water distribution systems, sanitary and storm sewers, sprinkler and chilled water systems, other miscellaneous piping systems including technical equipment such as ventilation hoods, pumps and standard plumbing equipment, such as toilets, sinks, urinals, water heaters, fountains, drinking water systems, eye washes, safety showers, backflow preventers, etc.
  • Perform, brazing, soldering and other hot work processes, such as welding in some jurisdictions, using accepted trade methods and a variety of manual hot work techniques to connect all types of commonly used metals in various shapes, sizes and thicknesses.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Your resume and question responses must demonstrate job-related elements.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication
  • You must be able to pass a drug test.

To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet one of the categories below:

  • A citizen of the United States;
  • A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B);
  • A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible;
  • A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408); or
  • A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States.

Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site at General Schedule Qualification Standards.
 
You must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the job announcement.

You must meet the following SCREEN-OUT(S) required for this position:

  • WG-5:Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision.
  • WG-8: Ability to perform pipefitter worker duties without more than normal supervision, which includes showing job responsibility and exercising initiative.
  • WG-10: Ability to do the work of journeyman pipefitter without more than normal supervision.

Your application must show that you have sufficient training and/or experience to perform the duties of the position as described in the vacancy announcement.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement. If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable. For more information, please visit Vet Guide for HR Professionals.

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System.  If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC’s suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide and cover the cost for the drug test.
 
The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol.
 
The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1185221678150.shtm.

The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or disability.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
 
Moving expenses are not authorized.
 
Relocation expenses are not authorized.
 
Probationary Period: A newly appointed selectee is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol.

All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Review your resume and responses carefully. Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions.

Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate the job elements for this position, possession of any specialized experience, and how well your background and experience relate to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement. The self-assessment questions relate to the following job elements and competencies:

  • Ability to perform pipefitter worker duties without more than normal supervision
  • Ability to read, write, and interpret oral and written instructions.
  • Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment.
  • Ability to use measuring devices.
  • Knowledge of equipment assembly, installation, and minor repair work.

Your responses to the self assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions. Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter. Your resume must support your answers to the self assessment questions. Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or disqualification for further consideration. 

Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the “Required Documents” section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.