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Summary

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is located in Smithsonian Institution’s Office of Smithsonian Facilities (SF), Office of Facilities Management and Reliability (OFMR). The incumbent serves under the general supervision of the Crafts Shop Supervisor. The employee is responsible for providing preventative maintenance, minor repairs and installations for many utility distribution systems.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
01/16/2026 to 02/03/2026
Salary
$34.36 to - $40.14 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 10
Location
Front Royal, VA
FEW vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - Federal
Work schedule
Full-time - Full-Time, Permanent
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
10
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
26R-SC-313355-MPA-FM
Control number
854775200

Duties

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The Pipefitter will provide preventative maintenance, minor repairs and installations for many utility distribution systems.

In this position, you will:

  • Perform preventative maintenance, repairs and installations for many utility distribution systems.
  • Install, troubleshoot, modify and repair new and existing utility, supply and disposal systems and equipment such as sewage, water, oil, pneumatic, and gas distribution systems, water closets, tubs, flush valves, sinks, basins, fire sprinkler systems and showers; also installs, equipment such as steam heating, steam generation and hydraulic systems, steam generators, flash and expansion tanks; condensate, vacuum and circulating pumps and radiators.
  • Use materials (such as aluminum, copper, iron, nylon, lead, vinyl, PVC and rubber) requiring a knowledge of their resistance to heat and acids, their strength and resiliency and how to connect tubing made of different materials by using special fittings such as nylon to connect plastic and metal tubing.
  • Operate all power and hand tools used in pipefitting, drainage cleaning systems such as pipe bending, threading, grooving, and cutting machines, pneumatic caulking hammers; drain cleaning machines (mechanical and kinetic), electric hand drills and electric saws.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
  • May need to complete a Probationary Period
  • Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.

Conditions of Employment

This position requires the physical ability to perform moderately heavy work including lifting and carrying heavy objects up to 50 lbs.; work outside in all weather conditions with exposure to dirt, dust, pollen and insects; climb ladders and stairs; and stand and walk for extended periods.

Qualification requirements, including one year time-in-grade at the next lower grade level for promotion candidates, must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date. See the 'Required Documents' section for additional information.

For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on OPM Website.

Additional Conditions of Employment:

  • Must have a valid State or District of Columbia driver's license.  (You must upload a copy)
  • Must be available to work late shifts, weekends and holidays and is subject to being called in for emergencies to restore the Smithsonian Institution to normal operations.

Qualifications

In order to be rated qualified, an applicant's overall experience and training must indicate possession of the minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position. 

Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience.

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.

Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.

Additional information

  • This position is included in the bargaining unit.  

More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

Recruitment Incentive: Recruitment incentive(s) may be authorized for this position.  However, approval for incentives are contingent upon various availability. If authorized, certain incentives will require the incumbent to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a certain time period.

Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid.

Selections may be made for vacancies across the Smithsonian Institution (SI). By applying to this position, you agree to allow your application and other personal information to be shared with one or more SI hiring officials for employment consideration for same/similar positions within the location(s) identified in this announcement.

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.

Your application will be evaluated first for the basic qualifications described above. Applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:

  1. Ability to Do the Work of a Pipefitter Without more than Normal Supervision.

If an applicant meets the screen-out element, the following Job Elements will be evaluated:

  1. Knowledge of Equipment, assembly, installation, repair, etc.
  2. Knowledge of technical practices: (theoretical, precise, artistic).
  3. Ability to interpreting instructions, specifications, etc. (includes blueprint reading).
  4. Ability to use measuring instruments and layouts materials/instruments associated with plumbing, work.
  5. Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment used to perform minor repairs and maintenance.
  6. Ability to troubleshoot.

BASIS OF RATING: Once the announcement closes, your application will be automatically evaluated and rated by the system and a Human Resources Specialist. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your application and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. The numeric rating you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. The score is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of this position. If, after the Human Resources Specialist reviews your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that the score you have received is not a true reflection of your qualifications and/or experience, your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect the information you provided that support your abilities. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Your resume should provide detailed information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA):  If you are applying for a VEOA appointment, you must be a veteran and must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed 3 or more years of active service. ("Active Service" under this law means active duty in a uniformed service and includes full-time training duty, annual training duty, full-time National Guard duty, and attendance, while in the active service, at a school designated as a service school by law or by the Secretary concerned.) A veteran who is released under honorable conditions shortly before completing a 3-year tour is also eligible.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: The following links contain information on the eligibility requirements to be considered under a noncompetitive appointing authority:

Important Note: Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your occupational questionnaire responses or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience. Your resume should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.


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