Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to Status Candidates and ICTAP eligible all US Citizens. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Major Duties:

• Conducts periodic rounds of building service equipment and documents operating parameters.
• Inspects key operating systems and components and takes corrective action with not operating within normal parameters
• Maintains on-going log book of activities, enters service calls and other information and using good judgment keeps fellow operators and management updated, especially during events that take place outside normal business hours.
• Responsible outside normal business hours of the overall operation of facility's physical plant and all utility systems, including temperature and humidity levels.
• Uses precision instruments such as meters, air flow measuring devices and hand power tools to make adjustments and repairs to equipment.
• Observes and enforces all applicable safety precautions required. Applies Lockout/Tagout procedures for all work requiring such precautions.
• Uses good judgment to notify, or call in other trades or vendors for assistance, and communicates with Medical Officer of Day (MOD) or Administrative Officer of Day (AOD).
• Keeps systems downtime to a minimum through the interpretation of a variety of technical data and by making independent, sound judgment in determining the work sequence and the use of various testing and measuring instruments.
• Troubleshoots equipment and control under actual operating conditions, isolates the problem and draws upon manufacturer guidelines and his or her own skills and knowledge to determine the source of trouble and then return equipment to operating order.
• Conducts and documents periodic fire watch in construction areas in accordance with schedules provided by Safety Service.
• Accomplishes HVAC maintenance duties such as removing supply and exhaust grilles, cleaning and painting the grills, cleaning ductwork and re-installing these items.
• Accomplishes assigned work orders submitted by other Services for temperature/humidity problems in sterile supply storage.
• Determines and develops methods to accomplish assigned duties by most practical, efficient, economical and expedient means possible, using knowledge of and experience in the principles of electronics technology, use of diagnostic equipment and systems and control theory.
• Leaves job sited and shop in clean and safe condition.
• Ability to work under pressure, exercise flexibility in changing from one assignment to another with only short notice and to meet emergencies and deadlines without undue interruption of routine.
• Skill and experience in electrical and electronics troubleshooting; calibrating and repairing a wide variety of heating, ventilating and cooling controls that are components of a computer-based automated building management program.
• Experience , skill and knowledge in test and diagnostic instruments and techniques to identify problems in equipment and systems.
• When program is not responding or communicating with controls valves, individual is capable of making manual adjustments to the equipment to achieve desired results.

Work Schedule: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM; 4:00 PM - 12 Mid Night; 12 Mid Night- 8:00 AM with Nights/Weekends/Holidays/Rotation Shiftwork
Position Description Title/PD#: Electronic Industrial Controls Mechanic (Energy System Operator) ESO/PD2658A
Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Pushing (1 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (1 hours); Standing (2 hours); Crawling (1/2 hours); Kneeling (1/2 hours); Repeated bending (1/2 hours); Climbing, use of legs and arms; Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability

The VA has adopted Core Values and Characteristics that apply universally across the Department. The five Core Values define "who we are," our culture, and how we care for Veterans, their families and other beneficiaries.
The Values are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence ("I CARE").
As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; including Resume, Transcripts, etc. is required
• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed.

Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.

Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.

Requirements section continues in Qualifications Section below

Qualifications

Continuation of Requirements section above:

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In 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:

• Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
• Electronics
• Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
• Ingenuity
• Test Equipment - Electronics
• Troubleshooting (Electronic Equipment)
• Use Hand and Power Tools - Electronics

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.