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Machinist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration

Summary

Incumbent serves as a Machinist and Maintenance Mechanic in Engineering Service. Duties are a composite of five different crafts including machinist, equipment mechanic, millwright, welder, sheet metal mechanic. Works at two-divisional teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, Ky. Will normally work at one of the locations for the two divisions (Cooper Drive Division or Leestown Road Division), but required to work at the other location as necessary.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply by 08/07/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 7, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$30.82 - $35.95 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 10
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
CBTG-13003121-26-TMB
Control number
877647100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to Current permanent employees of the Department of VA including VA Title 38, Title 38 Hybrid, and Canteen employees covered by the interchange agreement; All federal employees serving on a Career/Career-Conditional appointment; Former competitive civil service employees eligible for reinstatement; Those eligible under CTAP/ICTAP.

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Duties

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MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Assembles and installs a variety of equipment from plans, blueprints and manufacturer's literature. Incumbent uses skills to solve problems that are mechanical in nature and cannot be resolved by other trade mechanics. S/he operates a metal lathe, milling machine and drill presses and other machine shop equipment to fabricate replacement parts for various items of equipment.
2. Repairs wheelchairs, carts of various types, hospital stretchers, lockers and other ward equipment; dietetic equipment and utensils, operating tables, IV stands, litters and other items of medical equipment of a mechanical nature.
3. Incumbent troubleshoots, performs maintenance and repairs on specialty equipment such as pneumatic tube systems, medical air and vacuum pumps, air compressors, industrial emergency generators sets, industrial fans and blowers, dock levelers, trash compactor, floor cleaning machines and other items of equipment that include pneumatics, hydraulics and electric.
4. Repairs roads and ground equipment such as lawn mowers, tractors, end loaders, street sweepers, forklift, etc.
5. Cuts and welds various metals to make or repair such items as braces, shackles, hangers, etc., for shop equipment and for use by craftsmen of other shops for equipment installations.
6. The incumbent is frequently called upon to fabricate and install sheet metal duct and accessories for modifications to ventilation and air conditioning ducts and plenums; installs mixing boxes, volume dampers diffusers, etc.
7. Incumbent fabricates replacement parts for hospital equipment. While not regular and recurring, occasionally designs and fabricates parts for special projects that are unavailable on the open market. Assignments may require special adaptation of conventional machines or the use of specialized or non-conventional machine tools such as jig borers, jig grinders, setup plates, etc. Occasionally, the incumbent utilizes tools that must be designed by the machinist for specific fabrication processes, or which may involve the machining of surfaces at unusual or compound angles. Often works in tolerances of +/- one thousandth using a variety of depth micrometers, v-blocks, vernier calipers, gauge blocks, dial indicators etc.
8. The incumbent must communicate with personnel in the departments in which equipment is located or serves relative to problems experienced with equipment, probable solutions and "down times." S/he discusses operating procedures and operator maintenance with user personnel. S/he talks with other craftsmen regarding installations or repairs in which they will be involved. S/he contacts contractors and supply houses for identifications, sources of supply and availability of units, operating supplies, materials and replacement parts.
9. Other duties include assisting other journeymen in, and in their absence or when specifically assigned, performing repairs on other equipment and systems as directed by the Supervisor.
10. Other Duties As Assigned

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday 08:00am - 16:30pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Machinist/PD05870A
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • Pre-employment physical 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.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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 or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/07/2026.

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:
Mechanical
Metal Processing and Metalworking
Technical Competence
Technical Problem Solving

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.

Physical Requirements: Incumbent frequently carries materials and equipment that weigh up to fifty (50) pounds. He/she occasionally must lift equipment weighing one-hundred (100) pounds. In transporting heavy equipment or materials, hand trucks and dollies are used. He/she makes repairs, adjustments and installations from ladders, scaffolding and platforms where components are in hard-to-reach places. Many installations are in interstitial spaces available only by crawling through the spaces and made additionally more difficult by the necessity of carrying materials and tools. To further complicate the process, there are ducts, conduits and piping intersecting the crawl-spaces and above ceilings that he/she must transverse. The work also requires prolonged standing and reaching. Therefore, standing, stooping, stretching, bending, reaching, kneeling and crawling are frequently necessary in performing duties assigned.

Working Conditions: Incumbent works in areas where there is dust, dirt and fumes; danger to the skin from flying metal chips and hot metal, and to fingers and hands from close contact with sharp edges, moving cutters and grinding wheels. Incumbent will be subject to abnormal environmental conditions such as heat, cold, noise, toxic amounts of gas, and the handling of toxic chemicals. Mental application is a necessity due to the complexity of equipment and systems being monitored. Incumbent must remain alert at all times in order to be prepared for emergency situations and equipment hazards or malfunctions.

Education

There is no education substitution for this position.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

The Lexington VA Health Care System provides care for Veterans throughout central, eastern, and southern Kentucky. The Troy Bowling Campus near Cooper Drive in Lexington is a fully accredited, two-division, tertiary care medical center with an operating capacity of 199 hospital beds. Established in 1973 and built adjacent to the University of Kentucky, this campus offers specialty outpatient care, inpatient acute medical, neurological, surgical, and psychiatric care.

The Franklin R. Sousley Campus on Leestown Road, established in 1931, is home to the main Primary Care clinics, including Women's Health and Geriatric specialty clinics. It also houses other specialty clinics, such as prosthetics, optometry, massage therapy and chiropractic, mental health, substance abuse treatment, acute rehabilitation, and PTSD rehabilitation treatment. LVAHCS also maintains community-based outpatient clinics in Berea, Hazard, Morehead, and Somerset, KY.

The Lexington VAHCS is ranked 6th nationally for quality, ranked in the top 10 by Forbes as a "Best Place to Work" in Kentucky and commended by a Joint Commission Survey team for "restoring their faith in VA."

Agency contact information

Tracy Binion
Phone
314-939-8817
Email
tracy.binion@va.gov
Address
Lexington VA Health Care System
2250 Leestown Road
Lexington, KY 40511
US

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