NIST is seeking an A/C Equipment Mechanic to support the safe and reliable operation of complex HVAC systems across campus. You will maintain, troubleshoot, and repair heating and cooling equipment to ensure research laboratories, specialized spaces, and campus buildings maintain the environmental conditions needed to operate efficiently and without interruption.
Summary
NIST is seeking an A/C Equipment Mechanic to support the safe and reliable operation of complex HVAC systems across campus. You will maintain, troubleshoot, and repair heating and cooling equipment to ensure research laboratories, specialized spaces, and campus buildings maintain the environmental conditions needed to operate efficiently and without interruption.
U.S. Citizens and Status Candidates (this includes Merit Promotion, Status Candidates, Former Overseas Employees, CTAP, ICTAP, VRA, VEOA, 30% or More Disabled, EVHO, Schedule A, Military Spouses, Americorps, Peace Corps, Vista, Interchange Agreement Eligibles, and National Guard).
Operate, monitor, and regulate large, complex, and centralized HVAC systems to maintain desired temperatures, humidity levels, and air quality.
Perform preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs on a wide variety of HVAC equipment, including commercial packaged units, chillers, steam systems, boilers, and control systems.
Analyze system issues and apply troubleshooting techniques to identify and resolve problems quickly and effectively.
Interpret and work from blueprints, schematics, technical manuals, and specifications to plan and lay out work, determine repair methods, and ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards.
Conduct regular tests and adjustments to optimize HVAC system performance and ensure the most efficient operation.
Operate heavy equipment such as snow blowers and plows to clear snow and ice from walkways and parking areas as weather events occur.
In this position at grade 11, you will:
Install, adjust, maintain, and repair complex HVAC systems tailored to the specific environmental requirements of laboratories and research facilities.
Diagnose and resolve malfunctions in HVAC equipment, including commercial-grade units, chillers, steam systems, and boilers.
Install various types of ductwork and associated components, such as round, square, rectangular, and spiral ducts, as well as flexible ducts and connections, ensuring proper sealing and airflow.
Analyze system performance data, interpret diagnostic reports, and implement corrective actions to optimize HVAC system efficiency and reliability.
Conduct comprehensive tests, adjustments, and precise calibrations on HVAC systems and components, ensuring adherence to industry standards and regulations.
Utilize building management control systems to diagnose and resolve complex issues, implement modifications, and optimize system performance in response to specific space requirements.
Safely handle, store, and dispose of refrigerants and other hazardous chemicals following strict safety protocols and environmental regulations.
Perform preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs on a wide variety of HVAC equipment, including commercial packaged units, chillers, steam systems, boilers, and control systems.
Assist with site snow removal during winter operations by operating snow blowers, plows, heavy equipment, and shovels to clear walkways, parking lots, and building entrances outside of normal business hours or as weather events occur.
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
Suitable for Federal employment
Satisfactory completion of a pre-employment medical examination
Must obtain and maintain Universal CFC Certification for handling refrigerants within six months if not already held
Must possess a valid state driver's license
Callback or emergency overtime required
Bargaining Unit Position: Yes - American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Local 2186
Qualifications
There are no specific length or level-of-experience requirements. The applicant's overall background of experience, education, and training must clearly demonstrate the ability to perform A/C Equipment Mechanic duties without more than normal supervision.
Applicants must meet the screen-out elements and achieve an overall score of at least 50% (fifty percent) or higher.
AND
Driver's License (Screen-Out): A valid state driver's license is required for this position.
NOTE: Do not submit a copy or photograph of your driver's license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your valid state-issued driver's license.
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.
The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Job Qualification System for Trade and Labor OccupationsHandbook.
If requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site: Applicant Reconsideration
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
This position is covered by the Federal Wage System. The FWS is a uniform pay-setting system that covers Federal appropriated fund and non-appropriated fund blue-collar employees who are paid by the hour. For more information regarding the FWS, visit http://www.opm.gov/oca/wage/.
We may share your application package with other selecting officials at NIST with opportunities like this one. Additional selections may be made through this vacancy.
Click all links in this vacancy announcement to view additional information or instructions.
You MUST select at least ONE ELIGIBILITY in order to be considered for this position.
All documents submitted for this announcement must be legible in order to make qualification or eligibility determinations.
A probationary period may be required.
This position has physical requirements which include, but may not be limited to:
Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over
Heavy carrying, 45 pounds and over
Pushing - 1 hour
Reaching above shoulder
Use of fingers
Both hands required
Walking - 6 hours
Standing - 6 hours
Crawling - 2 hours
Kneeling - 2 hours
Repeated bending - 6 hours
Climbing, legs only - 4 hours
Climbing, use of legs and arms
Both legs required
Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle
Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
Both eyes required
Depth perception
Ability to distinguish basic colors
Ability to distinguish shades of colors
Hearing (aid may be permitted)
This position has environmental factors which include, but may not be limited to:
Outside and inside
Excessive heat
Excessive cold
Excessive dampness or chilling
Excessive noise, intermittent
Constant noise
Dust
Silica, asbestos, etc.
Fumes, smoke, or gases
Solvents (degreasing agents)
Grease and oils
Radiant energy
Electrical energy
Slippery or uneven walking surfaces
Working around machinery with moving parts
Working around moving objects or vehicles
Working on ladders or scaffolding
Working below ground
Working with hands in water
Explosives
Vibration
Working closely with others
Working alone
Protracted or irregular hours of work
Long hours working on snow crew
NIST strives to build a flexible and encouraging work environment to bring out the best in our employees. To help our employees balance responsibilities at home and at work, NIST offers a variety of work-life flexibilities. For more information, please visit our Careers website.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
We will review your resume, optional cover letter, and supporting documents to assess your qualifications for this position. Please ensure your resume and documentation include detailed information demonstrating your relevant qualifications. Failure to provide sufficient and legible evidence in your resume or supporting documents may result in a "not qualified" determination. You MUST select at least one eligibility (i.e., how you wish to be considered) to receive consideration for this position.
Rating: Applications will be assessed on the following competencies:
Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
Applicants must meet the screen-out elements and achieve an overall score of at least 50% (fifty percent). Subject matter experts may be used for qualification determinations. If the minimum qualifications and eligibility requirements are met, your application will be rated and ranked based on your responses to the online assessment questions regarding your experience, education, training, performance appraisals, or awards relevant to the duties of the position. Your rating may be lowered if your responses to the assessment questions are not supported by the evidence described in your application.
To preview the questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13090919
Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration, and you may be required to participate in an interview. Referrals are made based on applicant eligibility (e.g., Merit Promotion, veterans' preference). Please review the Evaluation Process for details on how applicants are reviewed and referred based on their selected eligibility.
Rule of Many Rating Procedures: Applicants are ranked in score order based on their assessment rating plus Veterans preference points, as applicable. All applicants with a score of 70 or higher, including Veterans preference points, will be referred to the hiring official.
CTAP/ICTAP Eligibility: If you are a displaced or surplus federal employee eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP), you must be determined eligible and rated as well-qualified to receive special selection priority. "Well-qualified" means that in addition to meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective placement factor(s), if applicable, you must receive a score of 85 or higher. For information on required supporting documents and eligibility criteria, please review: CTAP/ICTAP Eligibility
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
The documents required vary based on how you apply (e.g., veteran or disabled veteran, current or former federal employee). Please review the Required Documents to determine which documents apply to you. Failure to submit required documentation may result in the loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.
A complete application package includes:
A resume
Responses to the vacancy assessment questions
All applicable supporting documents
Please note that if you do not provide all required information as specified in this announcement, or if submitted documents are illegible, you may lose consideration for this position (or may not receive the special hiring consideration for which you may be eligible).
Resume: All applicants must submit a resume by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their choice. Cover letters are optional. To receive credit for relevant experience, your resume must include the start and end dates (month/year) and the average number of hours worked per week for each position listed. We recommend previewing the online assessment questions to ensure your resume clearly supports your responses. Please refer to the Resume Guidance for instructions on building an effective resume. Only resumes up to two (2) pages will be accepted; applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. Refer to the USAJOBS Help Center for additional recommendations and instructions.
Reinstatement: If you are a former federal employee (separated from federal service for at least one year) and wish to be noncompetitively reinstated to a higher grade or full performance level than the position from which you separated, you MUST provide:
A copy of your separation SF-50 (the "Position Occupied" block must show a "1" and the "Tenure" block must show a "1" or "2")
Your most recent official performance appraisal showing a rating of at least "Fully Successful" (or equivalent)
Click 'Apply' and we'll walk you through a multi-step process to attach a resume and any required documents. While working an application, you may review, edit, delete and update information. You must complete the online application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the closing date of the announcement.
Once your application has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation notification by email. The Human Resources Office will evaluate your application to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
Need help applying?
If you are experiencing any difficulties with the online application process (anything after you have clicked the 'Apply Online' button), please contact the Agency Contact listed on this announcement between regular business hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET). If you receive any kind of error message, please be ready to provide a screenshot or, at a minimum, the error message text and number. We will provide you with a technical support number for further assistance if necessary.
If you are having trouble with USAJOBS (searching for jobs, account password/profile issues, or Resume Builder), please visit the USAJOBS Resource Center. We regret that we are unable to support any issues with USAJOBS, as this service is not maintained by the NIST.
If you are experiencing a significant hardship that hinders your ability to apply online, please contact the Agency Contact listed on this announcement prior to the vacancy closing date and during regular business hours to discuss your situation.
Boulder Facilities Maintenance Division
100 Bureau Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
US
Next steps
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
We will update applicant statuses when:
A qualification determination is made. If found not qualified/eligible, no additional updates will be provided.
Applications are referred to the selecting official.
A selection decision has been made.
Please notify us if your contact information changes after theclosing date. Also, note that if you provide an inaccurate email address or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication, which could affect your consideration for this position.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
The documents required vary based on how you apply (e.g., veteran or disabled veteran, current or former federal employee). Please review the Required Documents to determine which documents apply to you. Failure to submit required documentation may result in the loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.
A complete application package includes:
A resume
Responses to the vacancy assessment questions
All applicable supporting documents
Please note that if you do not provide all required information as specified in this announcement, or if submitted documents are illegible, you may lose consideration for this position (or may not receive the special hiring consideration for which you may be eligible).
Resume: All applicants must submit a resume by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their choice. Cover letters are optional. To receive credit for relevant experience, your resume must include the start and end dates (month/year) and the average number of hours worked per week for each position listed. We recommend previewing the online assessment questions to ensure your resume clearly supports your responses. Please refer to the Resume Guidance for instructions on building an effective resume. Only resumes up to two (2) pages will be accepted; applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. Refer to the USAJOBS Help Center for additional recommendations and instructions.
Reinstatement: If you are a former federal employee (separated from federal service for at least one year) and wish to be noncompetitively reinstated to a higher grade or full performance level than the position from which you separated, you MUST provide:
A copy of your separation SF-50 (the "Position Occupied" block must show a "1" and the "Tenure" block must show a "1" or "2")
Your most recent official performance appraisal showing a rating of at least "Fully Successful" (or equivalent)
Click 'Apply' and we'll walk you through a multi-step process to attach a resume and any required documents. While working an application, you may review, edit, delete and update information. You must complete the online application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the closing date of the announcement.
Once your application has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation notification by email. The Human Resources Office will evaluate your application to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
Need help applying?
If you are experiencing any difficulties with the online application process (anything after you have clicked the 'Apply Online' button), please contact the Agency Contact listed on this announcement between regular business hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET). If you receive any kind of error message, please be ready to provide a screenshot or, at a minimum, the error message text and number. We will provide you with a technical support number for further assistance if necessary.
If you are having trouble with USAJOBS (searching for jobs, account password/profile issues, or Resume Builder), please visit the USAJOBS Resource Center. We regret that we are unable to support any issues with USAJOBS, as this service is not maintained by the NIST.
If you are experiencing a significant hardship that hinders your ability to apply online, please contact the Agency Contact listed on this announcement prior to the vacancy closing date and during regular business hours to discuss your situation.
Boulder Facilities Maintenance Division
100 Bureau Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
US
Next steps
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
We will update applicant statuses when:
A qualification determination is made. If found not qualified/eligible, no additional updates will be provided.
Applications are referred to the selecting official.
A selection decision has been made.
Please notify us if your contact information changes after theclosing date. Also, note that if you provide an inaccurate email address or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication, which could affect your consideration for this position.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
