The Pipefitter is located in the Maintenance & Operations Section, Engineering Service, at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center, Spokane, Washington. The incumbent serves as a Pipefitter in a complex medical facility, which is constantly evolving within a highly complex and competitive geographic area.

Duties

Major duties include: Diagnose/troubleshoot equipment, evaluate and adjust equipment, interpret pump performance curves, and maintain seals and bearings. Independently laying out jobs per blueprints or schematics without assistance. Perform extensive work in large commercial buildings. Inspect competitively bid construction and maintenance and repair projects to ensure compliance with drawings and specifications. Maintain processes in normal operating condition. Install equipment, planning and completing the routing and placement of systems leading to the equipment. Determine and place equipment at the proper levels and points in the systems. Keep system in good working order by checking piping, fittings, and fixtures for defective parts or connections and repairing or replacing damaged sections and clearing stoppages. Align pipes, valves, fittings and joints for accurate match. Install, modify, repair new/existing high-pressure piping systems and equipment; steam-heating, steam generation, and hydraulic systems, steam generators, flash and expansion tanks, condensate, vacuum, circulating pumps, and radiators. Remove, clean, replace, pack, and seal defective parts of utility, supply, and disposal systems such as traps, sections of broken tile pipe, sewer lines, and leaking drains. Install, maintain, and repair a variety of heating and air conditioning units to include: oil lines, air lines, water lines, steam lines, valves, pipes, flexible hose connections, or other related parts. Trace system malfunctions and replace fixtures such as safety devices, heating elements, valves, strainers, coils, and other related minor controls. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Pipefitter/PD703640 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. Physical Requirements: Incumbent must stand a large part of the day, climb ladders, work in stooped or prone positions, and at times exert considerable physical effort in lifting chemicals and compounds into feeders and storage areas which consists of 50 lbs. bags, gas cylinders and various size drums. WORK CONDITIONS: Work is performed in both the office and in the field, including areas in extremes of weather conditions and temperatures, dust, humidity, gases of sewage and poisonous chemicals. Incumbents are required to wear personal protective equipment provided such as eye wear/goggles, steel toe boots, hearing protection, latex gloves, Tyvek suits, respirators etc. Incumbent is continually subjected to extremes of physical endurance. Incumbent is frequently exposed to the smell of chlorine, and handling chemical compounds, as well as, lifting 50 lbs. bags of chemicals. Work involves moderate risk conditions, such as high level noise, dust or mud, moving vehicles or machines, cold and/or wet weather, toxic materials and toxic odors. Work requires some physical exertion, such as long periods of standing, walking over rough, uneven surfaces, wading in water, and recurring bending, crouching, reaching and occasional lifting of moderately heavy items such as catch basin grates or sewer manhole lids.

Requirements

• 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
• May serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Bargaining unit position

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by 30 days after the closing date of this announcement. THIS POSITION HAS A SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: The Selective Placement Factor (SPF) is a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for the position. Applicants who do not meet the SPF are ineligible for further consideration. The State of Washington requires the applicant to possess a valid Class Level 1 Certification Water Treatment Operator. 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: Equipment Assembly, Installation, RepairInterpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading)MaterialsTechnical PracticesTroubleshootingUse and Maintain Tools and EquipmentWithout more than normal supervision 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. Preferred experience: Candidates will have a journeyman pipe fitter license with in construction projects that involve a minimum of one year of expert journeyman Pipe fitting level experience in construction projects: Independently make proper judgments and decisions regarding technical procedures and techniques on installations. Maintains and repairs of high and low pressure piping systems such as oil and gas distribution systems, steam heating, steam generation, hydraulic systems, steam generators, water, compressed air, and sanitary drainage; and equipment such as thermostatic controls, condensate, vacuum, sewage, and circulating pumps. Uses plumbing principles, codes and regulations in order to install plumbing systems and skilled in complex methods of working with piping and making equipment and fitting connections, including soldered, screwed, flanged, clamped, and other mechanical joints; cutting, threading, tapping, and other accepted trade methods and techniques. Works from blueprints and sketches to plan and lay out the routing, placement and operations of various piping systems and equipment. 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.

Education

There is no educational substitution for this position.

Contacts

• Address Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 4815 North Assembly Street Spokane, WA 99205 US
• Name: Denise Lindsey
• Phone: 916-776-0180
• Email: [email protected]