748job United States

Utility Systems Repairer-Operator

Department of Veterans Affairs › Veterans Health Administration (3689 current openings)
New Orleans, Louisiana
Full-time Security Clearance: Not Required
Application Deadline:
2026-08-24
Posted:
2026-08-14

5 days left to apply

Apply on usajobs.gov
Salary: $36.04 – $42.05 per hour (WG-10)

Salary context

Based on 26 hourly jobs in the same occupational series. This role's pay spans a broad range among similar positions.

Job Details

Position Overview

Serves as Utilities Systems Repairer-Operator within the Facilities Management Service/Engineering Operations Section at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System (SLVHCS). Is supervised by the Utilities Systems Repairer Operator Supervisor.

Duties

  • Operation, maintenance, repair, service, troubleshooting, of a wide range of highly complex and critical utility systems.
  • Operation, maintenance, repair, service, troubleshooting, of a wide range of highly complex and critical Building Automations stems.
  • Knowledge and experience of boilers and chillers.
  • Monitors, operates, and troubleshoots, Fire Alarm Panels, oxygen Nitrogen Medical Gas Panels, Johnson Controls Metasys Extended Architecture Control system, Johnson Controls PMI Control System, Siemens Apogee Control System, SCADA Emergency Power System.
  • Operates and performs preventive maintenance, installation, operation, monitoring, troubleshooting and repairs to all fuel oil pumps needed top operate generators.
  • Identifies and records electrical and mechanical statuses throughout the plant.
  • Operating and monitoring all emergency power equipment including all generators and all switch gear related to emergency power.
  • Has the ability and skill to interpret equipment schematics, electrical circuit plans, wiring diagrams, and maintenance manuals.
  • Reviews final plans and specifications for construction feasibility and practical Performs inspections and interprets findings to determine corrective action. Identifies and records engine and generator malfunctions.
  • Maintenance, repair, modification, calibration, and installation of all non­medical electronic systems and components as a delegated responsibility located in the Central Energy Plant.
  • Knowledge of all aspects of electrical systems and theory such as secondary power distribution lines and circuits used to supply a wide range of voltage, amperage, phase, and frequency requirements, to distribution panels, switchgear, power and control circuits., Incumbent performs preventative maintenance, installations, operation, monitoring, troubleshooting and repairs which include: switchgear, SCAOA ATS controls, load bank equipment, pumps, regulators, governors, and electrical panels.
  • Ability to interpret values and meaning represented by gauges, meters and other measuring scales that indicate temperatures, pressures and like devices in the field and through the automated Graphic Control Center using the Energy Management Computer System.
  • Experience with controlling air handlers, hot water reheat system and chilled water systems.
  • Experience with maintenance and repair of Boilers Systems, Chillers Systems, Natural Gas System, Steam and Chill Water Distributing System, Fuel Oil System, Fire Alarm System, Medical Gas System, Elevator System.
  • Experience with charging systems with proper refrigerants.
  • Experience with Boilers, pumps, condensate tanks, deaerator tank, valves, and steam piping.
  • Ability to monitors, operates, and troubleshoots, Fire Alarm Panels, Oxygen Nitrogen Medical Gas Panels, Johnson Controls Metasys Extended Architecture Control System, Johnson Controls PMI Control System, Siemens Apogee Control System, SCADA Emergency Power System, Medical Air and Dental Vacuum Systems, and Air Compressors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

Work Schedule: Rotating Shift, including holidays and weekends 0730am-16:00pm, 16:00pm-23:30pm, 00:00am 0-08:30am, subject to change based on the needs of the facility.
Position Description Title/PD#: Utility Systems Repairer-Operator/PD07646A
Physical Requirements: May frequently work in hot, humid, confined spaces around equipment and systems associated with facilities.
Must climb ladders, bend, crouch. stoop and endure prolonged periods of standing and walking. Must lift parts and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds. Must be physically fit as work involves lifting, pulling, climbing, crawling, working with hands over head, working in confined areas, and using arm and back muscles. Must possess ability to be on feet for long periods either standing, walking, working off ladder, or staging materials, and lifting equipment. Frequently handle objects weighing up to 50 pounds and occasionally moves objects weighing 50 to 100 pounds with assistance, and /or use of carts. They are required to push, pull, reach, walk or stand, crawl, knee bend, stoop and work in cramped positions for sustained periods of time. They must exercise normal care and practice all safety regulations during the performance of duties to prevent injury.

Working Conditions: May be required to to work in areas of high temperature, cold temperature, constant noise, chemical fumes, dirt, soot, rotating equipment, oil, grease. work is performed inside and outside, sometimes in bad weather, wet, cramped locations; is frequently exposed to the possibly of cuts and bruises, toxic fumes, gases, and acids. assist in other crafts within the engineering services.

Qualifications & Requirements

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:
  • Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
  • Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading)
  • Materials
  • Measuring Instruments
  • Technical Practices
  • Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment


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.

Requirements

  • U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
  • Selective Services Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
  • Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
  • Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-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.

Evaluations

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.

Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the order in which applicants are received.

Required Documents

Documents Required:
  • Resume

Resume Requirement: Your resume must include the following information: Job title, description of duties, beginning and ending date (month/year) of employment, and average hours worked per week.

Documents Accepted:
  • Cover Letter
  • DD-214/ Statement of Service
  • Disability Letter (VA)
  • Other (1)
  • PCS Orders
  • Resume
  • Separation Notice (RIF)
  • SF-15
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action


Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application. Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online.

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 08/24/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13039091.

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

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. If initial application submission is updated and resubmitted with a new resume, only the most current resume will be reviewed for consideration.

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.

Helpful Hints for Creating a Two-Page Resume:
  • Prioritize most relevant and recent experience
  • Use concise, results focused language
  • Align language from the job announcement
  • Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies
  • Remove outdated or unrelated experience
  • Use the USAJOBS resume builder
Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume building tools can be found at:
  • https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/page-limit
  • https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/merit-hiring-plan-resources/applicant-guidance-on-the-two-page-resume-limit/
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete. After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.
Source: Data sourced from USAJOBS