Electronic Industrial Controls Mechanic

Summary This position is located at the Michael E. DeBakey BA Medical Center in Houston, TX. The purpose of the position is to install, maintain, troubleshoot, repair, and calibrate electronic controls and indicating and recording systems throughout the medical center related to HVAC, boiler and chiller plant equipment. Learn more about this agency Duties Performs preventive and corrective maintenance and acts as a technical specialist to other employees and station management staff as assigned by the supervisor. Responsible for design, major repairs, minor improvements, and modifications to existing equipment and structure. Writes plans, layouts, sketches, and estimates of time and materials for assigned repairs, preventive maintenance and minor improvements. Troubleshoots highly complex systems of electronic sensing and control, such as the Metasys Extended Architecture system which is the operating system that controls the building's Energy Management System and main Chiller Plant operation by direct digital controls and line code programming. Design programs, troubleshoot, diagnose, replace, repair and evaluate this system and its subsystems and components by use of multi-meters, manometers, temperature sensors, hygrometers, anemometers, logic diagrams, as-built electronic control drawings, electronic schematics and manufacturer's literature. Analyze, edit and test proprietary programming language for these multiple systems as well as an excellent working knowledge of networking architecture. Cuts, brazes and solders piping, wiring and circuit boards. Reviews construction plans, verifies their correctness and provides feedback regarding building automation controls consistency and ease of maintenance, and expandability. Works with other journeyman, workers, or helpers to accomplish repairs or Preventative Maintenance Inspections (PMI). Provides innovative ideas to reduce energy usage through awareness of energy conservation measures and an excellent command of the various control system programming and software tools. Makes recommendations or suggestions and presents them to the supervisor for final approval and action. Provides on-the-job training to all Chiller Plant employees as well as Utility Systems Operators as it relates to the Building Automated System controls functions. Makes data entry in the Automated Engineering Management System/Medical Equipment Reporting System (AEMS/MERS) work order system, MAXIMI and Mailman. Inputs and closes out work orders. Routinely generate 2237 requests (Request, Turn-In, and Receipt for Property or Services) for parts and materials required to accomplish assigned tasks, and follow-up on status with supervisor using the work order system and other methods to ensure acquisition requests are being processed. Work Schedule: Sunday - Thursday; 12:00am- 8:30am (subject to change based on facility needs) Position Description Title/PD#: Electronic Industrial Controls Mechanic/PD03897A Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Physical Requirements: Work assignments require moderate physical effort. Regular duties require work in cramped, hot, humid, and otherwise unpleasant surroundings. Work is done from ladders and scaffolding, as well as in crawl spaces and mechanical equipment rooms. Work requires frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping, crawling kneeling, and climbing. It requires the frequent lifting and carrying of weights up to 50 pounds. The incumbent is required to climb and work in high places. Requirements Conditions of employment 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 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 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. 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. Qualifications 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: 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. You will be rated on the following competencies for this position. Without more than normal supervision Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair Troubleshooting (Electronic Equipment) Education This job does not have an education qualification requirement. Additional information 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. Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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. Expand Hide  additional information 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. Benefits 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. Review our 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.