Building Mechanic III

Michigan Technological University; Houghton (MI); On-site; USD 30,761; Full time

Job summary

A leading technological university is seeking a Building Mechanic III responsible for the maintenance of various building systems. This position includes ensuring compliance with safety regulations and providing excellent customer service. Candidates should have a high school diploma or equivalent, with at least four years of experience in building maintenance, including HVAC, plumbing, and electrical work. The role is full-time based on the main campus in Houghton, MI, offering a dynamic environment and competitive remuneration.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent, with a minimum of two years in a related trade.
• Four years experience in building operations and maintenance, including mechanical, electrical, and HVAC systems.

Responsibilities

• Ensure conformance to safety, security, and sanitation regulations.
• Perform general maintenance and repair work in assigned areas and buildings.
• Conduct daily inspections of building systems and respond to maintenance needs.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Customer service skills

Knowledge of HVAC systems

Ability to read blueprints

Basic plumbing and electrical skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate Degree in Construction or related field

Tools

Computerized building control systems

HVAC equipment

Basic hand tools

Job description

Apply now Job No: 25302RP
Department: Facilities Management
Work Type: Union
Location: Main Campus (Houghton, MI)
Full Time / Part Time: Full Time
Categories: Labor/Service/Maintenance
Applications Close:

Michigan Technological University is an R1 technological research university founded in 1885 in Houghton. Our rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Research focus areas include defense, health, energy, automotive, environment, and aerospace.

The area’s waters, forests, and snowfall support year-round recreation, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, and paddling. The University is an integral part of the region, supported by a friendly and welcoming community that takes pride in being a true college town. We embrace our size, climate, sense of adventure, and originality.

Summary

Michigan Technological University is seeking a Building Mechanic III. This position ensures the safe, efficient operation and maintenance of assigned building systems, creating a secure, comfortable environment for students and staff. Responsibilities include proactive maintenance, compliance with regulations, and cost-effective management under minimal supervision.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

• Ensure conformance to safety, security, and sanitation regulations.
• Provide excellent customer service to a diverse group of internal and external customers.
• Identify maintenance and custodial needs.
• Establish and adjust work assignments to meet operational needs.
• Maintain inventory and order parts and materials for maintenance and custodial operations.
• Prepare maintenance inspection reports.
• Conduct inspections of storage areas in order to maintain a neat, clean and well-organized area.
• Perform general maintenance and repair/replace work in the assigned areas and buildings to maintain the various structures including architectural finishes, electrical systems, machines, pumps, heating systems, equipment, plumbing, furniture, windows, kitchen equipment, fume hoods and other lab equipment.
• Conduct daily inspection of doors, entrances, parking lots, elevators, snow conditions, HVAC equipment, temperature control systems, water systems, and steam systems.
• Conduct weekly inspections of lighting, roof drains and flashing, cooling systems, chemical treatment, generators and fire systems.
• Replace and repair lights, ballast, receptacles, switches, fuses, pipe insulation, steam traps, expansion joints, plumbing fixtures, gaskets, doors, windows, furniture, hardware, and clocks.
• Respond to fire and elevator alarms and provide a variety of building occupant needs.
• Responsible for first line building energy management.
• Perform janitorial work as required and assigned.
• Assist Licensed Trades in making repairs.
• Perform various preventative maintenance tasks according to Maintenance Direct work order system, and update and improve preventative maintenance when new equipment or procedures are installed.
• Read and work from blueprints, sketches, schematic diagrams and instruction manuals.
• Cut, and sweat fittings using proper hot work procedures and perform routine carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work.
• Conduct monthly readings of utility meters.
• Clean-up mechanical and electrical rooms on a regular basis.
• Operate safely and effectively all pieces of equipment pertaining to the facility systems.
• Utilize a network terminal to interface with and operate the building systems HVAC energy management systems.
• Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to a safe working environment by following safe work procedures, wearing assigned PPE, actively participate in safety training and development of safe work procedures.
• Ability to be trained from and to work in OSHA regulated confined spaces.
• Supervisory Responsibilities as needed: Functional supervision of AFSCME employees and student employees when necessary.
• Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

• High school diploma, with a minimum of two years in a related trade school OR an Associate Degree in Construction, Technology, or related field OR an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired.

Required Experience

• Four years experience in building operations and maintenance including electrical, mechanical, architectural, HVAC, steam systems, water systems, refrigeration systems, and fire suppression systems.
• Two years experience working with the general public/customers.

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• Building maintenance experience in an athletic, research, or academic facility.
• Two years of functional supervision of maintenance/custodial personnel.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of computers including email and search engines and demonstrated ability to use computerized building control systems.
• Demonstrated ability to use basic internet and web-based applications.
• Excellent interpersonal, customer service and oral/written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to independently organize and prioritize work assignments.
• Demonstrated ability to learn and follow instructions.
• Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with people in varying situations, and in all areas when assigned.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a clean and safe facility.
• Demonstrated understanding of safe operating and maintenance procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to perform fire system test checks on a weekly, monthly, yearly basis including pull tests, pump exercising and visual inspections.
• Knowledge and ability to properly troubleshoot, maintain and repair commercial and industrial building HVAC systems.
• Demonstrated knowledge of commercial and industrial digital and pneumatic HVAC controls systems and components.
• Demonstrated ability to read blueprints, wiring diagrams, temperature control diagrams, operating and maintenance instructions, plans and manuals.
• Basic knowledge of parallel and series electrical circuits.
• Basic knowledge of 3‑phase circuits up to 480 volts.
• Ability to use a work order related software program to process and create work orders for your particular building(s).
• Must be able to demonstrate competency in evaluating, prioritizing, and completing work orders in a timely manner.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries and work harmoniously with diverse groups of students, faculty, and staff.
• Possess a valid Michigan driver’s license and meet Michigan Tech University’s vehicle use requirements.
• Demonstrated commitment to contribute to a safe work environment.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Experience in installing, maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting commercial and industrial digital and pneumatic control systems and components such as controllers, thermostats, actuators, and operators.
• Experience in maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting commercial and industrial HVAC and Refrigeration components such as fans, motors, pumps, compressor chillers, and related equipment.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; reach with hands and arms; and taste or smell. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk. The employee is regularly required to talk or hear and use hands to finger, handle, or feel an object.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds; occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision; depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. The employee must be able to use a manual lift to change lights/ballast forty feet in height. The employee must be able to perform duties in confined spaces.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet, humid conditions (non-weather); fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; outdoor weather conditions; extreme cold (non-weather); risk of electrical shock and vibration. The employee must occasionally work near moving mechanical parts and work in high, precarious places. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

• Employee Safety Overview
• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
• Annual Data Security Training
• Annual Title IX Training

Background Check: Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Other Employment Details

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) % (1=100%)
1.00

FLSA Status
Non-Exempt

Appointment Term
12 months

Shift
1st Shift
Contractual. External candidates will receive the minimum amount ($22.33hr).

Title of Position Supervisor
Facilities Manager

Posting Type
Internal & External Posting

Dependent on Funding
No

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

AFSCME Posting 4/2/2026 - 4/7/2026
External applicants are encouraged to apply, however internal AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal AFSCME posting dates.

Additional Information

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or accommodations during Michigan Tech’s hiring process please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or [e-mail].

Other Conditions of Employment: Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. Michigan Tech will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the Michigan Tech Public Safety.

In compliance with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) and its implementing regulations (34 CFR Part 86), Michigan Tech is committed to maintaining a drugfree campus environment and actively promoting the health and safety of its community. Find our notice that outlines the University's policies, legal sanctions, health risks, and available support resources related to the unlawful possession, use, and distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol.

Advertised: 02 Apr 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
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Michigan Technological University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex and gender. Michigan Tech also prohibits retaliation against any person opposing discrimination or participating in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internally or externally. Reports of misconduct, questions regarding Title IX, and concerns about noncompliance should be directed to the Title IX Coordinator. For a complete copy of the policy or more information, please contact the Title IX Coordinator or the Assistant Secretary of Education within the Office of Civil Rights (OCR).