Commercial HVAC-R Service Technician Trainee

Benedict Sales & Service; Altoona (WI); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision and ancillary

401K with employer match

Paid Time Off

Weekly paycheck

Tool allowance

Travel per diem

Company vehicle provided

Job summary

Benedict Sales & Service is seeking an entry-level Service Technician Trainee to join the Eau Claire team and learn commercial refrigeration and HVAC while traveling the Midwest. You will assist with installations, repairs, and maintenance under supervision, gaining real-world field experience with a family-owned company.

The role emphasizes hands-on training, teamwork, and a strong work ethic as you develop technical skills and grow within the trade. Equal opportunity employer.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Vocational/technical training preferred.
• Minimum one year of refrigeration/HVAC experience; two years preferred.
• EPA Universal Certification required; valid class D license and insurability.

Responsibilities

• Assist experienced technicians with commercial refrigeration and HVAC installations, repairs, and maintenance.
• Travel to customer locations throughout the Midwest as part of a service team.
• Troubleshoot equipment issues and support service work in the field.
• Load, organize, and transport job supplies and materials as needed.
• Learn company procedures, safety practices, and technical skills through hands-on training.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Problem-solving

Willingness to learn

Customer service

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Vocational/technical training preferred

Tools

Power tools

Job description

Commercial HVAC-R Service Technician Trainee (Midwest Traveling Position)

Full-time | Year-round work | Weekly pay | Commercial service only | Overnight Traveling Position

Start Your Career with a Company That Feels Like Family

Benedict Sales & Service is growing, and we are looking for motivated entry-level Service Technician Trainees to join our Eau Claire team. If you are hands‑on, dependable, and ready to build a career in commercial refrigeration and HVAC, this is a great opportunity to learn from experienced technicians while working for a family‑owned company that values teamwork, reliability, and long‑term growth. In this role, you will hit the road to customer locations throughout the Midwest, gaining real‑world experience with commercial refrigeration and HVAC equipment. You will assist with installations, repairs, preventative maintenance, and service calls while developing the skills needed to grow within the trade.

What You’ll Do

• Assist experienced technicians with commercial refrigeration and HVAC installations, repairs, and maintenance.
• Travel to customer job sites throughout the Midwest as part of a service team.
• Help diagnose equipment issues and support service work in the field.
• Load, organize, and transport job‑specific supplies and materials as needed.
• Report to the Eau Claire branch as needed before heading to assigned job sites.
• Learn company procedures, safety practices, and technical skills through hands‑on training.

What We’re Looking For

• At least one year of refrigeration/HVAC experience.
• EPA certification.
• Eligibility to be insured as a commercial driver.
• A dependable, motivated attitude and willingness to learn.
• Comfort with overnight travel and working at customer locations throughout the Midwest.
• Strong teamwork, communication, and problem‑solving skills.

Why Join Benedict Sales & Service?

• Family‑owned company atmosphere where employees are valued and supported.
• Comprehensive Total Rewards and Wellness Program
• Hands‑on training with experienced professionals.
• Opportunity to travel, learn, and build a long‑term career in the trade.
• Close‑knit team environment where hard work is noticed and appreciated.
• Steady Monday‑through‑Friday schedule with overnight travel.

Benedict Sales & Service is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Location: Eau Claire, WI

Company: Benedict Sales & Service

Schedule: Monday through Friday with overnight travel required

FLSA Status: Hourly, Non‑exempt

The Service Technician Trainee is responsible for assisting experienced technicians with maintaining, repairing, and installing refrigeration, HVAC, ventilation systems, and commercial food service equipment. Equipment may include but is not limited to: refrigeration, air conditioning, electric motors, heating units, heat pumps, hermetic compressors, commercial furnaces, boilers, burners, intake and exhaust fans, economizers, humidifiers, capacity controls, semi‑hermetic compressors, split systems, flame safeguard controls, air compressors, air driers, package units, ice machine equipment, tap line systems, and commercial kitchen equipment such as; dishwashers, ovens, brewers, and stovetops.

This position is an entry level position, does not have direct reports, performs work in team/group work environments and is under direct supervision.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities

• Troubleshoots, repairs, and makes modifications to commercial mechanical equipment.
• Reads and understands technical drawings (e.g., blueprints, electronic/mechanical schematics) to repair/maintain equipment.
• Troubleshoots complex problems with equipment where the repair is not immediately visible or obvious.
• Maintains inventory of replacement parts and orders replacements.
• Utilizes a computerized management system to accurately record work progress and history.
• Provides department support through collecting payment for necessary customers prior to service being performed and directing payments to appropriate personnel in a timely manner for processing.
• Sets and achieves individual goals and supports department goals by contributing to a team environment.
• Safely operates and maintains a company vehicle, tools, and equipment.
• Demonstrates effective communication, assertiveness, versatility, and follow‑through in responding to customer needs.
• Sets and achieves individual goals and supports department goals by contributing to a team environment.
• Demonstrates professionalism, timeliness, accuracy, and projects a positive company image in all assigned duties.
• Complies with all company and industry safety standards.

Mandarg Functions/Responsibilities

• May assist in the shop/warehouse as needed.
• Other duties as assigned by authorized personnel.

Education/Experience/Training Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Vocational/technical school training or apprenticeship preferred.
• Minimum one year of related refrigeration/HVAC experience required, two‑years preferred.

Licensing Requirements

• EPA Universal Certification required.
• Valid class D driver’s license and commercial insurability required.
• Federal Medical Card to transport large commercial trailers a plus.

Skills/Abilities Requirements

• Excellent problem‑solving, mechanical, and analytical skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of commercial refrigeration/HVAC equipment.
• Ability to perform effectively in a high‑stress, fast paced environment
• Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work tasks
• Ability to use power and hand tools.
• Ability to use thermometers, pressure gauges, and other testing devices.
• Ability to run copper piping and PVC.Ability to read and interpret operation and repair manuals, schematics and mechanical blueprints.
• Ability to follow instructions and meet deadlines.
• Basic computer skills and ability to learn computer programs
• Ability to travel between job sites and work locations 100% of the time
• Ability to work a non‑standard schedule including emergency on‑call, nights, weekends, and holidays.

Language Skills

• Ability to read, write and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
• Ability to effectively present information in one‑on‑one and small group situations to customers and other employees of the organization.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Physical Demands

Stationary Position: Must be able to maintain a stationary position for 2‑4 hours while traveling between jobsites.

Move: Continually required to walk inside and outside jobsites and other work locations.

Operate: Frequently operates a commercial vehicle, power tools, and a mobile device. Occasionally operates a computer and other office productivity machinery. Repetitive finger motion, hand dexterity, outward and upward arm extension, and elbow bending is required.

Ascend/Descend: Frequently required to ascend/descend stairs and ladders to access all areas of equipment and jobsites including rooftops.

Positions self: Frequently required to bend, stoop and access small, confined spaces.

Communicate: Frequently communicates with internal and external customers using spoken word and the ability to perceive the natural sounds of normal speaking levels. Must be able to exchange accurate information through oral and written communication and make fine discriminations in sound. Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand.

Observe/Inspect: Able to observe details at close range, distance range, peripherally and with the ability to adjust focus. Frequently utilizes visual acuity to operate vehicles, power tools & equipment and read technical information.

Transport: Frequently required to lift/push/carry items up to 50 pounds, occasionally 75+ pounds.

Exposed to: Occasionally works near moving mechanical parts. Frequently exposed to loud noise and vibration consistent with use of power tools and equipment. Frequently exposed to outside weather conditions.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation based on experience
• Medical, dental, vision and supplemental insurance offerings
• HSA (Health Savings Account)
• Dependent Care & Health Care FSA (Flexible Spending Account)
• 401K with employer match
• Bonus potential
• Year‑round work
• Paid Time Off
• Weekly paycheck
• Tool Allowance for qualifying positions
• Travel per diem for qualifying positions
• Company swag and uniform programs
• Educational assistance
• Employee support services
• Company provided cell phone for qualifying positions
• Company provided vehicle for qualifying positions
• Latitude to determine parts stocking for technician assigned service vehicles
• Electronic work orders/time entry system
• Experienced technician support team
• Continuous training & development
• Advancement opportunities and more!!

WHO WE ARE?

Benedict Sales & Service, Inc., is a leading commercial mechanical contractor with operations throughout central and northern Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. We are family owned and have been in business since 1938! We offer dynamic service and installation departments encompassing craftspeople in food service equipment, refrigeration, HVAC, metal fabrication, and beer/beverage systems all of which are supported by our experienced office support teams located in Altoona, WI, West Salem, WI, and Winona, MN!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT HERE!

At Benedict Sales & Service, we go the extra mile – to connect business to family. This is our purpose statement and standard of business; it’s who we strive to be day in and day out. Go the extra mile, might speak for itself, as we always want to go above and beyond the normal expectations. To connect business to family, speaks to how we go about our daily business. We need to always stay mindful of good business practices, but we strive to run those business practices through a family lens. We all want the best for our families, so why not conduct business in that same manner. Whether it is how we treat our staff or how we treat our customers, we want them all to know we have their best interests in mind as we strive to treat them like family.

Benedict Sales & Service is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.