Controls Technician
University of Pennsylvania
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
University of Pennsylvania is seeking a Controls Technician to maintain building automation and HVAC control systems across academic, research, and residential facilities. The role supports EPM and Systems Performance Verification programs to improve reliability and extend asset life.
Responsibilities include servicing HVAC equipment, interpreting drawings, and ensuring safety compliance. The department emphasizes collaboration across trades and ongoing maintenance excellence.
Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience with industrial HVAC systems.
- Ability to read blueprints and perform shop calculations.
- Experience with building automation/SCADA systems.
- Strong safety standards knowledge (NEC, NFPA70E).
- Able to work in a multi-trades environment and with others.
Responsibilities
- Aligns pulleys and flywheels with chalk or straight line.
- Determines proper belt tension by belt amp meter.
- Interprets blueprints and makes sketches and calculations.
- Inspects, installs and adjusts HVAC equipment and belts.
- Operates HVAC systems and related electrical equipment.
- Troubleshoots building automation system problems.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.
The Controls Technician position is critical to maintaining the university's building automation and control systems that support HVAC operations across academic buildings, research facilities, and residential facilities. In addition to responding to service requests and system issues, this position plays a key role in the department's expanding Enhanced Preventive Maintenance (EPM) and Systems Performance Verification Program, ensuring building control systems are routinely inspected, maintained, and optimized to improve reliability, reduce equipment failures, extend asset life, and improve overall system performance.
- Aligns pulleys and flywheels with chalk or straight line.
- Determines proper tension of belts by rise of amp meter.
- Interprets blueprints, make sketches and makes shop calculations.
- Familiarity with and follows task related safety standards and procedures.
- Completes Electrical Work related to HVAC systems.
- Other work as required related to HVAC systems.
- Inspects, replaces, installs and adjusts equipment driving belts.
- Inspects equipment to determine if it is lubricated properly and lubricant is delivered to all points.
- Operates safety devices.
- Applies various types of insulation coverage.
- Burns any pipe or metal as required by work to be done.
- Fastens hanger and supports.
- Removes, installs, maintains and replaces any control device.
- Greases and lubricates all types of equipment, motors, compressors, fans, bearings etc.
- Operates (energizes and shuts down) all HVAC systems including related electrical equipment.
- Test, inspect, dismantle, repairs, and installs all types of HVAC equipment.
- Plans details of working procedures and selects materials in accordance with needs of work to be done.
- Troubleshoots all building automation system problems and repairs all related equipment.
- Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
- High School Diploma or equivalent.
- Ability to perform the physical demands of the position including walking, standing, bending, climbing stairs/ladders, and lifting at least 50 pounds.
- Possess a valid driver's license, free of any suspension/revocation from individual state of permanent residence.
- Successfully completed one of the following:
- An approved accredited apprenticeship (4-5 year program) in HVAC.
- HVAC trade-specific vocational school (Minimum of 6 months).
- HVAC trade-specific military school(s) or equivalent corporate training program.
- Knowledge of methods used in the maintenance and repair of commercial/industrial HVAC and hydronic systems with minimum of 5 years of experience with industrial and commercial HVAC systems.
- Experience and willingness to conduct work in a multi-trades job environment; work on multiple types of building equipment and systems, and work with other trades personnel as assigned.
- Knowledge of building HVAC SCADA/Control systems, to include a minimum of one of the following: Allen Bradley, Automated Logix, American Automatrix, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, Lon Works, Siemens.
- Ability to install, troubleshoot and repair HVAC electric, electronic, & mechanical devices.
- Ability to interpret and work from drawings, sketches, and O&M manuals.
- Knowledge and practices with rules and regulations required by NEC, OSHA, and NFPA70E & understand all the PPE required to perform work assignments.
- Knowledge and understanding of sequence of operation for AHU's, VAV's, & hydronic systems and understanding of how steam is utilized in building steam systems.
- Ability to troubleshoot, repair/replace pneumatic HVAC control system devices.
- Ability to be trained to being able to proficiently use a laptop computer to troubleshoot digital HVAC control systems.
- Written and Verbal Communication Skills
- Professionalism
- Problem Solving
- Adaptability/Flexibility
- Achievement/Results Orientation
- Computer/Technology Exposure
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Division of Facilities and Real Estate Services (FRES) provides the expertise, business process, policies and standards required to plan, design, construct, operate, maintain and renew the physical assets of the University, excluding the health system. In addition, the Division, comprised of approximately five Departments, is responsible for the strategic planning, management and operation of non-academic University property, and collaborating with the neighborhood to create a safe, diverse and economically vibrant destination. With close to 18M square feet of space, FRES maintains more than 220 buildings on a campus of 299 acres, completes over 60,000 maintenance requests per year, and starts approximately 250 projects a year. FRES is comprised of the following Departments: Finance & Administration, Office of the University Architect, Design and Construction, Real Estate, Operations and Maintenance.
The University of Pennsylvania is implementing a campus transformation entitled Penn Connects (http://www.pennconnects.upenn.edu). This comprehensive, award winning effort is expanding the campus over the next 20 years, including the construction of new academic research and recreational facilities. In addition, the University has secured $300M in Century Bond funding and continues to upgrade existing facilities over the coming years. https://www.facilities.upenn.edu/
Facilities and Real Estate Services
Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.
- Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
- Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
- Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
- Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
- Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
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