DSHS FTAA Heating, Ventilation, & Air Condition Technician

State of Washington; Lakewood (WA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ORCA card

5% premium pay

Job summary

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, MOD, seeks an HVAC Technician to service the Western State Hospital campus in Lakewood, WA. You will perform journey-level HVAC work across ~1.5 million sq ft, including steam systems, gas-fired equipment, and building automation, ensuring reliable operation.

The role requires a recognized HVAC apprenticeship or journey-level status, with a mix of HVAC, refrigeration, or steamfitter experience and strong troubleshooting skills.

Qualifications

• Completion of a recognized apprenticeship in HVAC, refrigeration, or the steamfitter trades.
• Full journey-level status in the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union.
• Five years of applicable experience in the HVAC, refrigeration, or steamfitter trades, or a combination of these trades.
• Vocational or trade school training as an HVAC technician, steamfitter, or refrigeration mechanic may substitute year-for-year for up to two years of the required work experience.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose, repair, and maintain HVAC and computerized control systems serving buildings across the Western State Hospital campus.
• Install, inspect, repair, and maintain electrical, electronic, and pneumatic control systems, sensors, and actuators.
• Monitor and adjust building heating and air conditioning using automated building monitoring and control systems.
• Repair pneumatic, electric, and electronic temperature and humidity controls.
• Maintain and repair equipment supporting hospital laundry and kitchen operations.
• Disassemble valves and equipment, replace worn components, reassemble equipment, and test for proper operation.
• Transport tools and supplies using assigned equipment.

Skills

HVAC

Refrigeration

Steamfitting

Troubleshooting

Education

Recognized HVAC apprenticeship

Journey-level Plumbers & Pipefitters Union

Trade school substitution up to 2 years

Job description

Reliable heating, cooling, and building systems are essential to keeping a large hospital campus operating safely.

Join the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Finance, Technology, and Analytics Administration, Maintenance and Operations Division (MOD) as a Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning Technician supporting the Western State Hospital campus in Lakewood, Washington. You'll perform journey-level HVAC work across approximately 1.5 million square feet of hospital facilities. From HVAC and steam distribution to gas-fired equipment and building automation, you'll help maintain the systems the campus depends on everyday.

We encourage you to apply if you're an experienced HVAC, refrigeration, or steamfitter professional who likes figuring out why something isn't working—and knows how to get it working again. This role gives you the opportunity to apply your trade across multiple buildings, equipment types, and control systems rather than working on the same systems day after day. You'll likely thrive here if you're a practical problem-solver who can move between mechanical equipment and electrical, electronic, and pneumatic controls. Your experience will matter, but so will your willingness to learn a large, complex campus and become someone the team can depend on to diagnose problems, make sound repairs, and keep critical building systems operating reliably.

Your first 90 days will focus on learning the campus, its equipment, building automation systems, and maintenance procedures. You'll build familiarity with the systems you'll support while beginning to diagnose problems, complete repairs, and contribute to preventive and corrective maintenance.

If you're looking for a role where your HVAC expertise supports the day-to-day operation of an entire hospital campus, take a closer look at what you'll be doing.

Some Of What You'll Do

• Diagnose, repair, and maintain HVAC and computerized control systems serving buildings across the approximately 1.5-million-square-foot Western State Hospital campus.
• Install, inspect, repair, and maintain electrical, electronic, and pneumatic control systems, sensors, and actuators.
• Monitor and adjust building heating and air conditioning using automated building monitoring and control systems.
• Repair pneumatic, electric, and electronic, temperature and humidity controls.
• Maintain and repair equipment supporting hospital laundry and kitchen operations.
• Disassemble valves and equipment, replace worn components, reassemble equipment, and test for proper operation.
• Transport tools and supplies using assigned equipment.

Who Should Apply

You qualify at the journey level as a refrigeration mechanic, steamfitter, or HVAC technician through one of the following:

• Completion of a recognized apprenticeship in HVAC, refrigeration, or the steamfitter trades.
• Full journey-level status in the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union.
• Five years of applicable experience in the HVAC, refrigeration, or steamfitter trades, or a combination of these trades.

Note: Vocational or trade school training as an HVAC technician, steamfitter, or refrigeration mechanic may substitute year-for-year for up to two years of the required work experience.

Also Required

• EPA/CFC certification card.

Desired

• Computer skills.
• Knowledge of HVAC trade hazards and safety practices.
• Ability to comprehend, interpret, and update blueprints.
• Experience using arc and gas welding equipment.
• An active EL06A license.

Work Environment

This position is located at the Western State Hospital campus in Lakewood, Washington. Positions performing onsite work at this location at least three days per week may be eligible for an additional 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary. Pierce County employees are also eligible to receive an ORCA card for transportation needs.

Relationship and Reporting Structure (Necropism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here. Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.

E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

More than Just a Paycheck!

Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read About Our Benefits

The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits

Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement And Deferred Compensation

State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security

All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays

Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave

Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)

Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave, and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave

Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave

Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave

Leave Sharing

Parental Leave

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026