DSHS FTAA Heating, Ventilation, & Air Condition Technician

State of Washington; Lakewood (WA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Additional 5% onsite premium pay (3+3/

ORCA transit card

Job summary

The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) invites applications for an HVAC Technician at the Western State Hospital campus in Lakewood, Washington. You will perform journey-level HVAC work across the hospital’s 1.5 million square feet, from steam distribution to building automation systems.

Ideal candidates are experienced HVAC/refrigeration/steamfitter professionals who diagnose problems, perform repairs, and keep critical systems operating reliably, with

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.
• 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.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

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

• Completion of a recognized apprenticeship in HVAC, refrigeration, or the steamfitter trades.

OR

• Full journey‑level status in the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union.

OR

• 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.

The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver’s license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at [phone]. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

Relationship and Reporting Structure (Npotism) 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.

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