Facilities & Utilities Technician

Binghamton University, State University of New York; City of Binghamton (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Research Foundation for SUNY is seeking a Facilities & Utilities Technician to support the operation, maintenance, and reliability of Battery-NY facility systems in Johnson City, NY. You will work with the Facilities Manager to ensure safe, efficient performance of HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and control systems.

Ideal candidates bring an associate degree or technical cert in HVAC/electrical/mechanical maintenance, plus 2+ years in facilities support.

Qualifications

• Requires an Associate degree or technical certification in HVAC, Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial Maintenance or related field.
• At least two years of facilities maintenance, building systems operation, or industrial utilities support experience.
• Knowledge of HVAC, electrical panels, pumps, compressors, plumbing, and fire suppression systems.
• Experience with PLCs (Siemens preferred) and integration with facility systems; reading P&IDs, electrical schematics, or mechanical drawings.

Responsibilities

• Support installation, commissioning, and verification of facility systems including HVAC, electrical distribution, gas lines, water, fire suppression, and BMS during build-out.
• Monitor and operate facility infrastructure to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient performance; coordinate with equipment and dry-room environments.
• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance; document logs and system performance to support reliability and minimize downtime.
• Adhere to safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements; assist with inspections, audits, and compliance documentation.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Troubleshooting

Reading schematics

Education

Associate degree or technical certification in HVAC, Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial Maintenance

Tools

Siemens PLCs

BMS (Building Management Systems)

VFDs

HVAC systems

Electrical panels

Job description

Category: Professional & Support Staff

Subscribe:

Department: New Energy New York Battery Tech Hub

Locations: Vestal, NY

Posted: Aug 21, 2026

Closes: Sep 18, 2026 - 11:59 PM EDT

Type: Full-time

Position ID: 204032

About The Research Foundation for SUNY at Binghamton :

Binghamton University is a premier public R1 research institution in the State University of New York (SUNY) system that unites more than 130 broadly interdisciplinary educational programs with some of the most vibrant research in the nation. Our unique character - shaped by our mission, outstanding academics, facilities, and community life - promotes extraordinary student success, research, and service; Binghamton University is where our students, faculty and staff thrive

Working at Binghamton University is about more than having a great job - it is about having the opportunity to flourish in an exciting, engaging environment. Our faculty and staff appreciate Binghamton's collegial and inclusive culture and its commitment to excellence, education, innovation and civic engagement. Our diverse campus community contributes to our success. Embedded within the University, The Research Foundation (RF) exists to serve SUNY and to capitalize on the scope, scale and diversity of SUNY as an engine of New York State's innovation economy. We are the largest comprehensive university-connected research foundation in the country. The RF is mission focused and serves Binghamton University by providing essential administrative services that enable faculty to focus their efforts on the education of students and the performance of life-changing research. As a private not-for-profit corporation, we support nearly $1 billion in SUNY research activity annually, providing sponsored programs administration and commercialization support services to SUNY faculty performing research in numerous disciplines.

The RF offers a comprehensive benefits package that is a valuable part of our total compensation. Included in the benefits package are comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, dependent care and healthcare spending accounts, employer retirement contributions at 7% of earnings, retiree health benefits and more! The RF promotes employee work/life balance through generous paid leave offerings and wellness resources for employees and their families. Furthermore, our 10 Perks of Working at the RF provides an at-a-glance view of our top benefits that make us a great place to work. Employees receive support throughout their career with access to professional development opportunities across campus, college savings plans, access to public student loan forgiveness programs, a tuition waiver program, and much more!

Job Description:

Battery-NY is a new lithium battery technology development and prototyping center in New York's Southern Tier. Funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration and NYS Empire State Development, Battery-NY is led by Binghamton University's Distinguished Professor M. Stanley Whittingham, 2019 Nobel Laureate inventor of the Li-ion battery. Battery-NY will build on existing strengths within New York State while advancing the development and enabling the scale-up and advanced manufacturing of batteries for various sectors including transportation, military, and energy, and will establish a robust manufacturing infrastructure that will advance the region by supporting multiple industries and their supply chains.

A first-in-class facility in the United States, Battery-NY will offer companies the latest technologies for the design and manufacture of batteries, as well as in-place pilot production, scale-up, and manufacturing capabilities that can be accessed without capital investment.

As we complete construction and prepare for launch, we are seeking a Facilities & Utilities Technician to provide hands-on support for the operation, maintenance, and reliability of the facility's infrastructure and building systems. .Reporting to the Facilities Manager, this role ensures that process equipment, HVAC, electrical, natural gas, plumbing, compressed air, fire suppression (including ATEX systems), building management systems (BMS), and facility utilities operate safely, efficiently, and with minimal downtime. This position is based in Johnson City, New York, four miles from Binghamton University. Further details of the planned facility can be found at Battery-NY.

Key Responsibilities:

• Facility Startup & Operational Readiness: The Facilities & Utilities Technician will support installation, commissioning, and verification of facility systems including process equipment, HVAC, electrical distribution, gas lines, water systems, fire suppression, and BMS while assisting with vendor coordination, inspections, and acceptance testing during the build-out. The role contributes to developing facility procedures, checklists, and documentation required for startup and ensures systems are prepared for safe, reliable operation.
• Equipment & Systems Operation: This role involves monitoring and operating facility infrastructure to maintain stable, safe, and efficient performance, including routine checks on process equipment, HVAC units, boilers, chillers, air compressors, exhaust systems, and building controls. The technician will also support the integration of facility utilities with manufacturing equipment and dry-room environments to ensure seamless operational readiness.
• Maintenance & Reliability Support: The technician will perform preventive and corrective maintenance across facility systems, conduct basic troubleshooting, and elevate complex issues to the Facilities Manager or external contractors. Responsibilities include maintaining accurate logs, maintenance records, and system performance data to support reliability and minimize downtime.
• Safety, Compliance & Environmental Support: The role requires strict adherence to safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements, supporting hazard assessments, lock-out/tag-out procedures, and safe-work practices. The technician will assist with inspections, audits, and documentation needed for compliance with OSHA, environmental regulations, and New York State requirements.
• Energy & Efficiency Support: The Facilities & Utilities Technician will help monitor energy usage, identify opportunities to improve efficiency, and support sustainability initiatives across facility systems to reduce waste and optimize performance.
• Procurement & Vendor Coordination: This role assists with gathering specifications, obtaining quotes, coordinating service visits, and supporting inventory management for spare parts, tools, and maintenance supplies, ensuring cost-effective and timely procurement.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The technician will work closely with the Facilities Manager, EHS, engineering, and operations teams to support facility readiness and ongoing operations, contributing to the development of SOPs, maintenance guides, and training materials for facility systems, and will also be expected to stand in to support Process Technician activities as needed.

Requirements:

• Associate degree or technical certification in HVAC, Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial Maintenance, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• At least two years of experience in facilities maintenance, building systems operation, or industrial utilities support.
• Working knowledge of HVAC systems, electrical panels, pumps, compressors, plumbing, and fire suppression systems.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience working with PLCs (preferably Siemens), including basic programming, troubleshooting, and integration with facility systems, as well as practical experience with motors and variable-speed drives (VFDs).
• Ability to troubleshoot mechanical and electrical issues using practical, hands-on methods.
• Familiarity with building management systems (BMS) or industrial control systems.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills with the ability to work across functions.
• Understanding of safety regulations, environmental standards, and compliance requirements.
• Ability and willingness to travel for vendor training, inspections, or system acceptance activities.

Preferred:

• Experience in advanced manufacturing, laboratory, cleanroom, or dry-room environments.
• Exposure to ATEX or hazardous-area fire suppression systems.
• Training or certification in continuous improvement (e.g., Six Sigma Yellow/Green Belt).
• Ability to read P&IDs, electrical schematics, or mechanical drawings.
• Familiarity with CMMS or facility management software.

Physical and Work Environment Requirements:

• Ability to lift, drag, or pull up to 35-50 lbs. when moving materials or equipment.
• Ability to perform repetitive or physically demanding tasks for extended periods.
• Demonstrated commitment to wearing all required personal protective equipment (PPE) including gloves, respirators, and dry-room garments as an essential condition of working safely in the facility.
• Ability to safely handle chemicals, utilities, and sensitive battery materials in accordance with safety procedures.
• Work will be performed in mechanical rooms, dry-rooms, laboratories, and manufacturing environments.
• Willingness to support extended hours

Additional Information:

Salary: $65,000 - $75,000 annually based on a 40-hour working week.

Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Employee Benefits: The Research Foundation for the State University of New York offers a comprehensive benefits package that is a valuable part of total compensation. This includes medical, dental, vision, dependent care subsidy and other benefits such as SUNY Tuition Assistance. Furthermore, our 10 Perks of Working at the RF provides an at-a-glance view of our top benefits that make us a great place to work.

Research Foundation Commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity

As an Equal Opportunity / Affinnitive Action Employer, The Research Foundation for SUNY will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy-related conditions, reproductive health decisions, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, familial status, citizenship, physical and mental disability, prior arrest or conviction record, genetic characteristics/genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, domestic violence victim status, military status or service, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under federal, state or local law.

The Company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.

The Research Foundation for SUNY is a private, not for profit corporation and is a separate employer from SUNY and the State of New York and offers separate compensation and benefit plans.

Binghamton University is a tobacco-free campus.