HVAC Lead Installer

Sandbox Solar LLC; Fort Collins (CO); On-site; USD 41,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

HOLD NATE Certifications

Master Mechanical License

HVAC technical school training

Experience in Solar and HVAC

Job summary

Sandbox Solar LLC is seeking a rockstar Lead HVAC Installer to own residential installations end-to-end. You’ll lead from pre-job setup to homeowner turnover, focusing on clean sheet-metal work, precise refrigeration, and professional craftsmanship.

You’ll train team members, own commissioning, and ensure top-notch system handoff with thorough documentation. The role is field-based with some in-office touchpoints; compensation ranges from $30 to $35 per hour, depending on experience, and a

Qualifications

• 3+ years of residential HVAC installation with leadership responsibility.
• Extensive knowledge of heat pumps, furnaces, and ductless systems.
• Strong understanding of refrigeration, airflow, venting and low-voltage controls.
• Experience training apprentices to become independent installers.
• EPA Universal Type II certification is required.
• Valid driver's license with clean MVR.

Responsibilities

• Lead complete residential HVAC installations from prep to turnover.
• Maintain focus on installation execution, avoiding service calls.
• Direct and mentor supporting installers and apprentices on skills and safety.
• Perform startup testing, airflow verification, and system commissioning.
• Protect homeowner property, keep job sites clean, and conduct customer walkthroughs.
• Complete installation photos, serials, startup records, and closeout docs.

Skills

3+ years lead installations

Heat pumps

Dual-fuel systems

Furnaces

Ductless systems

Air handlers

Low-voltage controls

Refrigeration fundamentals

Communication skills

Apprentice training

EPA Universal Type II

Driver's license

Education

Formal HVAC technical school education

Job description

Are you a rockstar HVAC Installer who takes ownership and direction, cares about quality, communicates well, and naturally steps up to lead others?

Listen, we know a lot of HVAC installers get dragged into the worst of both worlds: expected to lead clean, complex installs, but constantly pulled away to run emergency service calls, patch sloppy work, or deal with poorly planned jobs.

That’s not what Sandbox + is building.

This is a dedicated HVAC Lead Installer role, not a diagnostic service technician position. Your focus is entirely on physical installation execution, jobsite leadership, system commissioning, and turnover quality. You won't be running diagnostic repair calls or bounce around on maintenance routes; you will own project installations from pre-job setup to the final homeowner walkthrough.

The installers who do well here care about clean sheet-metal work, precise refrigeration lines, proper system commissioning, and taking pride in jobsite craftsmanship.

And honestly, this role is a major opportunity for the right person.

Sandbox+ is growing quickly, and HVAC is becoming an increasingly important part of the company alongside solar, batteries, and integrated home energy solutions. We’re still building and improving this operation, which means the right person will have real influence on how installs, crews, standards, and workflows develop moving forward.

The people who tend to do well here care about doing quality work, solving problems, communicating well, protecting the customer experience, and helping build systems that make the field run smoother instead of more chaotic.

We are looking for someone who gets our vision for the optimized home ecosystem and

• Lead complete residential HVAC installations, including heat pumps, furnaces, ductless, and multi-zone systems, from preparation through turnover.
• Maintain complete focus on installation project execution without being side-tracked by service or repair calls.
• Direct, train, and mentor supporting installers and apprentices on technical skills, jobsite safety, and clean workmanship.
• Execute 100% of start-up testing, airflow verification, electrical controls startup, and system commissioning before closing out a project.
• Protect the homeowner's property, maintain clean job sites, and lead professional customer walkthroughs at system handoff.
• Complete all required installation photos, serial numbers, startup records, and job closeout documentation

We need this person to have:

• 3+ years of residential HVAC installation experience with demonstrated ability to lead installations independently
• Comprehensive installation knowledge of heat pumps,heat pumps, dual-fuel systems, furnaces, air handlers, and ductless systems
• Strong technical understanding of refrigeration practices, airflow, venting, and low-voltage controls
• Understanding of commissioning readiness, rebate requirements, and install quality standards
• Solid track record of training apprentices into independent installers
• Strong communication, coordination, and problem-solving abilities
• EPA Universal Type II Certification
• Valid Driver's License with an acceptable motor vehicle record (MVR)

Bonus Points For Those Who:

• HOLD NATE Certifications, Master Mechanical License, or manufacturer-specific installation credentials
• Have any formal HVAC technical school education
• Have a track record of training apprentices into quality installers.
• Have experience in both Solar and HVAC worlds!

This might not be the right opportunity for those who:

• Are looking for a service and diagnostic repair technician position with daily service routes
• Prefer sitting at a desk rather than leading installations and mentoring installers hands-on in the field
• Cut corners on safety, jobsite cleanliness, customer experience, or work quality.
• Aren't comfortable with our approach to the whole home ecosystem.
• Resist accountability, follow-through, or organization
• Can’t communicate and work effectively with a wide range of people

See what it's like to work for Sandbox +

• This role is primarily field-based with some in-office touchbase meetings required
• Compensation range is $30-$35/hour depending on experience
• As a condition of employment, candidates must successfully complete a background check
• We expect to have this role open until October 31st, but may extend it as needed