HVAC Technician (12 mon, 1st)

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Atlantic Mine (MI); On-site; USD 43,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Michigan Technological University is seeking an HVAC Technician within the Facilities Management department. The role involves inspecting, maintaining, repairing, installing, calibrating, and troubleshooting all campus HVAC systems, including refrigeration and steam systems.

The technician will handle refrigeration equipment, air-conditioning systems, and control systems, and will participate in safety training and continuous learning to support campus operations.

Qualifications

• Requires EPA 608 Universal Certification.
• Graduate of HVAC trades school or equivalent.
• Four years of experience maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting commercial HVAC systems.
• Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Maintain, repair, replace, inspect, calibrate, install, and troubleshoot refrigeration equipment and building HVAC systems.
• Maintain and troubleshoot HVAC system components such as fans, motors, pumps, compressors, dampers, heat pumps, ducts, and boilers.
• Work with direct digital controls (DDC) and pneumatic control systems and software.
• Fabricate and install HVAC systems and controls.
• Manage spare-parts inventory for essential HVAC equipment.
• Respond to emergency call-outs during off-shift hours.

Skills

HVAC systems

Troubleshooting

Reading blueprints

Electrical systems

Pneumatic controls

Education

High school diploma

EPA 608 Certification

HVAC trades certificate

Tools

Diagnostic tools

Electronic testing equipment

Welding equipment

Job description

Summary

Michigan Technological University is seeking a HVAC Technician for its Facilities Management department. The HVAC Technician will be responsible for the inspection, maintenance, repair, installation, calibration, and troubleshooting of all campus HVAC systems, including refrigeration and steam systems.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

• Maintain, repair, replace, inspect, calibrate, install, and troubleshoot refrigeration equipment and building air‑conditioning systems, including coolers, refrigerators, freezers, chillers, cooling towers, condensers, and related equipment.
• Maintain, repair, replace, inspect, calibrate, install, and troubleshoot HVAC system components such as fans, motors, pumps, compressors, dampers, heat pumps, humidifiers, coils, ductwork, heat exchangers, boilers, stills, steam traps, and piping.
• Maintain, repair, replace, inspect, calibrate, install, and troubleshoot DDC and pneumatic control systems and components such as controllers, modules, sensors, actuators, transducers, and software.
• Fabricate and install HVAC systems and controls.
• Maintain spare‑parts inventory for essential HVAC and control equipment.
• Respond to emergency call‑outs during off‑shift hours.
• Follow all university safety policies and procedures, including hot‑work permits and confined‑space procedures, and complete required safety training.
• Attend additional training classes as assigned and continually work toward increasing knowledge and skills related to the field of work.
• Prepare cost estimates, layout sketches, material selection, schedules, surveys, and reports for various projects.
• Coordinate or lead the efforts of other trades on projects involving multiple trades, soliciting input for project estimates, layout, and material selection.
• Contribute to a safe working environment by following safe‑work procedures, wearing assigned PPE, and actively participating in safety training and development of safe‑work procedures.
• Commit to learning about continuous‑improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work, and actively engage in university improvement initiatives.
• Apply safety‑related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

• High school diploma or equivalent post‑secondary certificate.
• EPA 608 Universal Refrigerant Recycling and Recovery Certification.
• Graduate of a trades school program in HVAC or refrigeration, or equivalent education and experience.
• Valid driver’s license.

Required Experience

• Four years of experience in maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting commercial HVAC systems.
• Four years of experience in maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting commercial or industrial refrigeration systems, including walk‑in freezers, refrigerators, coolers, and ice‑making machines.
• Four years of experience in maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting chillers, cooling towers, evaporators, and condensers.

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• Six years of experience in maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting commercial or industrial refrigeration.
• Six years of experience in installing, maintaining, troubleshooting, or repairing chillers, cooling towers, evaporators, and condensers.
• Training and coursework in air‑conditioning and refrigeration, blueprint reading, CAD, industrial piping, piping systems, pneumatic and electronic controls, steam systems, and welding.
• Experience in maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting direct digital controls, network control modules, and controllers, resistive temperature devices (RTDs), thermistors, and I/P transducers.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and or Abilities

• Communicate effectively across cultural boundaries and work harmoniously with diverse stakeholders.
• Knowledge of safe maintenance procedures applicable to the trade.
• Knowledge of standard practices, building codes, regulations, and theory applicable to HVAC control systems.
• Understanding of troubleshooting, maintenance, and repair of commercial or industrial refrigeration and HVAC systems.
• Knowledge of typical commercial and industrial digital and pneumatic HVAC control systems and components.
• Ability to read blueprints, wiring diagrams, temperature control diagrams, operating and maintenance instructions, plans, and manuals.
• Basic knowledge of parallel and series electrical circuits.
• Basic knowledge of 3‑phase circuits up to 480 V.
• Proficiency in using manual and electrical tools and equipment for the position.
• Ability to join piping and related components by soldering, threading, and adhesives.
• Must be trained and willing to work in OSHA‑regulated confined spaces.
• Knowledge of hot‑work permits.
• Competency using personal computers to access websites, load and operate software, use word processors and spreadsheets, and manage files and directories.
• Availability to work flexible hours, overtime, evenings, nights, and weekends as required.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and or Abilities

• Knowledge of water treatment for boilers, hot‑water systems, chilled‑water systems, and cooling towers.
• Understanding of maintenance, troubleshooting, calibration, repair, and installation of standard commercial and industrial steam systems and components.
• Knowledge of digital and computer control systems.
• Knowledge of the National Electric Code for Class 1, 2, and 3 low‑voltage circuits.
• Knowledge of pneumatic control components such as regulators, air dryers, thermostats, actuators, and operators.
• Knowledge of variable‑frequency drives.
• Knowledge of building energy management system control components and software, including fume‑hood control systems.
• Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds and viewpoints.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

Work in an industrial fabrication shop or equipment room setting. Must use hands, bite, handle, sense heat, hear, taste, and smell; must reach with hands and arms, climb or balance on stairs, ladders, and work platforms; must kneel, crouch, or crawl. Must lift up to 50 lbs and occasionally up to 100 lbs. Must maintain visual acuity, hearing, and self‑control with tools.

Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Hearing protection, safety glasses, hard hat, work gloves, and other PPE prescribed by specific safety assessments.

Mandatory Training

• Employee Safety Overview
• Anti‑Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
• Annual Data Security Training
• Annual Title IX Training

Background Check

Final hiring is contingent upon completion of mandatory background checks. Must be eligible to work in the United States, including mandatory documentation of citizenship or legal resident status.

Equal‑Opportunity Mandate

Michigan Technological University is an Equal‑Opportunity Educational Institution/Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.