Lead HVAC Technician

Thrive PropertyMx; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Group health insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Uniform provided

Full-time, year-round hours

Room to build out an HVAC team

Job summary

Thrive PropertyMx is hiring a Lead HVAC Technician in Milwaukee to own heating across our property portfolio. You’ll install and replace steam and hydronic boilers, with expansion to furnaces, AC, and mini-splits.

This full-time, field-based role reports to Facilities leadership and involves year-round hours across multiple properties. Ideal candidates have hands-on boiler experience, Wisconsin HVAC Qualifier, and EPA 608 certification.

Qualifications

• Extensive hands-on experience with steam and hydronic boilers in residential/multifamily settings.
• Ability to troubleshoot and service boilers, furnaces, AC, and mini-splits.
• EPA 608 work on refrigerants and gas connections experience preferred.
• Wisconsin boiler codes and city/state permits knowledge.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle required.

Responsibilities

• Install and replace steam and hot-water boilers, including piping, venting, and startup.
• Maintain steam systems: water levels, traps, vents, and controls.
• Maintain hot-water systems: purges, circulators, expansion tanks, zone valves, pressure.
• Coordinate permits and inspections (City of Milwaukee, state boiler registration).
• Diagnose and repair no-heat calls and seasonal maintenance across properties.
• Support CapEx projects: data networks, cameras, access control, smart thermostats.
• Lead HVAC work with a junior technician and trains on boiler systems.
• Document equipment history and parts in field apps.

Skills

Hands-on HVAC experience

Steam & hydronic boiler experience

Electrical troubleshooting

Valid driver’s license

Education

Wisconsin HVAC Qualifier certification

EPA Section 608 certification

Tools

Manometers

Multimeters

Combustion analyzers

Job description

About the Role

We’re hiring a Lead HVAC Technician, a licensed boiler specialist, to own the heating systems across the properties we own and manage in Milwaukee, starting with installing and replacing boilers in-house. Our apartment buildings run on both steam boilers and hot-water (hydronic) boilers, so you need real, hands-on experience with both. As our management business grows, you’ll also work on forced-air furnaces, AC, and mini-splits in the duplexes, small multifamily buildings, and single-family homes we manage. You’ll be the person our buildings depend on for heat: installs, startups, seasonal maintenance, and no-heat calls.

HVAC comes first, but our buildings don’t need HVAC work 40 hours a week, every week, and we’re a full maintenance shop that does just about everything in-house. When the heat is running fine, you’ll join our CapEx team on building technology projects like data and internet networks, security cameras, access control, and smart thermostats. You’ll also dig into plumbing, electrical troubleshooting, gas work, and renovation and carpentry on unit turns. That means steady, full-time, year-round hours, not a schedule that rises and falls with the weather.

This is a full-time, field-based position, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with occasional after-hours response to no-heat emergencies during heating season. You’ll move between properties across Milwaukee and report to our Facilities leadership.

What You’ll Do

• Install and replace both steam and hot-water (hydronic) boilers, including sizing, near-boiler piping, venting, gas connections, controls, and startup
• Maintain steam systems: water levels and sight glasses, low-water cutoff blowdowns, steam traps, air vents, and pressure controls
• Maintain hot-water systems: purging air, circulators, expansion tanks, zone valves, and system pressure
• Commission new equipment: combustion analysis, safety controls (low-water cutoffs, relief valves), and startup documentation
• Coordinate permits and inspections, including City of Milwaukee mechanical permits and state boiler registration and inspection
• Diagnose and repair no-heat calls: ignition, circulators, zone valves, thermostats, expansion tanks, air and water-level issues
• Perform seasonal preventive maintenance on boilers, forced-air furnaces, water heaters, and AC and mini-split equipment across every building type we manage
• Handle all refrigerant work in compliance with EPA Section 608
• Advise leadership on repair-vs-replace decisions and help scope HVAC capital projects across the portfolio
• Keep accurate records of equipment, service history, and parts, with photos and notes in our field apps
• When HVAC work is slow, join our CapEx team on technology projects: data and internet networks, security camera installs, access control, and smart thermostats
• Pitch in on plumbing and electrical troubleshooting, gas work, appliance repair, and renovation and carpentry on unit turns
• Lead our HVAC work with a tech assigned to assist you and learn the trade. Train them on hot-water and steam systems: what to check, what to flag, and when to call you

Who This Role Is For

Strong fit if you:

• Have real, hands-on experience with both steam and hot-water (hydronic) boilers, not just forced-air furnaces
• Want steady, year-round hours instead of the feast-or-famine of seasonal install work
• Would rather fix it right than sell a replacement — there are no sales quotas here
• Are a versatile tradesperson who’s comfortable picking up a pipe wrench, a cable crimper, or a drill when the heat is running fine
• Get excited about building technology: smart thermostats, networks, cameras, and access control
• Take ownership of systems — you’ll know every boiler we own and manage
• Enjoy variety: steam in one building, hot water in the next, forced air in a duplex down the street

Not a Fit For You

• Want to do HVAC only, 40 hours a week, and nothing else
• Are looking for a commission-driven residential sales and service role
• Have forced-air experience only, or have worked on steam or hot-water systems but not both

Qualifications

• Active Wisconsin HVAC Qualifier certification (required)
• Close? If you have 4+ years of documented HVAC experience and are ready to sit for the Qualifier exam, apply anyway. We’ll cover your exam fee.
• Hands-on experience installing and servicing both steam and hot-water (hydronic) boilers in residential or multifamily buildings (required)
• EPA Section 608 certification (preferred; required for any refrigerant work)
• Working knowledge of Wisconsin mechanical and boiler codes and Milwaukee permitting
• Comfortable with gas appliance connections, venting, combustion analyzers, manometers, and multimeters
• Solid electrical troubleshooting on control circuits, motors, and safeties
• Valid driver’s license and reliable personal vehicle (required — you’ll be moving between properties daily). A company truck is available for hauling equipment and materials.
• Personal cell phone for daily coordination and photo documentation (required)
• Able to lift 75 lbs and work in basements, crawl spaces, and mechanical rooms
• Authorized to work in the United States
• A strong plus: smart thermostat, low-voltage, networking, camera, or access control experience; forced-air and AC experience; multifamily or property management experience; manufacturer training on high-efficiency boilers; or plumbing, carpentry, or general renovation skills
• Final candidates complete a hands-on skills assessment on our equipment

Pay

• With an active Wisconsin HVAC Qualifier: $40–$42/hour to start, based on experience
• $10,000 sign-on bonus for Qualifier holders: $2,500 after 90 days, then $1,000/month until paid in full
• Working toward the Qualifier: hired as HVAC Technician at $32–$35/hour, based on your skills assessment
• Promotion to Lead HVAC Technician at $40/hour once you pass the Qualifier exam
• Monthly fuel stipend for travel between properties

Benefits & Growth

• Group health insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Paid time off
• Uniform provided
• Full-time, year-round hours
• Room to build out an HVAC team as our management business expands

A Final Note

We’re a small, growing company that takes care of our people. We hire carefully because we want this to be a long-term fit — not a revolving door. If you know boilers, take pride in your work, and like being the go-to person for the systems you own, you’ll thrive here.