Maintenance Mechanic

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The VA Medical Center in Portland, OR is seeking a Maintenance Mechanic to perform journeyman carpentry, painting, and sign making duties within the Facilities Management Service. The role requires working from blueprints, planning projects from start to finish, and coordinating with supervisors for efficiency and safety.

Responsibilities include constructing and repairing wood structures, applying decorative coatings, and operating woodworking equipment.

Qualifications

• Experience or training demonstrating ability to perform the work without close supervision.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, sketches, and specifications.
• Ability to plan and complete projects from layouts to final assembly.

Responsibilities

• Construct, install, repair wood and wood substitute structures with close tolerance.
• Interpret drawings, blueprints, and specifications independently.
• Perform finishing coatings with marbling and graining techniques.
• Set up and operate woodworking machines and tools.
• Apply coatings to surfaces meeting texture and level requirements.
• Maintain and repair a variety of structural items like frames, doors, trim, and walls.

Skills

Independent work

Blueprint reading

Interpret instructions

Planning and organization

Tools

Woodworking machines

Measuring instruments

Job description

Summary

This Maintenance Mechanic position is located within the Facilities Management Service at the VA Medical Center in Portland - OR. This position combines the duties of a journeyman carpenter - a journeyman painter - and a journeyman sign maker in order to provide more flexibility in the assignment of work.

Summary

This Maintenance Mechanic position is located within the Facilities Management Service at the VA Medical Center in Portland - OR. This position combines the duties of a journeyman carpenter - a journeyman painter - and a journeyman sign maker in order to provide more flexibility in the assignment of work.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 10/13/2026. EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required - but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge - skills - and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards. SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen- out element - which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. "Ability to perform the work of the position without more than normal supervision". Related experience includes: constructing and repairing a wide variety of structural items such as building frames - rafters - concrete forms - walls - staircases - door and window frames - interior and exterior trim - and miscellaneous items such as workbenches - counter tops - bookcases - equipment cabinets - computer consoles - and items requiring limited decorative trim and molding. Working from blueprints - sketches and work orders; planning and completing projects from layouts to final assembly. Preparing surfaces and using appropriate coating techniques in performing painting duties; using accepted methods which includes special finishing techniques such as marbling and graining by applying coating materials with any of the accepted trade devices including those designed to give special effects which meets match - texture - decorative - thickness - and level requirements. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements: Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision Equipment Assembly - Installation - Repair Interpret Instructions - Specifications (includes blueprint reading) Materials Measuring Instruments Technical Practices Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience - including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. - Peace Corps - AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g. - professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies - knowledge - and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience - including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Duties

• The incumbent as a journeyman carpenter will be required to work on construction - alteration - repair and modification of structures such as: framework - doors - finish paneling - windows - rough furniture - interior and exterior trim - rafters - trusses and beams - where accuracy - spacing and fit are essential and appearance is important
• Major duties include but are not limited to: Uses skilled techniques to construct - install - repair - and modify wood and wood substitute structures and items requiring close tolerance fit and structural soundness
• Carpenter plans and completes projects from layouts to final assembly
• Must be able to work from blueprints - sketches and work orders
• Able to interpret drawings - blueprints - and specifications independently - and determine the layout and work sequences and types of lumber or special related materials
• Accuracy - spacing - fit - and structural soundness and finished appearance are essential
• Able to construct straight angles and curved cuts which must be exact
• Must know how to replace glass window panes - layout and install metal and wood studs for sheetrock and plastered walls - install drop ceilings - repair roofs and flashing of buildings - etc
• Mixes concrete and installs footings - curbs - walls and like construction
• Lays and repairs floor coverings and installs plastic coverings on counter tops and other related items
• Mixes materials used in finishing plaster surfaces in construction and repair on interior and exterior walls and ceilings
• Performs plastering on all types of backgrounds such as metal - wood or gypsum lath - wallboard and masonry surfaces - as well as repair patching of plaster and stucco surfaces
• Performs preventive maintenance/inspections on tools and equipment and machinery related to trade
• Construct and repair a wide variety of structural items such as building frames - rafters - concrete forms - walls - staircases - door and window frames - interior and exterior trim - and miscellaneous items such as workbenches - counter tops - bookcases - equipment cabinets - computer consoles - and items requiring limited decorative trim and molding
• Sets up and operates a wide variety of wood working machines and tools
• Assembles items with a variety of joining techniques such as miters - rabbets - dados - biscuit - and mortise and tenon - and use glues and adhesives to secure wood pieces - veneers - and counter tops
• Uses wood - metal - and various composite materials when installing or replacing interior partitions - flooring - panels - suspended ceilings - counter tops - and moldings
• Accuracy - spacing - fit - and structural soundness and finished appearance are essential
• As a journeyman painter the incumbent will apply special coating methods utilizing accepted methods which includes special finishing techniques such as marbling and graining by using coating materials that are prepared in special as well as common ways
• The journeyman painter applies coating materials with any of the accepted trade devices including those designed to give special effects which the painter sees that the coating finish meets match - texture - decorative - thickness - and level requirements
• The painter prepares surfaces by methods such as smoothing with pumice and rotten stone - filling - shaping - and leveling with metal and synthetic resins - and mixing and applying pre-coating agents such as pickling and alkali compounds
• Uses standard tools and equipment such as brushes - rollers - spray guns - trowels - screeds - straight edges - viscosity testers - graining devices - and wet and other thickness gauges
• Prepares surfaces and applies coating techniques that will insure surfaces have a smooth- textured and decorative appearance and meet thickness and level requirements
• As a journeyman sign painter will apply a variety of graphic arts techniques - fabricates and installs signs for interior/exterior use ensuring proper margins - spacing and formation of letters
• Orders signs and materials as required from commercial vendors
• Ensures like signs are the same size - font and design consistently throughout the facility
• Uses various production techniques such as silk screen printing - application of pressure or heat-sensitive reflective-sheeting - lettering with machines and attaches ready-made or fabricated letters
• Makes stencils - templates or paper patterns as necessary to reproduce designs or shapes
• Person is responsible for removal of signage and repairing damage to walls and other surfaces as required
• Work Schedule: Tuesday - Saturday
• 2:00 p.m
• - 10:30 p.m
• (PST) Position Description Title/PD#: Maintenance Mechanic/PD21434A Physical Requirements: Continual movement of hand and arm - standing - reaching - and bending
• Medium to heavy lifting (10 pounds to 40 pounds) and carrying - working in awkward conditions - overhead - cramped quarters - bending - stooping - climbing ladders and stairs - working from scaffolding and ladders
• Requires good eye-hand coordination.