Pipefitter (Refrigeration Mechanic) - Facilities & Services

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Urbana (IL); On-site; USD 64,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision, life insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Tuition waivers for employees and/or

Job summary

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is seeking a Pipefitter (Refrigeration Mechanic) in Facilities & Services to install, repair, and maintain air conditioning, refrigeration, and chiller equipment. This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 3309 position with a 12-month appointment.

Salary is $56.26 per hour. The Plants operate 24/7; the role includes troubleshooting, installations, and mentoring apprentices while ensuring safety and reliability of campus chilled water systems.

Qualifications

• Certificate of completion of Pipetrade apprenticeship under a registered Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training program.
• Five (5) years (60 months) of actual work in the trade as journeyman or equivalent.
• Current CFC certification preferred for the role.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoots and repairs air conditioning, chiller, and related equipment.
• Serves air conditioning units from small window units to large 5,500 ton systems.
• Maintains refrigeration machinery from ice machines to lab equipment.
• Installs new air conditioning and refrigeration systems and equipment.
• Assists and trains apprentices.
• Follows safe working procedures.

Skills

Basic math

Diagrams & schematics

Refrigeration & AC repair

Technical equipment knowledge

Follow directions

Journeyman refrigeration

Train apprentices

Safety procedures

Education

Pipetrade apprenticeship certificate

Five years journeyman experience in trade

CFC certification

Job description

Pipefitter (Refrigeration Mechanic) - Facilities & Services

Utilities and Energy Services

Job Summary

Install, repair, and maintain air conditioners, refrigeration, and chiller equipment.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Troubleshoots and performs needed repairs on air conditioning, chiller, and chiller plant equipment.
• Services air conditions units ranging from window and fractional horsepower compressors to 5,500 ton units.
• Services refrigeration machinery ranging from ice machines to scientific lab equipment.
• Installs new air conditioners, refrigeration systems, and equipment.
• Assists and trains apprentices.
• Complies with safe working procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

1. Employee may be required to work in kneeling or stooping positions or at heights, depths, and in confined areas with proper safety equipment.

2. Employee may be required to bend, climb, lift, squat, and stretch to reach.

3. Work environment contains chemicals, toxins, dirt, dust, heat, cold, and moving machinery parts.

Work Schedule, Travel, or Other Job Expectations

1. The job of the refrigeration mechanics that operate and maintain the plants is a complex task including many unpredictable and off normal encounters.

2. Plants operate twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week.

3. Work assignments within this work unit focused on continuous production of chilled water and the chilled water utility distribution system. Accomplishment of the work provides continuity for the environment of the major buildings and of reliable utility service to the campus. These roles are critical to the campus mission of support for instruction and research activities.

4. The Chilled Water Production Refrigeration Mechanics may deal directly with all members of UA-Utilities, departmental persons, all members of the F & S Division, occupants of the buildings, and all members of the campus community. Communication must be factual, polite, clear, concise, and professional at all times and under all circumstances. Communication shall be face to face, by telephone, by two-way radio, by cell phone, or by display pager.

5. Position receives work assignments from the Foreperson.

Minimum Qualifications

1. A. Certificate of completion of Pipetrade apprenticeship under a registered Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training program.

OR

B. Experience sufficient to qualify as a journeyman Pipefitter or other Pipetrade classification with a minimum of five (5) years (60 months) of actual work in the trade, which may have included apprenticeship and/or applicable vocational training. The trade for this purpose shall include work normally performed by Pipefitters, Pipefitter Welders, Refrigeration Mechanics, Temperature Control Mechanics, Sprinkler Fitters, and/or Oil Burner Mechanics.

Preferred Qualifications

Current CFC certification.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Basic math skills.
• Ability to interpret diagrams and electrical schematics.
• Thorough knowledge of, and skill in repair of, refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
• Working knowledge of technical equipment.
• Ability to follow directions.
• Journeyman level skills in the mechanics of refrigeration.
• Ability to communicate and sufficient knowledge of trade to assist and train apprentices.
• Working knowledge of safety procedures.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 3309 - Pipefitter (Refrigeration Mechanic) position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after 11/23/2026. Salary rate for this position is $56.26 per hour.

This position is not eligible for any type of sponsorship for work authorization.

For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS web site at https://www.sucss.illinois.gov/pages/classspec/default.aspx.

Application Deadline

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm, November 11th, 2026.

Champaign-Urbana

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Benefits

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Equal Opportunity Statements

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal, or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or [e-mail].