Plant Engineering Technician I

stedwards; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

stedwards in Austin, TX is seeking a Plant Engineering Technician I with strong HVAC, electrical, and plumbing skills to maintain campus infrastructure and ensure a safe, comfortable environment for students and staff.

The role focuses on installing, diagnosing, maintaining HVAC systems, reading blueprints, coordinating with facilities, and complying with EPA regulations. It requires 3+ years of HVAC experience and EPA 608 preferred.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in commercial HVAC maintenance and repair.
• Experience troubleshooting commercial plumbing and electrical systems.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, schematics, and wiring diagrams.

Responsibilities

• Install, diagnose, maintain, and repair commercial heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems.
• Perform routine preventative maintenance on RTUs, AHUs, chilled water pumps, cooling towers, and boilers.
• Monitor and adjust Building Management Systems (BMS) / Building Automation Systems (BAS) to ensure optimal climate control and energy efficiency.
• Troubleshoot and replace pneumatic and electronic controls, actuators, and thermostats.
• Manage refrigerant tracking and recovery in compliance with EPA regulations.

Skills

HVAC

Plumbing

Electrical

Blueprints

BMS/BAS

Customer service

Education

High School Diploma or GED

HVAC trade school / apprenticeship

EPA Section 608 Universal Certification

Valid state driver’s license

Tools

Digital work order system

Building Automation Systems

Job description

Title: Plant Engineering Technician I

Department: Plant Engineering

We are seeking a highly skilled and versatile HVAC Technician with strong cross-functional experience in electrical and plumbing systems. This role is responsible for the overall maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of campus building infrastructure. The ideal candidate will be primarily focused on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, but must be fully capable of diagnosing and resolving commercial plumbing and electrical issues to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for students, staff, and faculty.

Qualifications:

For consideration, candidates must have the following

Education & Certifications:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent required.
• Completion of an HVAC trade school program, apprenticeship, or equivalent on-the-job training.
• EPA Section 608 Universal Certification is preferred.
• Valid state driver's license with a clean driving record.

Experience & Skills:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in commercial HVAC maintenance and repair.
• Proven, hands-on experience troubleshooting and repairing commercial plumbing and electrical systems.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, schematics, and wiring diagrams.
• Familiarity with digital work order systems and Building Automation Systems.
• Strong communication skills and a customer-service mindset when interacting with building occupants.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

HVAC Systems:

• Install, diagnose, maintain, and repair commercial heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems.
• Perform routine preventative maintenance on RTUs, AHUs, chilled water pumps, cooling towers, and boilers.
• Monitor and adjust Building Management Systems (BMS) / Building Automation Systems (BAS) to ensure optimal climate control and energy efficiency.
• Troubleshoot and replace pneumatic and electronic controls, actuators, and thermostats.
• Manage refrigerant tracking and recovery in compliance with EPA regulations.

Electrical & Plumbing Support:

• Electrical: Troubleshoot and repair minor commercial electrical issues, including replacing breakers, fuses, switches, relays, and outlets. Maintain and repair interior/exterior lighting systems and fixtures.
• Plumbing: Diagnose and repair leaks, unclog drains, and replace commercial plumbing fixtures (toilets, urinals, sinks, shower heads). Perform maintenance on domestic water heaters and booster pumps.
• Safely use multimeters, voltage testers, and other diagnostic tools to trace electrical shorts or faults within mechanical equipment.

General Operations & Administration:

• Receive, update, and close out daily work orders using the campus facility management software.
• Maintain accurate daily logs of work performed, time spent, and materials used.
• Identify and request necessary replacement parts and materials needed for repairs.
• Respond to emergency maintenance calls during regular hours and participate in the after-hours on-call rotation as needed.
• Coordinate seamlessly with outside vendors, contractors, and other facility staff.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None

Working Environment Physical Demands:

Exposure: \"Normal\" working conditions for this position include frequent exposure to moving mechanical parts, risk of electrical shock, and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals (refrigerants/cleaning solvents), and outside weather conditions.

• Noise Level: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but can be loud when working near mechanical plant equipment (chillers/boilers).
• Standards: All work must be performed in strict accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standards.
• Protocols: The employee is required to utilize appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and follow safety protocols, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures, hazard communication, and confined space entry guidelines.
• Physical Requirements (ADA Compliance): The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may