Plant Engineering Technician I

St.Edward's University; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & Rx Coverage

Dental

Vision

Short Term Disability Insurance

Long Term Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Retirement Plan with match

Tuition Benefits

Paid Holidays

Job summary

St.Edward's University in Austin, Texas, is seeking a Plant Engineering Technician I who will ensure the maintenance and repair of campus HVAC and plumbing systems. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in HVAC along with the ability to troubleshoot electrical systems, fostering a safe environment for all building occupants.

The position offers a variety of benefits, including medical coverage, retirement plans, and tuition benefits, among others. Applicants should have a minimum of 3 years of related experience and relevant certifications.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in commercial HVAC maintenance and repair.
• Hands-on experience troubleshooting electrical and plumbing systems.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints and schematics.

Responsibilities

• Install, diagnose, maintain, and repair HVAC systems.
• Perform routine preventative maintenance on water pumps and boilers.
• Troubleshoot and repair minor commercial electrical issues.

Skills

HVAC maintenance and repair

Troubleshooting commercial plumbing

Electrical systems maintenance

Blueprint interpretation

Customer service mindset

Education

High School Diploma or GED

HVAC trade school certification

EPA Section 608 Universal Certification

Tools

Building Automation Systems

Diagnostic tools (multimeters, voltage testers)

Job description

Title

Plant Engineering Technician I

Department

Plant Engineering

Description

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

• 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.
• 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

• 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

Normal working conditions 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.

Exposure

• 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 OSH Act and 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

• Mobility: Must be able to traverse the campus, climb ladders/stairs, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl to access equipment in tight spaces.
• Lifting: Frequently required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally move heavier equipment with mechanical assistance.
• Dexterity: Requires the manual dexterity to operate hand tools, power tools, and computer keyboards for BAS adjustments.

Expectations

• Maintain confidentiality.
• Work effectively and collaboratively with faculty, staff, student body, alumni, and community with individual differences, life experiences and unique capabilities.
• Model behavior of excellence through actions that support the university's operating principles and mission.
• Adhere to the policies and procedures established by St. Edward's University.

Job Benefits

• Medical & Rx Coverage (HSA Available)
• Dental
• Vision
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Short Term Disability (STD) Insurance
• Long Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
• Life & Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Pet Insurance
• Annual Leave & Paid Sick Leave
• Retirement Plan – TIAA Employee 5%/Employer Match 7%
• Tuition Benefits
• Paid Holidays
• Services & Discounts

Equal Opportunity Employer

St. Edward's University, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Background Checks

A criminal history background check is required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Reference #: J2026025

Available: Immediately