Plant Engineering Technician I – C Shift

TES Staffing; City of Rochester (NY); On-site; USD 41,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% tuition waiver

Education benefits

Job summary

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is seeking an entry-level Plant Engineering Technician I for the overnight C shift (11:30 PM7 7:30 AM). The role supports campus heating/cooling systems and building services, with training provided and a path to permanent status through TES Staffing.

You will gain exposure to major campus mechanical systems, participate in rounds, and learn plant operations while developing skills toward higher-level engineering or trades roles.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or 2 years hands-on field experience.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to work the overnight C shift (11:30 PM7 7:30 AM).
• Valid drivers license and clean driving record.

Responsibilities

• Complete scheduled rounds of campus buildings and mechanical rooms.
• Inspect equipment and systems to ensure proper operation.
• Respond to overnight maintenance work orders.
• Troubleshoot heating, cooling and mechanical problems.
• Coordinate with Public Safety for overnight facilities issues.
• Drive university vehicles between campus buildings as needed.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Overnight shift readiness

Valid drivers license

Background screening you can pass

Education

Associate degree in a related technical field

Approximately two years of relevant hands-on field experience

Job description

Plant Engineering Technician I – C Shift

• Construction/Facilities

Plant Engineering Technician I – C Shift

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Schedule: C Shift | 11:30 PM–7:30 AM
Starting Pay: $20.00/hour + $0.75/hour shift differential
Career Opportunity: Contract-to-Hire through TES Staffing

Night Owls With Mechanical Skills: This Could Be Your Way Into RIT

Want a steady overnight schedule; and a job that can actually lead somewhere?

TES Staffing is recruiting a Plant Engineering Technician I for the overnight Facilities Management team at Rochester Institute of Technology.

This is an entry point into a much larger career path.

You’ll learn how a major university campus operates behind the scenes, working with heating and cooling systems, mechanical equipment, plumbing, building systems and central plant operations.

Even better: RIT is known for developing and promoting employees from within Facilities Management.

People can advance into higher-level engineering roles, cross-train in other skilled trades, move between facilities work groups and potentially grow into areas such as construction and project management.

If you're mechanically inclined and want someplace you can build a career—not just collect a paycheck—keep reading.

What Happens on Campus Overnight?

RIT is essentially a small city.

Approximately 5,000 students live on campus, and the university operates 24 hours a day.

While C shift tends to be quieter than daytime operations, the buildings and mechanical systems never stop.

You’ll:

Complete scheduled rounds of campus buildings and mechanical rooms

Inspect equipment and systems to make sure they’re operating correctly

Respond to overnight maintenance work orders

Troubleshoot heating, cooling and mechanical problems

Respond to plumbing issues, leaks and other facilities concerns

Work alongside other Plant Engineering Technicians to identify and resolve problems

Coordinate with Public Safety when facilities issues arise overnight

Drive university vehicles between campus buildings and adjacent RIT facilities as needed

You’ll be part of the first-response facilities team when something happens overnight.

And while the overnight crew is smaller than the daytime operation, you will not be working alone. You’ll work alongside other experienced Plant Engineering employees, with additional support available when an unusual problem arises.

We’ll Train You Before You Go to Nights

Nobody expects you to learn a university campus overnight.

New hires will initially spend several weeks training on A shift, where you’ll have access to the largest group of experienced RIT facilities employees.

You’ll learn:

Campus buildings and mechanical rooms

Daily rounds

Major equipment and systems

Work-order procedures

Troubleshooting expectations

When to handle something yourself—and when to call for additional support

Once you’re comfortable with the operation, you’ll transition to your regular 11:30 PM–7:30 AM C shift.

Who Does Well Here?

People who like working with their hands.

You don’t have to come from a university or central plant environment. Relevant backgrounds may include:

HVAC

Mechanical contracting

Residential or commercial heating and cooling

Plumbing

Facilities or building maintenance

Mechanical trades

If you've spent your career fixing cars, servicing HVAC equipment, maintaining buildings or troubleshooting mechanical systems, your skills may translate better than you think.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must have:

An Associate degree in a related technical field OR approximately two years of relevant hands-on field experience

Strong mechanical aptitude

Comfort troubleshooting problems and learning new systems

Ability to perform physical work and walk throughout a large campus

Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record

Ability to successfully complete required background screening

Reliable transportation and dependable attendance for an overnight schedule

Candidates must meet RIT’s minimum qualifications to ultimately be considered for permanent employment.

The Career Path Is the Big Story Here

RIT Facilities Management doesn’t just hire people to fill a shift.

The department works to develop people from within.

Employees have opportunities to cross-train, gain exposure to different trades and equipment, and develop skills that can qualify them for higher-level positions.

Plant Engineering is itself a step up for employees coming from other facilities areas, and experienced employees can continue developing toward higher-level engineering, skilled-trade, construction and project-management opportunities.

And if your long-term goal is a daytime schedule, B and C shift technicians may have opportunities to move into A shift when positions become available.

Get in. Learn the campus. Build your technical skills. Create a career.

And Then There Are the RIT Benefits

This position begins through TES Staffing with the goal of transitioning successful employees into permanent RIT employment.

Eligible regular RIT employees have access to a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, paid time off and extensive educational benefits.

Eligible regular RIT employees currently receive a 100% tuition waiver immediately, including undergraduate and most graduate-level courses. Full-time employees may take up to 12 credit hours per term under the tuition-waiver program.

That means this job can give you an opportunity to build your technical career while continuing your education.

Looking for Somewhere You Can Stay?

RIT offers something that’s increasingly difficult to find in the trades: stability, training, variety and a defined place to grow.

One night you might be checking mechanical rooms. Another you’re responding to a heating issue in a residence hall. Another you’re helping troubleshoot equipment serving one of RIT’s specialized facilities.

You’ll keep learning—and you’ll be surrounded by people who know the campus and its systems.

If you’re mechanically inclined, dependable and ready to build something long-term, we want to hear from you.