Plant Utilities Engineer 1 (NY HELPS) (Two vacancies)

SUNY Oneonta; Town of Oneonta (NY); On-site; USD 53,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

SUNY Oneonta is seeking a Plant Utilities Engineer 1 to oversee the Central Heating Plant operations. This role ensures safe, efficient, and continuous plant function, supporting campus facilities around the clock.

Responsibilities include operating boilers, HVAC controls, energy management, and coordinating repairs while implementing energy-conservation initiatives. The position is full-time and requires readiness for shift work as described in the job postings.

Qualifications

• Must be reachable on the full-time, permanent Civil Service list for Plant Utilities Engineer 1.
• Experience in operation, maintenance, testing, and repair of boilers, HVAC, and water systems.
• Knowledge of energy conservation projects and energy management systems.

Responsibilities

• Operate, maintain, and repair steam and hot water boilers, water systems, HVAC control systems.
• Operate chillers, fans, and refrigeration equipment.
• Control systems via computers, monitor energy usage, and adjust as needed.
• Conduct tests on boiler/HVAC and water systems, analyze results, adjust chemicals.
• Balance air distribution, maintain proper temperature, humidity, and airflow.
• Perform boiler maintenance, repair components, and replace tubes as needed.
• Maintain energy management systems and identify faulty equipment for replacement.
• Respond to mechanical, electrical, or plumbing calls and coordinate repairs.
• Identify energy-conservation opportunities and assist in developing projects.

Skills

Boiler operation

HVAC systems

Energy management

Maintenance planning

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Facilities Engineering

HVAC certificate/diploma

Job description

Job Description

Title: Plant Utilities Engineer 1 (NY HELPS) (Twovacancies)

Location: MOC Heating Plant

Unit: CSEA, OSU

Class: Competitive

Salary: $59,049. Visa sponsorship is not available for thisposition.

Description

A Plant Utilities Engineer 1 is responsible for the overalloperation and maintenance of the University's Central HeatingPlant, which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In this role,the incumbent ensures the safe, efficient, and continuous operationof plant systems and equipment supporting campus facilities.Responsibilities include the operation, maintenance, monitoring,and repair of a wide range of mechanical, electrical, and HVACsystems.

• Operating, maintaining, and repairing steam and hot waterboilers, water supply and return systems, electronic and pneumaticcombustion and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)control systems.
• Operating forced or induced draft fan systems, chiller systems,and other refrigeration equipment.
• Operating computers that control boiler operations, auxiliaryequipment, and HVAC systems.
• Conducting boiler, HVAC, and water systems testing, analyzingresults, and adding chemicals to maintain proper systemfunctions.
• Balancing air distribution systems and maintaining proper airtemperature, humidity, freshness, and flow quality.
• Cleaning, inspecting, and maintaining boilers by performingchemical cleaning of equipment, repairing brickwork, replacingtubes, and maintaining combustion and emissions systems.
• Performing chiller maintenance, including cleaning condensertubes and evaporators, and maintaining and repairing pumps, aircompressors, steam systems, cooling towers, motors, and variablefrequency drives.
• Performing maintenance and repair on various water and sewagepumping, filtration, and treatment equipment.
• Cleaning, maintaining, and repairing HVAC systems andequipment; calibrating controls; performing air testing andchemical treatment; and replacing air filters.
• Responding to mechanical, electrical, or plumbing calls;troubleshooting and coordinating necessary repairs.
• Maintaining computerized energy management systems;troubleshooting problems; and identifying and replacing faultyequipment and devices.
• Identifying, recommending, and assisting in developing energyconservation projects and initiatives.
• Handling various types of hazardous materials and responding toincidents with potential environmental or safety impacts (e.g.,chemical spills, oil spills, blowouts); implementing evacuationplans in emergency situations.
• Maintaining right-to-know libraries, responding to inquiries,assessing problems, and providing guidance related toincidents.
• Operating electrical distribution systems and relatedequipment, including generators, transformers, switchgear, andemergency power systems.
• Supervising subordinate staff, including Plant UtilitiesAssistants, Facility Operations Assistants, contractors, and othertrades staff.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

Competitive

The successful candidate must be reachable on the full-time, permanent Civil Service list for Plant Utilities Engineer 1, haveheld the permanent title of Plant Utilities Engineer 1 in the pastor be eligible to transfer into the title.

OR

Non-Competitive NY HELPS Qualifications:

• Either 1. Graduate of heating, HVAC, ventilation, airconditioning, and refrigeration apprenticeship program from theU.S. Air Force.
• Or 2. Must have been an enlisted machinery technician(MK) with the U.S. Coast Guard OR possession of a certificate as aMarine Engineer issued by the U.S. Coast Guard.
• Or 3. Must have been an enlisted power generationequipment repairer with the U.S. Army.
• Or 4. Must have been an enlisted gas turbine systemstechnician, submarine nuclear propulsion plant operator reactorcontrol, utilities man, machinist mate, or engineman with the U.S.Navy.
• Or 5. Must have a Merchant Mariner's Document (MMD) andhave been a qualified member of the engine department (QMED) as anoiler, fireman/water tender, refrigerating engineer or enginemanwith the U.S. Merchant Marine.
• Or 6. Completion of a New York State Department of Laborregistered apprenticeship program for stationary engineers, plantmaintenance (plumber/steamfitter), HVAC Mechanic or plantmaintenance (refrigeration/AC).
• Or 7. Possession of a High-Pressure Boiler OperatingEngineer License or Stationary Engineer License.
• Or 8. A bachelor's degree in Facilities Engineering,Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or MarineEngineering.
• Or 9. Four years of full-time hands-on experience in themaintenance and operation of commercial, industrial, institutionalfacility, computer applications of digital energy platforms andbuilding analytics and/or performing diagnosis, repair of HVACsystems or boilers or auxiliary equipment.
• Or 10. Four years of full-time hands-on experience in aresidential setting performing diagnosis, operation, maintenancerepair of HVAC systems or boilers or auxiliary equipment.
• Or 11. An associate degree in HVAC AND two years ofqualifying experience as described in EITHER qualification #9 or#10 above.
• Or 12. Completion of an HVAC certificate or diploma froma BOCES program (900 hours) OR completion of an approvedcertificate in HVAC, electrical, refrigeration, boiler operationsand maintenance, or plumbing from an accredited technical school ortechnology college AND two years of qualifying experience asdescribed in EITHER qualification #9 or #10 above.

Additional Information

These are full-time, permanent positions. You will start outon first shift during your training (7:00 AM - 3:00 PM) and willmove to second shift (3:00 PM - 11:00 PM) once training iscomplete. Your shift may change at a later date depending on theeligible shift bid.

These positions involve shift work, which includes nights,evenings, weekends, and holidays (overnight shift: 11:00 PM - 7:00AM).

For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filledvia a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination isrequired but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications ofthe title for which they apply.

The application deadline is November 30, 2026 . To be fullyconsidered, applicants should aim to submit their materials by thisdate. The application period may be extended if a sufficient numberof applications is not received.

At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it isexpected employees hired under NY HELPS will have theirnon-competitive employment status converted to competitive status,without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then beafforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitiveclass employees of New York State. While serving permanently in aNY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotionexamination for which they are qualified.

SUNY Oneonta values a diverse university community. Please visit our website on diversity at: https://suny.oneonta.edu/diversity . Moreover, the University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.Women, persons of color, persons with disabilities, and protectedveterans are encouraged to apply.

"At SUNY Oneonta, we believe that diversity is an asset and a source of strength that energizes our collective growth and innovation." - President AlbertoCardelle.