Utility Systems Repairer-Operator (Seasonal)

U.S. Department of the Interior; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 2,755,000 - 4,133,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of the Interior is seeking a Seasonal Utility Systems Repairer-Operator to install, maintain, test, troubleshoot, upgrade, repair, and calibrate complex utility systems across steam, HVAC, and water systems.

The position requires EPA 608 Universal Certification and a valid driver's license. Responsibilities include operation and monitoring of boiler plants, chilled water distribution, and safety compliance.

Qualifications

• Must hold EPA 608 Universal Certification.
• U.S. citizenship or national status.
• Valid driver's license and ability to operate government vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Operate, monitor, and maintain complex utility systems including steam, hot water, chilled water, plumbing, electrical and HVAC equipment.
• Perform advanced troubleshooting, repair, testing, and calibration of system components.
• Install and maintain boiler plants and heating systems, adjusting controls for efficiency.
• Oversee chilled water generation as operator-in-charge and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Document system testing, sampling, and observations; follow safety regulations.

Skills

Industrial controls

HVAC maintenance

Boiler plant maintenance

Water treatment

HVAC operation

Troubleshooting

Calibration

Tools

Calibration equipment

Diagnostic tools

HVAC testing instruments

Job description

Summary

The primary purpose of the Utility Systems Repairer-Operator (Seasonal) is to install, maintain, test, troubleshoot, upgrade, repair, and calibrate a variety of complex utility systems that require advanced skills in various utility related trades such as electronic industrial controls maintenance, air conditioning equipment maintenance, heating and boiler plant maintenance, water treatment, and air conditioning equipment operation. Anticipated Entry on Duty: October 2026 - March 2027

Major Duties

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Operates, monitors, and maintains complex utility systems including steam, hot water, chilled water, plumbing, compressed air, vacuum, gas, electrical, heating, and air conditioning equipment to ensure continuous, safety, and efficiency. Performs advanced troubleshooting, repair, testing, and calibration of utility systems and equipment by diagnosing mechanical, electrical, and control system malfunctions; disassembling, repairing, replacing, and reassembling component specifications and safety standards. Installs, operates, and maintains boiler plant and heating systems, including single- and multiple-fuel power boilers and auxiliary equipment, adjusting controls and performing operational repairs to maintain efficiency, meet operations. Installs, operates, diagnoses, and repairs domestic and commercial air conditioning and refrigeration systems, including centralized multi-zone HVAC systems and complex cooling units; replaces major components such as compressors. Serves as operator-in-charge for chilled water generation and distribution systems, ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations; conducts system monitoring, sampling, testing, and documentation. As a condition of employment, the selectee must possess an EPA 608 Universal Certification.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Federal Wage System (FWS) positions.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/. Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. Must have a current EPA 608 Universal Certification. You must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program. You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles.

Evaluations

This position is being filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Under this authority, competitive rating, ranking, and veterans' preference procedures do not apply. The Servicing Human Resources Office will determine whether applicants meet the qualification and eligibility requirements described in this announcement. Applicants who meet these requirements may be referred to the selecting official on a certificate of eligibles for consideration. You must certify that you will maintain a permanent and exclusive residence within the defined vicinity of the field unit(s) listed in this announcement. Upon receipt of a completed application package, the Servicing Human Resources Office will review your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements described in this announcement. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages. Resumes longer than two pages will not be reviewed. Applicants may submit only one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine qualifications and eligibility. If more than one resume is submitted, only the most recent submission will be reviewed. If your resume is incomplete or does not demonstrate that you meet the qualification requirements or specialized experience described in this announcement, you may be determined ineligible or not qualified for further consideration. Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

What to Expect Next

Please refer to your USAJOBS account for application status; the Human Resources Office cannot respond to individual status inquiries. Once your Occupational Questionnaire has been received, you will receive an acknowledgment confirming your submission was successful. Applicants who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. Under this authority, all applicants determined to be qualified may be referred. If your name is referred, you may be contacted directly by the hiring official for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your application at key stages in the process, including when candidates are referred for consideration and when the selection process has been completed. You can find your path with the Department of Interior at https://careers.doi.gov/ Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement.

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/29/2026 unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement: Two Page Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Proof of residence (e.g. mortgage or property deed, lease/rental agreement, utility bill, insurance policy). SF-50 cannot be accepted as proof of residence. Veteran Documentation, if applicable, such as: DD-214, SF15, letter from Veteran Affairs, etc. Documentation that you meet the condition of employment. Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from all documents. Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

Other Information

This position will be filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Eligibility is limited to applicants who reside within the defined local commuting area at the time of application. For this announcement, the local commuting area is the area from which individuals can reasonably commute to the duty station under normal conditions. The defined vicinity for this position is the following counties: Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, Berks, Lancaster, Lehigh, Northampton, and Chester in Pennsylvania; Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, and Mercer in New Jersey; New Castle in Delaware; and Cecil in Maryland. You must provide proof of residency within the defined vicinity (e.g. mortgage or property deed, lease/rental agreement, utility bill, insurance policy, etc.). See the Required Documents section for information on how to verify current residence. This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies. Physical Demands: Work assignments typically require moderate to heavy physical effort to lift, carry, or otherwise handle items typically weighing up to 50 pounds. Duties require the incumbent to maneuver into and out of specific locations while dismantling and assembling utility related equipment. The incumbent makes repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding, and platforms where the parts of systems worked on are in hard-to-reach places. Frequent standing, walking, bending, crouching, reaching, and stooping is typical. Occasionally, climbing and work in high places may be required, as well as the use of hoists, holders, and pulleys when handling large equipment. Working Conditions: Work is both indoors and outdoors for extended periods where the incumbent may be subject to prevailing weather conditions. The incumbent may be exposed to biological hazards or diseases while cleaning equipment or shoveling sludge, and hazardous gases such as methane, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide. The incumbent may also be subject to electrical shock, loud noises, acids, and hydraulic fluids while working around motors and pumps. There is exposure to shock, burns, and strains. The incumbent follows prescribed safety practices and uses safety equipment such as face shields, gloves, hard-toe shoes, respirators, and protective clothing that may be uncomfortable to wear. The incumbent is required to attend and participate in safety meetings and training and review and follow safety regulations and policies prior to using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as goggles, rubber mats, gloves, hard hats and respirators as the jobs require. The incumbent may be required to operate motor vehicles and heavy engineering equipment. All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions. *This position may be filled under a temporary seasonal appointment not-to-exceed 1560 hours rather than 1039 hours depending on the park and program*