Heating & Refrigeration Mechanic III (Austin Facilities Management)

Heating & Refrigeration Mechanic III

Austin Facilities Management is currently seeking a qualified and experienced Heating & Refrigeration Mechanic III to support the maintenance, repair, and optimization of HVAC systems across a variety of municipal buildings and facilities. This position plays a key role in maintaining the comfort, safety, and energy efficiency of essential City operations. More than just a maintenance role, this opportunity allows you to contribute to the reliable delivery of public services while advancing your career in HVAC and mechanical systems.

Job Description

Under general supervision, this position performs work of a complex nature, including installation, maintenance, and repair of residential, industrial and/or commercial heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems in City facilities.

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Operates, maintains, troubleshoots, diagnoses, and repairs chiller controls/safety circuits, and refrigerant circuits on multi-stage chillers, air conditioning systems, ice machines, and other equipment.
• Installs, maintains, troubleshoots, diagnoses repairs, and performs start-up of building automation system network devices and components.
• Designs and installs heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, and ventilation equipment and systems.
• Calibrates and services thermostats, chillers, and other system controls.
• Performs basic service on HVAC equipment including pumps, air handlers, cooling towers, and other mechanical systems.
• Reads and interprets profiles and blue prints.
• Maintains appropriate records.
• Assists with supervisory tasks as required.

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

• May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training and guidance to others.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the operation, maintenance, and repair of residential, commercial and industrial heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
• Knowledge of occupational hazards and applicable safety rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of tools, materials and methods used in maintenance and repair of ventilation, refrigeration and air conditioning.
• Knowledge of applicable building codes.
• Skill in presenting oral and written instructions.
• Skill in reading plans and specifications and in laying out work.
• Skill in performing emergency and routine repairs and maintenance as required.
• Skill in understanding oral and written instructions.
• Skill in estimating time, materials and costs.
• Skill in performing heavy manual work.
• Skill in tracing and analyzing causes of HVAC troubles and in making repairs.
• Skill in conducting routine inspections for the purpose of determining conformity to ASHRAE, building code and safety standards.
• Skill in organizing and prioritizing work.
• Ability to analyze complex control sequences and resulting operations and to develop innovations to solve difficult technical problems.
• Ability to acquire, through training and on-the-job experience, specialized knowledge in rapidly changing technology and applications.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus four (4) years experience in repair and maintenance of commercial/industrial heating, ventilation, air conditioning or refrigeration systems, including chillers.
• Completion of accredited training in air conditioning and refrigeration systems may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• Texas Driver License in good standing.
• EPA Refrigerant Recovery Certification.
• Must obtain unrestricted Texas Air Conditioning License for City use within 120 calendar days of hire.

Physical Requirements:

• Continuous outdoor activity, frequent sitting, standing, walking, squatting, bending, twisting upper body, climbing, exposure to extreme heat, cold, noise, mechanical hazards, fume/odor hazards.
• Occasional kneeling, crawling, carrying and lifting up to 50 lbs., client/customer contact, indoor activity, exposure to electrical hazards, explosive hazards, biological hazards, dust/mites hazards.
• May require employee to be medically cleared to wear respirator.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Extensive hands-on experience in maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing commercial HVAC systems, including chillers, boilers, air handlers, VAV systems, and cooling towers and refrigeration equipment.
• Proven experience in managing HVAC projects, including coordination, scheduling, and resource management.
• Demonstrated leadership and team management skills, including the ability to mentor junior technicians and coordinate maintenance activities effectively.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external vendors.
• Currently have valid Unrestricted Texas Air Conditioning License for City use or HVAC certification and additional relevant technical certifications or the ability to obtain within 120 calendars of hire.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and the capacity to work independently with minimal supervision