Boiler Plant Operator

Job Description

Job Description

Boiler Plant Operator

Sacramento VA Medical Center (Mather, CA) & Stockton VA Medical Center (French Camp, CA) | Full Time | 4 x 10-hour shifts, swing and graveyard

VA Northern California Health Care System • Solicitation 36C26127Q0059 • Contract start 12/4/2026 through 5/26/2027, with option to 11/18/2027

Position Overview

VA Northern California Health Care System needs four experienced Boiler Plant Operators to support its steam and utility plants. These plants run around the clock at the Sacramento VA Medical Center in Mather and the Stockton VA Medical Center in French Camp. Two operators will be based at each site. All four will be cross-trained by VA Boiler Plant staff so they can cover full shifts at either location when needed.

You will work four 10-hour shifts per week (40 hours). Expected shifts are swing (Wednesday–Saturday, 2:00 PM–12:00 AM) and graveyard (Sunday–Wednesday, 10:00 PM–8:00 AM). The plant runs 24/7/365, so shifts that fall on federal holidays are worked.

Key Responsibilities

• Operate and monitor gas/propane-fired water-tube and fire-tube boilers, electronic controls, and auxiliary plant equipment.
• Watch gauges, charts, meters, water levels, temperatures, pressures, combustion, and fuel/air ratios, and make authorized adjustments to keep the plant running safely.
• Run the boiler feedwater treatment system: perform water tests, dose treatment chemicals in proper proportions, and record results.
• Monitor plant and remote systems through Johnson Controls Metasys and Siemens Desigo building automation systems.
• Inspect controls, combustion equipment, water-level regulation, steam regulators, O2 trim, safety devices, flow meters, feed pumps, and gas and air regulators.
• Respond to alarms, abnormal conditions, and utility interruptions according to VA procedures, and escalate emergencies right away to VA Engineering.
• Troubleshoot, perform minor operational maintenance, and make repairs within the operator's assigned scope.
• Keep complete operating logs, shift records, inspection records, and water-treatment records, and give clear handoffs at shift change.
• Keep the boiler plant clean, safe, and orderly, and complete VA site orientation, cross-training, and required VA online (TMS) training.

  Qualifications & Experience

• Required: at least 1 year of documented experience as a plant operator, including Boiler Plant Operator duties within the past 3 years.
• Required: education, training, or hands-on experience in utility systems operations, with the ability to work at journeyman level after site orientation.
• Required: working knowledge of boiler controls, combustion and burner management, steam and water-level regulation, O2 trim, feed pumps, gas regulators, and water treatment.
• Strongly preferred: ability to navigate and monitor Johnson Controls Metasys and Siemens Desigo building automation systems. Candidates with documented experience on both systems will be given priority.
• Preferred: boiler plant experience in a hospital or other critical facility.
• Required: ability to read, write, and speak English well enough to work safely, and enough computer skill to complete VA online training, email, and electronic logs.
• Required: ability to pass a VA Tier 1 (Low Risk) background investigation, fingerprinting, and PIV badging. You will need to attend these appointments during VA business hours.
• Required: must supply your own work pants and steel-toe safety footwear that meets ASTM F2413, with electrical-hazard rating and slip- and water-resistant soles. VA provides uniform shirts, gloves, and safety glasses.

  Compensation

  Hourly pay: $48.00/hour base wage

  Health & Welfare: $5.42/hour, paid on all hours up to 40 per week

  Blended rate: $53.42/hour

  Also included: Paid federal holidays and paid sick leave (1 hour for every 30 hours worked). Overtime over 40 hours per week is paid at 1.5x the base wage.

  Pay rates meet U.S. Department of Labor Service Contract Act Wage Determinations 2015-5631 (Sacramento County) and 2015-5653 (San Joaquin County), Boiler Tender classification.

  Per diem: Not applicable. This is a local-hire position, and commuting to your assigned home site is not reimbursed.

  Travel: If VA temporarily assigns you to the other site and it is more than 50 miles away, you will be reimbursed for mileage over 50 miles at the GSA rate. Per diem and lodging are also covered at GSA rates when you work back-to-back days at the other site.

  Application Process

  To be considered, submit the following:

• A current resume showing your boiler plant operating experience, dates, and the control systems you have used (including Metasys and/or Desigo).
• Three professional references with name, title, relationship, phone number, and email. At least one should be a current or recent supervisor.
• A signed and dated Letter of Intent that names your work location (Mather or Stockton). The VA requires this letter for every candidate submitted.