Restaurant HVAC & Equipment Tech

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

We are a multi-unit Papa John’s franchise operator serving the Greater Philadelphia region (PA, NJ, and DE). We are hiring a full-time HVAC & Equipment Technician to keep critical equipment running at our restaurants — refrigeration, HVAC, and commercial ovens. This is a dedicated in-house, field-based role: you will be a primary technician responsible for equipment uptime, performing preventive maintenance, diagnostics, and repairs to keep stores operating and food safe. Experience across refrigeration and HVAC is required; training on our pizza ovens will be provided.

Key Responsibilities

•     Diagnose, repair, and maintain commercial refrigeration equipment: walk-in coolers and freezers, reach-in and prep-table units, ice machines, and beverage/cold-holding systems.

•     Service and maintain rooftop HVAC package units (gas/electric RTUs), including filter changes, economizer checks, refrigerant charge, electrical, and seasonal start-ups.

•     Maintain, calibrate, and repair commercial pizza ovens (e.g., conveyor and deck ovens) — training on our oven equipment will be provided .

•     Run a preventive-maintenance program across the assigned territory on a recurring schedule to reduce breakdowns and extend equipment life.

•     Respond to service calls and prioritize food-safety, oven-down, and comfort emergencies to minimize downtime and product loss.

•     Recover, recycle, and charge refrigerants in full compliance with EPA Section 608 and maintain required refrigerant-handling records.

•     Troubleshoot electrical, mechanical, gas, and control issues; read wiring diagrams and manufacturer specs.

•     Maintain accurate service logs, track parts and inventory on the company vehicle, and flag units that are candidates for replacement.

•     Coordinate with outside contractors and equipment vendors for major repairs, warranty work, crane lifts, and new installs.

•     Partner with store managers and operations leadership to schedule work with minimal disruption to business hours.

Required Qualifications

•     EPA Section 608 certification (Universal preferred; Type II minimum) — required to handle refrigerants.

•     3+ years of hands-on commercial refrigeration and HVAC-R service experience, ideally in restaurant, foodservice, or multi-unit retail settings.

•     Proven ability to diagnose and repair walk-in refrigeration, ice machines, and rooftop package units.

•     Mechanical and electrical aptitude to learn commercial oven service (oven-specific training provided).

•     Valid driver’s license and clean driving record (company vehicle provided).

•     Own hand tools; comfortable with gauges, meters, and recovery equipment.

•     Able to work independently across multiple sites and manage a daily route with limited supervision.

•     Reliable, food-safety minded, and responsive to emergencies.

Preferred Qualifications

•     HVAC-R trade school diploma, apprenticeship, or equivalent certification.

•     Experience with major brands (Daikin, Trane, Carrier, Lennox, Heatcraft, Manitowoc, True, Hoshizaki) and commercial pizza ovens (Middleby Marshall, Lincoln, XLT).

•     Familiarity with R-32 and R-454B refrigerants and current low-GWP equipment.

•     Electrical and basic plumbing/gas-piping competency.

Schedule & Work Environment

•     Full-time, primarily daytime hours aligned to store operations, with rotating on-call for emergencies.

•     Field-based role with daily travel among Philadelphia-area locations (company vehicle provided).

•     Work in coolers/freezers, on rooftops, and in kitchen environments; some weekend or evening work during outages.

Physical Requirements

•     Lift and carry up to 50–75 lbs; climb ladders and access rooftops.

•     Work in cold (walk-in freezer) and hot (rooftop/kitchen) conditions and in tight mechanical spaces.

•     Stand, kneel, and bend for extended periods.