Lead HVAC Technician

Lead HVAC Technician

The City of Roanoke is seeking a Lead HVAC Technician to join the Facilities Division of the Public Works Department. In this role, you'll play a key part in helping Facilities sustain equipment to ASHRAE standards, drive greater ROI, and strengthen our sustainability efforts across heating and cooling systems by balancing air and water throughout our buildings.

You'll monitor direct digital control (DDC) software, giving you the ability to remotely adjust systems for precise comfort and cooling and heating performance. You'll also upgrade control systems, giving you better command over system performance and deeper access to performance data, so you can track efficiencies and manage HVAC equipment more effectively.

Using ShortRidge equipment, you'll bring existing systems back into design specifications, cutting costs and reducing energy loss along the way. You'll rely on specialized, calibrated instruments to test, adjust, and balance air and hydronic systems, measuring temperatures, pressures, flow rates, rotational speeds, velocities, and air/water quantities to confirm systems are performing as they should.

You'll also work hands-on with balancing devices like dampers and valves, adjust fan speeds and pump impeller sizes, and fine-tune automatic controls such as thermostats and pressure controllers, all to keep systems running at peak efficiency during normal operation.

Examples of Duties:

• Installs, troubleshoots and repairs heating, air conditioning and refrigeration units, including chillers, boilers and heat pumps
• Troubleshoots malfunctioning heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems to determine the cause of the malfunction
• Performs scheduled maintenance inspections, and adjusts, cleans and calibrates various systems to assure proper operations
• Repairs wiring and electronic components associated with automated building management systems
• Replaces expansion valves, compressors, motors, coil units and other component parts
• Cleans refrigerant systems from hermetic burnouts, evacuates, and charges systems
• May be required to assist with repairs to direct digital and pneumatic control systems
• Checks distribution systems for proper velocity, volume, temperature, pressure, etc.
• Balances air and water treatment systems
• Determines cause of and corrects condensation problems
• Provides technical assistance with the design of HVAC systems including installations and modifications to existing systems
• Assists in training other technicians and staff in preventative maintenance of HVAC systems
• Prepares records and reports describing procedures, actions taken, and recommended solutions
• Prepares and submits requests for supplies and equipment
• Responds to emergency service requests
• May supervise work of other technicians
• Knowledge of pertinent rules and regulations, guidelines, safety orders, departmental operating procedures and safety regulations sufficient to ensure that work is performed in compliance with applicable law.
• Enforces sound safety and housekeeping practices.
• Follows safety rules/procedures; avoid known hazards in the work environment.
• Reviews safety procedures before beginning each job with known hazards.
• Safety first. Places avoidance of injury or property damage above all other job requirements.
• Follows established safety procedures.
• Must be able to climb/work on ladders/lifts to reach high ceilings or walls.
• May be required to wear some type of respiratory protection in the performance of their duties
• May be required to take classes or training to enhance job performance

Typical Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

High school diploma or general education degree (GED) with five or more years of progressively responsible experience working with complex HVAC systems and equipment. Examples of this experience may include chillers, boilers, package units, VAV systems (direct digital, pneumatic and automated control systems), heavy rigging, pipe and steel fabrication experience.

Language Skills:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, plans, sketches, blueprints, and procedure manuals. Ability to write reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

Possession of a valid appropriate driver's license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Journeyman or Masters HVAC Tradesman certification preferred, but not required. DDC Certification must be obtained within 36 months from date of hire or promotion.

Must be able to pass/maintain level 1 CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Systems) background check & certification due to required access to secured areas.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is regularly required to stand. The employee must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including electronic and diagnostic tools, recovery equipment and other HVAC equipment. Must be able to exert 100+ pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus and to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Some exposure to potentially harmful chemicals or materials may occur.