Maintenance and Support Technician (Facilities)

Facilities Support Technician

Akima is hiring a Facilities Support Technician to work with the Facilities Operations Specialist and Maintenance Mechanics to conduct physical labor and maintenance work, both indoors and outside, and during all seasons to maintain National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) infrastructure and grounds to facilitate safe and biosecure operations of NWHC laboratories and operations located in Madison, Wisconsin. The technician will also be expected to work with center leadership and facilities staff to determine timeframes for responses to facilities alarms. The NWHC provides diagnostic services to the Department of the Interior and other natural resource agencies, conducts epidemiological investigations and surveillance, conducts laboratory and field research on wildlife health and disease, and disseminates data and information to natural resource managers. The NWHC operates facilities which include biological containment areas for conducting laboratory and animal studies with infectious agents and sustain infrastructure offices and laboratories.

Responsibilities

• Undertake tasks described below and within written established guidelines.
• Provide on-site assistance for regular maintenance, grounds keeping, and repairs needed for critical infrastructure during normal business hours.
• When standard procedures and precedents are not available, performs troubleshooting and conducts various tests to determine necessary actions.

Provide Facility Infrastructure Operations:

• Independently operates the heating system after receiving initial instructions from lead technician or engineer.
• Performs work independently to maintain hot-water boilers, steam boilers, and associated water-treatment systems, circulating pumps, and associated computer control systems, building control systems, and burner controls. Equipment includes gas-fired steam boilers, gas-fired water boilers, and gas and electric water heaters.
• Operates the air conditioning system after receiving initial instructions from lead technician or engineer. Including maintaining chillers, circulating pumps, cooling towers, fans, motors, control systems, and associated water-treatment systems.
• Disassembles, cleans, inspects, repairs, reassembles, and returns heating systems or air conditioning systems to service.

Provide Laboratory Infrastructure Operations:

• Operates laboratory systems after receiving initial instructions from lead technician or engineer.
• Maintain laboratory air-pressure control systems, waste-water treatment systems, biosafety cabinets, fume hoods, autoclaves, and laboratory utilities such as hot water, cold water, and deionized water, compressed air, and natural gas.

Routine Maintenance, Grounds-Keeping, and Repairs:

• Performs a variety of operations, maintenance, and upkeep work.
• Including visual inspection of critical systems at start and end of each workday; repairs of laboratory equipment; unload, move, and set-up of delivered items such as office furniture or laboratory equipment; inventory and clean-up of storage areas; remove discarded items; routine repairs such as filling cracks and holes in walls and ceilings, and touch-up painting; and grounds maintenance, including mowing, snow and ice removal, and trimming vegetation.
• Other duties as requirements arise.

Qualifications

• Must be US Citizen able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.
• Requires a High School Diploma
• 2+ years previous training or experience in AC/Heat systems, lab maintenance, and general maintenance.
• A valid driver's license for local travel via automobile and good driving record.
• Physical demands include but may not be limited to:
• Standing or sitting for extended periods of time,
• Lifting equipment and supplies in excess of 50 pounds,
• Exposure to outside elements.
• Requires moderate and at times strenuous physical labor outdoors and during all seasons (including adverse weather conditions).
• Manual dexterity is required, and personal protective equipment must be worn when conducting work in areas that use biological agents or hazardous chemicals.
• Required to participate in the Center occupational health program and may include medical clearance to wear a respirator.
• Overnight travel may occasionally be required.
• USGS specific training may be required.

Job ID 2026-21812 Work Type On-Site