HVAC Technician I

Building Automation Technician

Under the general direction of the Utilities Manager and in accordance with established hospital and departmental policies, procedures, codes, and regulatory requirements, the Building Automation Technician performs a wide range of maintenance, repair, troubleshooting, and preventative maintenance activities on hospital facilities and equipment. This position is responsible for the operation, monitoring, maintenance, and optimization of the Building Automation System (BAS) and related mechanical, electrical, and HVAC systems to ensure a safe, efficient, and reliable environment for patients, visitors, and staff.

Education/Training: High school diploma or equivalent. Associate's degree or technical certification in HVAC, Controls, Building Automation, or a related field preferred.

Licenses/Certification: Refrigeration License preferred.

Required Qualifications and Skills: Demonstrated knowledge of HVAC systems, building automation systems (BAS), and controls principles and practices. Working knowledge of BACnet or similar building automation communication protocols. Ability to troubleshoot, repair, and maintain HVAC systems, controls, and mechanical equipment. Basic understanding of electrical systems and control components related to HVAC and building automation. Ability to interpret technical manuals, schematics, and system documentation. Strong problem-solving and diagnostic skills with the ability to work independently. Ability to perform physical job requirements, including lifting up to 50 pounds, climbing ladders, and working in confined or mechanical spaces. Ability to work flexible hours, including overtime and participation in on-call rotation as needed.

Preferred Qualifications and Skills: Ability to read and understand blueprints. Experience with Building Automation Systems (e.g., Johnson Controls, Siemens, Honeywell, Schneider, or similar). Working knowledge of building automation communication protocols. Experience with HVAC systems, including chillers, boilers, air handling units, and energy management systems. Experience in a healthcare or regulated environment. Basic understanding of electrical systems and controls troubleshooting. Strong problem-solving and diagnostic skills.

Essential Job Functions: Access, adjust, delete, print, collect data, modify, and override Building Automation System (BAS) control point groups. Interpret and manage building control system alarms, point history trends, set points, scheduling, totalization, and routing functions. Inspect, troubleshoot, repair, and calibrate thermostats as needed. Inspect, maintain, and repair heating and cooling systems to ensure optimal performance. Diagnose and repair pneumatic and direct digital control (DDC) valves and associated control systems. Monitor and verify negative and positive pressure rooms to ensure compliance with regulatory and safety standards. Inspect, operate, maintain, and repair various mechanical and HVAC-related equipment. Operate and maintain all chiller plant equipment, including routine performance checks and troubleshooting. Perform water treatment testing for cooling towers and chillers; make appropriate chemical adjustments as needed. Perform preventative and corrective maintenance on HVAC systems and related equipment. Respond promptly to emergency HVAC-related issues and system failures. Recommend equipment upgrades and improvements to support capital planning and system reliability. Coordinate and schedule HVAC system shutdowns with vendors and internal departments to minimize operational impact. Participate in the department's on-call rotation to provide 24/7 off-hours coverage as required.

Physical Demands: Requires frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, and crouching. Requires the ability to lift, push, and pull up to 50 pounds. Requires climbing ladders and working at heights. Requires working in confined spaces such as crawl spaces, tunnels, and mechanical rooms. Requires exposure to varying environmental conditions, including heat, cold, humidity, noise, dust, and mechanical spaces (e.g., boiler rooms, chiller plants). Requires manual dexterity to operate tools, equipment, and computerized building automation systems. Requires visual acuity to read gauges, meters, system displays, and technical documents. May be exposed to mechanical, electrical, and other energy-related hazards; must follow all safety protocols and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Requires the ability to respond to emergency situations and work extended hours, including evenings, weekends, and participation in on-call coverage, as needed.