The Boiler Plant Equipment Mechanic position is located in the Facilities Management service at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/29/2025. EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards. SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements: Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading) Materials Technical Practices Troubleshooting Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Without more than normal supervision Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Subjected to sustained physical effort in the operation of power boilers and steam distribution systems; physical requirements may include working from ladders, scaffolds, and platforms where parts of the system are in hard-to-reach places. Work is carried out in tiring positions such as standing, crouching, stooping, kneeling, and prone for long periods of time. Will be required to lift items up to 50 pounds alone and heavier items with assistance. Working Conditions: Most of the work is performed indoors, but occasionally service is performed outdoors and subject to adverse weather conditions. Employee is subject to hazards of refrigerants, fumes, boiler bursts, steam blow back, flame blow backs, scalding water, burns and electrical shock. Exposed frequently to temperature extremes, high noise levels, drafts, dampness, water, and noise for work conditions. Frequently encounters ladders, catwalks, confined spaces, etc., and is subjected to hazards normally encountered in the trade. May be exposed to asbestos.
Duties include but are not limited to: Disassembles and repairs various sizes and types of industrial heating equipment. Disassembles units and cleans parts with solvent, steam, and air. Fits parts and reassembles units, which involves the checking, removal and replacement of bearings, gages, pressure regulators, valves, heating coils, traps, burners, and other related parts. Repairs fire boxes under boilers. Repairs refractions in boiler firebox, baffles in boilers, and replaces tubes in boilers. Removes and installs equipment by bolting and unbolting the frames. Reads and comprehends maintenance-repair manuals and prints. Overhauls feed water pumps, condensate return pumps, brine pumps, and fuel oil pumps either steam or electrically driven. Work Schedule: Full-Time 8-Hour shifts to include Nights, Weekends, and Holidays Position Description Title/PD#: Boiler Plant Equipment Mechanic/PD09953A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized