The primary purpose of the position is to operate and maintain the machinery that provides power for heating, cooling, and ventilation in the VA Central California Health Care System. Starts and stops equipment and monitors meters and safety controls. Ensures that the systems operate safely and economically by regularly inspecting meters, gauges, values, and instruments. Often uses hand or power tools to make minor repairs to machinery.
May operate computerized controls to regulate the systems.
Major Duties and Responsibilities: Ability to troubleshoot complete systems using various testing techniques and test equipment. Feed water pumps, fuel oil feed pumps, fuel oil transfer pumps, feedwater pumps, condensate make up/feed transfer pumps, values, regulating valves, reducing stations, unit heaters, air compressor systems, all piping, condensate return tank, blow down tank, deaerator tank, blowdown control equipment and pollution control equipment.
Responsible for testing and treatment of boiler water, condensate return water, water softeners, also maintaining the chemical injection system. Maintains proper chemistry of the boiler water, and steam condensate, through daily testing and adjusts automated chemical injection metering pumps and blowdown rates as required. Logs all necessary readings on all equipment in operation and enters daily report on readings recorded.
Monitors parameters to ensure a proper and comfortable environment for staff and patient care throughout the campus. Operation of the Johnson METASYS Computer System which controls heat, ventilation, air conditioning (H.V.A.C.) throughout various locations. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Shift varies.
Position Description Title/PD#: Utility Systems Operator/PD03232-A Physical Requirements: This position requires walking, standing, bending, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling moderately heavy loads daily and occasionally heavy loads. Incumbent must be in good physical condition, have good eyesight with or without glasses and cannot be colorblind.
There can be a great deal of physical effort involved with this position as the equipment is large and must be maneuvered into and out of specific locations while dismantling and reassembling. The incumbent frequently carries and sets up parts and equipment that could weight up to 100 pounds.
The incumbent makes repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding and platforms where the parts of systems worked on are frequently in hard-to-reach places, therefore, stooping, bending, and kneeling maybe required for long periods of time. He/she needs to be familiar with lifting dynamics and heavy object handling and must pass an annual physical for plant operators.
Working Conditions: The USO is exposed frequently to temperature extremes, drafts, dampness, water and noise for work conditions. The majority of work takes place in an industrial environment but does typically require work outdoors, exposed to the elements. They will frequently encounter ladders, catwalks, confined spaces, etc.
Occasionally subject to cuts, electrical shocks, abnormal heat, hazard of boiler burst, steam blowbacks, scalding water burns, toxic amounts of gas and hazardous/toxic chemicals that can be harmful to skin and clothing. You must be a U.S.
citizen to apply for this job Subject to a background/suitability investigation Designated and/or random drug testing may be required Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 A complete application package; including Resume, Transcripts, etc. is required Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
JARREAU.EASTERLING@VA.GOV · 210-393-1924
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $26.68 – $31.13/hr.
This position requires a Other security clearance.
Applications close on 2026-10-28.
This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government · Retrieved 2026-10-23 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.gov
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