Industrial Equipment Mechanic
What you'd do
This position is located within Facilities Management Service at the Kansas City VA Medical Center. The primary purpose of the position is to perform journeyman-level installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, alignment, and modification of industrial and mechanical equipment essential to safe and reliable hospital operations.
Major duties
The mechanic works throughout the medical center campus in mechanical rooms, equipment spaces, service corridors, and designated support areas where industrial and mechanical systems are installed. The mechanic ensures the continued functioning of equipment that directly supports patient care activities, food service operations, facility environmental controls, and the daily functioning of the medical center. Work requires comprehensive knowledge of industrial equipment systems, mechanical components, hydraulic and pneumatic operations, and basic electrical principles relevant to equipment maintenance. Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: - Repairs and installs equipment and components of a mechanical nature normally found in a large medical center complex, ensuring safe and reliable operation. - Maintains and repairs food service mechanical equipment such as conveyor dishwashers, mixers, disposers, ovens, food preparation machines, and associated kitchen support systems. - Maintains and repairs compactors, conveyors, pumps, pneumatic tube systems, automatic doors, and other mechanical support equipment used in facility operations.- Maintains and repairs mechanical patient-care support devices including hydraulic chairs, treatment tables, and electrically powered hospital beds. - Performs limited sheet-metal tasks such as basic layout, cutting, and simple assembly needed for equipment repair or component replacement.- Performs seasonal or periodic maintenance on snow-removal equipment including blades, spreaders, and snow blowers as assigned. - Uses hand tools, power tools, precision measuring instruments, and shop equipment required for industrial equipment repair and maintenance.- Interprets and applies building plans, blueprints, engineering drawings, and technical manuals to diagnose problems, plan work sequences, and perform repairs. - Applies journeyman-level knowledge of mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and basic electrical components used in conveyors, compactors, pumps, automatic doors, and food service machinery. - Performs welding of various metals including cast iron and stainless steel; cuts metals using hand-held torches; brazes steel and iron; and uses basic heat-treating techniques. - Completes incidental welding, brazing, cutting, and basic metal fabrication required for equipment modification or repair. - Uses standard shop mathematics (measurements, alignment calculations, layout values) to ensure proper fit, alignment, and functioning of repaired or fabricated components. - Integrates knowledge of related trades-basic electrical, carpentry, and sheet-metal work, when accessing, removing, reinstalling, or modifying components during repair assignments. - Uses hand-held nibblers, riveters, saws, punches, and floor-mounted shears, brakes, and formers as needed during metalwork and component fabrication. - Performs small-engine preventive maintenance and repairs, including tune-ups, oil changes, and parts replacement. - Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 AM-3:30 PM Position Description Title/PD#: Industrial Equipment Mechanic/PD017200 Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/22/2026. 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 Technical Practices (Electrical Electronic) Troubleshooting 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: The work requires frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, climbing ladders, and working in awkward or cramped positions. The Industrial Equipment Mechanic must reach into confined equipment spaces to access components during maintenance and repair tasks. The mechanic frequently lifts and handles items weighing up to 40 pounds, and may occasionally lift items weighing up to 75 pounds with assistance or mechanical lifting devices. Work often involves pushing, pulling, and maneuvering tools, parts, and equipment components while performing repairs. Working Conditions: The work requires standing, stooping, bending, and reaching. The incumbent works inside and outside in areas that are usually noisy, dusty, greasy, and dirty. Work areas may expose the incumbent to danger to the skin and eyes from flying metal chips and abrasive materials; irritation from contact with solvents, lubricants, coolants, and abrasive compounds; and hazards to the hands, arms, and other body parts from cutting tools, grinding wheels, rotating mechanisms, and moving machine parts. The incumbent is frequently exposed to uncomfortable temperature extremes, including very hot or very cold environments, depending on work location and seasonal conditions. The nature of facility operations may require working during callbacks in the event of emergencies, disasters, or unforeseen circumstances. The incumbent must comply with all safety instructions, personal protective equipment requirements, and regulatory safety standards associated with the trade and the medical center.
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