Machinist
What you'd do
Incumbent serves as a Machinist and Maintenance Mechanic in Engineering Service. Duties are a composite of five different crafts including machinist, equipment mechanic, millwright, welder, sheet metal mechanic. Works at two-divisional teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, Ky. Will normally work at one of the locations for the two divisions (Cooper Drive Division or Leestown Road Division), but required to work at the other location as necessary.
Major duties
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Assembles and installs a variety of equipment from plans, blueprints and manufacturer's literature. Incumbent uses skills to solve problems that are mechanical in nature and cannot be resolved by other trade mechanics. S/he operates a metal lathe, milling machine and drill presses and other machine shop equipment to fabricate replacement parts for various items of equipment. 2. Repairs wheelchairs, carts of various types, hospital stretchers, lockers and other ward equipment; dietetic equipment and utensils, operating tables, IV stands, litters and other items of medical equipment of a mechanical nature. 3. Incumbent troubleshoots, performs maintenance and repairs on specialty equipment such as pneumatic tube systems, medical air and vacuum pumps, air compressors, industrial emergency generators sets, industrial fans and blowers, dock levelers, trash compactor, floor cleaning machines and other items of equipment that include pneumatics, hydraulics and electric. 4. Repairs roads and ground equipment such as lawn mowers, tractors, end loaders, street sweepers, forklift, etc. 5. Cuts and welds various metals to make or repair such items as braces, shackles, hangers, etc., for shop equipment and for use by craftsmen of other shops for equipment installations. 6. The incumbent is frequently called upon to fabricate and install sheet metal duct and accessories for modifications to ventilation and air conditioning ducts and plenums; installs mixing boxes, volume dampers diffusers, etc. 7. Incumbent fabricates replacement parts for hospital equipment. While not regular and recurring, occasionally designs and fabricates parts for special projects that are unavailable on the open market. Assignments may require special adaptation of conventional machines or the use of specialized or non-conventional machine tools such as jig borers, jig grinders, setup plates, etc. Occasionally, the incumbent utilizes tools that must be designed by the machinist for specific fabrication processes, or which may involve the machining of surfaces at unusual or compound angles. Often works in tolerances of +/- one thousandth using a variety of depth micrometers, v-blocks, vernier calipers, gauge blocks, dial indicators etc. 8. The incumbent must communicate with personnel in the departments in which equipment is located or serves relative to problems experienced with equipment, probable solutions and "down times." S/he discusses operating procedures and operator maintenance with user personnel. S/he talks with other craftsmen regarding installations or repairs in which they will be involved. S/he contacts contractors and supply houses for identifications, sources of supply and availability of units, operating supplies, materials and replacement parts. 9. Other duties include assisting other journeymen in, and in their absence or when specifically assigned, performing repairs on other equipment and systems as directed by the Supervisor. 10. Other Duties As Assigned Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday 08:00am - 16:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Machinist/PD05870A 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, 08/07/2026. 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: Mechanical Metal Processing and Metalworking Technical Competence Technical Problem Solving 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: Incumbent frequently carries materials and equipment that weigh up to fifty (50) pounds. He/she occasionally must lift equipment weighing one-hundred (100) pounds. In transporting heavy equipment or materials, hand trucks and dollies are used. He/she makes repairs, adjustments and installations from ladders, scaffolding and platforms where components are in hard-to-reach places. Many installations are in interstitial spaces available only by crawling through the spaces and made additionally more difficult by the necessity of carrying materials and tools. To further complicate the process, there are ducts, conduits and piping intersecting the crawl-spaces and above ceilings that he/she must transverse. The work also requires prolonged standing and reaching. Therefore, standing, stooping, stretching, bending, reaching, kneeling and crawling are frequently necessary in performing duties assigned. Working Conditions: Incumbent works in areas where there is dust, dirt and fumes; danger to the skin from flying metal chips and hot metal, and to fingers and hands from close contact with sharp edges, moving cutters and grinding wheels. Incumbent will be subject to abnormal environmental conditions such as heat, cold, noise, toxic amounts of gas, and the handling of toxic chemicals. Mental application is a necessity due to the complexity of equipment and systems being monitored. Incumbent must remain alert at all times in order to be prepared for emergency situations and equipment hazards or malfunctions.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.