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Posted: February 4, 2026 (6 days ago)

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Maintenance Mechanic

Smithsonian Institution

Other Agencies and Independent Organizations

Fresh

Location

Washington, District of Columbia

Salary

$34.71 - $40.55

per hour

Closes

February 18, 2026

Job Description

Summary

This job involves hands-on maintenance work in Smithsonian facilities, like fixing doors, painting walls, unclogging drains, and doing small electrical repairs to keep historic buildings and exhibits running smoothly for millions of visitors.

It's a flexible role that may require evenings, weekends, holidays, or emergency call-ins.

A good fit would be someone with practical trade skills from construction or building upkeep, who enjoys varied tasks and can work independently in a busy, public environment.

Key Requirements

  • Experience in carpentry tasks such as fabricating, installing, and repairing structures like doors, windows, partitions, and flooring
  • Skills in painting and surface preparation, including scraping, sanding, and applying finishes to walls, ceilings, and woodwork
  • Ability to perform minor plumbing maintenance, such as clearing clogged drains using tools like augers
  • Knowledge of basic electrical repairs on equipment like vacuum cleaners, buffers, space heaters, and light fixtures
  • Willingness to work late shifts, weekends, holidays, and respond to emergencies
  • Overall experience and training demonstrating the ability to handle diverse maintenance duties in historic facilities

Full Job Description

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo.

This position is located in one of the Smithsonian Institution's facilities serviced by the Office of Facilities Management (FM).

The Office of Facilities Management (FM) is responsible for all Smithsonian facilities, many of which are designated as historic and all of which are visited by millions of people each year.

In order to be rated qualified, an applicant's overall experience and training must indicate possession of the minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position.

Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position.

Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience.

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; religious; 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. Major Duties:

The Maintenance Mechanic performs a variety of duties in the zones and may be required to work late shifts, weekends and holidays and is subject to being called in for emergencies.

In this position, you will: Perform carpentry duties including fabrication, installation, repair and general construction of items and structures, such as doors, windows, partitions, stairways, steps, flooring and scaffolding, metal studs, metal door jambs and tiles of all types.

Perform a variety of painting tasks in connection with maintenance and protective painting for walls, floors, ceilings, and woodwork; also prepares walls, ceilings and woodwork for painting by removing old finishes, scraping, burning, sanding or chemical stripper.

Perform minor maintenance of plumbing fixtures and clears minor clogged drains, unstops and cleans drains using auger (power and mechanical) when necessary.

Perform a variety of minor electrical repairs to equipment such as vacuum cleaners, buffers and space heaters; also, re-lamps all light fixtures and maintains emergency exit signs.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/4/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/4/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: 26R-SR-313426-MPA-FM