Pipefitter
Veterans Health Administration
Posted: January 15, 2026 (1 day ago)
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Veterans Health Administration
Department of Veterans Affairs
Location
Louisville, Kentucky
Salary
$31.19 - $36.40
per hour
Type
Full Time
More Maintenance & Trades jobs →Closes
This job involves installing, repairing, and maintaining various piping systems in a VA medical facility, including those for water, HVAC, medical gases, steam, and industrial laundry equipment.
Workers handle everything from routine maintenance to troubleshooting complex issues, often independently or as part of a team.
It's a good fit for hands-on tradespeople with plumbing or pipefitting experience who enjoy problem-solving in a healthcare setting.
Pipefitter at the Robley Rex VA performs a variety of tasks needed to install, troubleshoot, test, repair, modify, and provide general maintenance on a wide variety of plumbing and piping systems used for waste, drain and vent systems, hot and cold potable water distribution systems, HVAC heating and air conditioning piping systems, pneumatics, medical air and gases, hydraulics, natural gas, steam, and condensate systems commonly used at a medical facility and in ·a modern industrial laundry.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
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) Measurement and Layout 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.
DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation. Major Duties:
Pipefitter at the Robley Rex VA is expected to work both independently on small building maintenance jobs and as part of team of specialists to perform larger installation or repair jobs with limited oral or written technical and administrative guidance or assistance from the Maintenance and Repair (M&R) Supervisor.
In the performance of this work, duties include, but are not limited to: 1.
Layout, install, test, adjust, and maintain several types of piping systems and allied equipment such as pumps, heat exchangers, chemical feed systems, filters, etc. 2.
Perform new installations of plumbing and steam equipment from laying-out, ordering materials, roughing-in, and finishing work. 3.
Perform preventive maintenance and corrective maintenance on a variety of piping systems and allied equipment such as compressors, vacuum pumps, strainers, grease traps, steam traps, meters, regulating valves, etc.
4. Install and maintain pipe insulation of various materials, i.e. rubber, fiberglass, etc. 5.
Install, repair, and maintain complex equipment such as dishwashers, steam sterilizers, hot water heaters and converters, and other hospital equipment as designated. 6.
Install, repair, and maintain HVAC plumbing equipment such as heat exchangers, coils, steam traps, and regulating valves. 7.
Fit, install, and maintain hospital plumbing and laboratory equipment including fixtures such as drinking fountains, lavatories, urinals, sinks, etc. in accordance with prescribes methods and AD.A.
requirements. Provide support for automatic fixtures including routine flushing and battery replacement. 8.
Install, test, and repair life support and life safety systems such as medical gas, medical air, dental air, medical vacuum, natural gas, and fire suppression systems using a variety of piping materials such as copper, brass, cast iron, steel, PVC, and various fastening methods including threading, soldering, brazing, welding, crimping, PVC cement, and Victaulic.
9. Maintain shop inventory of bench stock including ordering materials for jobs and bench stock replacement. 10. Install firestop when necessary in accordance with prescribed UL methods. 11.
He or she develops an understanding of how their work supports VA's mission, carries out instructions, as defined by the supervisor, in order to achieve organizational goals, and participates in the performance management process.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 0800-1600 Position Description Title/PD#: Pipefitter/PD40173A Physical Requirements: Daily handles objects weighing up to 45 pounds and occasionally carries heavier objects for considerable distances on the medical center campus.
Required to push, pull, reach, walk, stand, crawl, kneel, bend and work in cramped positions over and under piping and operating equipment of all types for sustained periods of time to accomplish assigned tasks.
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