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Posted: February 5, 2026 (0 days ago)

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Utility Systems Repairer-Operator (HVAC Technician)

Smithsonian Institution

Other Agencies and Independent Organizations

Fresh

Salary

$31.20 - $42.63

per hour

Closes

February 19, 2026

Job Description

Summary

This job involves maintaining and fixing heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and other utility systems in Smithsonian facilities to keep historic buildings and exhibits running smoothly for millions of visitors.

You'll handle routine checks, repairs, and emergency responses under supervision or independently, depending on the level.

It's a great fit for someone with hands-on mechanical experience who enjoys working in a dynamic, public-facing environment like museums.

Key Requirements

  • Experience operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing HVAC, refrigeration, heating, and boiler systems
  • Knowledge of high-pressure steam distribution and humidification systems
  • Ability to perform predictive and preventive maintenance on utility equipment
  • Skills in testing fire pumps and emergency generators
  • Familiarity with monitoring and responding to computer systems in a central control room
  • Capability to install, modify, and relocate equipment in specialized facilities like laboratories
  • Experience cleaning and maintaining mechanical rooms and equipment areas

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 Utility Systems Repairer-Operator serves as a mechanic in any of the Building Management Division's (BMD) zones performing the full range of operations, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair.

In this position, you will: WG-8: Perform basic operations, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair work under close directions; operates, performs predictive and preventive maintenance on, and repairs equipment and component parts of refrigeration, air-conditioning, heating, high pressure steam distribution, humidification systems, and boiler systems.

Perform fire pump and emergency generator testing.

Work with engineering and testing personnel while planning and modifying a system to meet specific conditions and accomplishes repairs and modifications to meet conditions required.

Assure the continuous operation and surveillance of the computers in the Central Control Room, analyzes printout data and alarms and assures appropriate remedial actions are taken.

WG-10/11: Perform the full range of operations, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair; operates, performs predictive and preventive maintenance on, and repairs equipment and component parts of refrigeration, air-conditioning, heating, high pressure steam distribution, humidification systems, and boiler systems.

Install and recognizes the cause of faulty equipment, and repairs, modifies and relocates equipment that provides specific and critical conditions in laboratories and special purpose facilities.

Perform maintenance to equipment, makes adjustment and repairs to equipment and control systems to ensure proper and efficient operation; tests, detects and diagnoses trouble in heating and air-conditioning systems and takes corrective action.

Clean and maintains interiors of all mechanical rooms, air intakes, and all other mechanical equipment and areas.

Assure the continuous operation and surveillance of the computers in the Central Control Room, analyzes printout data and alarms and assures appropriate remedial actions are taken.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/5/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/5/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: 26R-SR-313427-DEU-FM