HVAC Watch Mechanic (8193C)

About Berkeley

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Departmental Overview

Facilities Services works to continuously improve the campus in partnership with all members of the University community to ensure that classrooms, laboratories, and offices support teaching, learning and research. Through the efforts of over 400 dedicated staff members and serving over 10M building square feet and 1100 acres, Facilities Services includes the asset management program, custodial services, maintenance operations, engineering and technical services, environmental services, grounds operations, the Cal Zero Waste program.

Position Summary

This position maintains and repairs the steam and refrigeration equipment on campus. The HVAC/Steamfitter engages in projects requiring the highly specialized skills of steamfitter/refrigeration mechanical work for campus clients under general supervision.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: May 6, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

Steamfitting / Refrigeration (60%)

• Repair and maintain large chiller systems.
• Repair and maintain air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating systems.
• Maintain all equipment pertaining to each system, including low, medium, and high-pressure steam lines and traps, pressurized, gravity, and vacuum condensate return systems, condensate and steam-operated pumps.
• Repair or replace pneumatic control valves relating to pressure reducing stations, radiators, heating coils, convectors, unit heaters and boiler controls.
• Maintain steam distribution systems in steam manholes as required.
• Install and repair lab steam, vacuum, air, oxygen lines, hard pneumatic lines and control valves.
• Repair heat exchangers for heating, domestic and industrial hot water.
• Repair, maintain autoclaves, cage washers, dishwashers, warm rooms, cold rooms, constant temperature rooms, growth chambers, incubators, dehumidifiers and humidifiers.
• Repair and replace controls on heat exchangers for heating and domestic hot water.

Administrative Duties (30%)

• Adhere to scheduling of work through the work management program.
• Consult the shop superintendent and/or lead for technical information.
• Support maintenance projects and programmatic work assignments.
• Keep accurate work records and complete paperwork in a neat and timely manner.
• Define and describe materials, tools and/or equipment, work methods and task sequences.
• Serve as liaison with clients, relaying their needs and requirements to the appropriate department or superintendent.
• Obtain materials and equipment.

Safety (5%)

• Adhere to all university and departmental safety guidelines.
• Attend job-related and safety training as required.
• Employee is personally responsible for following health and safety guidelines and instructions.

Other (5%)

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Must possess five years apprentice or equivalent work experience and two years journeyman experience in craft-related trade.
• Experience using a variety of craft techniques and all tools pertaining to the trade, including welding, brazing, soft and hard solder and pipe fitting.
• Ability to gain access to small/tight areas and is able to work or maneuver around obstacles that requires stairs and ladders; ability to lift up to 75 lbs.
• Repair and test boilers. Includes all piping, gas valves, low water and make up valves. Replacement of controls and failed components. Operate boiler when a component of the heating system has failed and a repair is needed.
• Troubleshoot, repair or replace heat exchangers and their components for HHW, DHW, IHW and replacement of heating and cooling coils. Repair and replacement of all control valves and diaphragms over one inch in diameter.
• Repair or replace radiators, convectors and baseboard heaters, heating and cooling coils and their actuators.
• Repair, replace and when necessary, adjust controls, for HHW, DHW and IHW heat exchangers.
• Installation of hard pipe pneumatic control lines for new and existing control systems.
• Repair or replace pneumatic diaphragms over 1 inch in diameter.
• Troubleshoot and repair, replace and provide preventative maintenance where necessary for all permanent chillers, air conditioning, humidity control systems, absorbers, growth chambers, cold rooms, warm rooms, constant temperature rooms, walk in boxes, reach in boxes, incubators, air driers for compressors, humidifiers and dehumidifiers.
• Repair and replacement of low, medium and high-pressure steam lines, strainers and steam traps condensate lines, HHW lines and chilled water lines.
• Repair and replace pressure reducing stations and their components on steam, air and water lines in buildings.
• Repair and coordinate preventative maintenance for autoclaves, dishwashers, cage washers, all related piping, valves and steam traps.
• Repair and replace hard piped air lines, valves and pressure switches on compressors and vacuum pumps.
• Knowledge of and ability to conform to University, state, and federal policies and procedures including safety policies such as the EPA, IIPP, Hazard Communication Program, and Health and Safety Manual.
• Ability to work with a fitted work respirator as required.
• Must possess excellent communication skills and ability to interact in a positive manner with campus community, including students, building managers, academic personnel, and craft personnel, in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to track jobs to completion and prioritize requirements; able to work and support shutdowns and project schedules to minimize interference with others.
• Must be able to read information from equipment manufacturers' manuals, service requests, layout sketches, blueprints, appropriate state and local government codes, trade-specific manuals and practices, and determine how the fixture or equipment should perform.
• Knowledge of relevant building codes and regulations.
• Ability to execute all job assignments in a timely manner.
• Ability to communicate clearly over the telephone and two-way radio.
• Must be available to respond to emergencies, work on-call, rotating swing shift, and holidays.
• Adhere to Facilities Services' work rules and Code of Conduct.

Education/Training:

• 5-year apprenticeship or equivalent training and work experience.