Journeyman HVAC/R Technician

Archer Mechanical specializes in sustainable mechanical and plumbing systems, providing design-build, design-assist, new construction, additions, remodels, retrofits, service, and preventative maintenance. Established in 1987, Archer Mechanical produces a higher-value product cost-effectively and efficiently using progressive construction planning technologies, advanced materials, and manufacturing methods to reduce safety risks, schedule durations, and job-site congestion while enhancing construction results.

About the role

As a Journeyman HVAC/R Technician at Archer Mechanical, you will bring deep, hands-on expertise in low-temp refrigeration, hydronic systems, and chiller platforms to demanding commercial and industrial accounts in our Service Department. This role focuses on high-level, self-directed fieldwork—diagnosing complex refrigeration, hydronic, and chiller systems, performing precise electrical and mechanical troubleshooting, and ensuring every repair meets EPA, OSHA, and Archer safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair commercial/industrial HVAC/R systems, with a specialization in low-temp refrigeration, hydronic systems, and chillers.
• Diagnose and repair air-cooled and water-cooled chillers, including centrifugal, screw, and scroll platforms.
• Perform superheat/subcooling calculations and charge refrigerant systems across low, medium, high, and low-temp blends.
• Diagnose and replace compressors (reciprocating, scroll, screw).
• Troubleshoot hydronic systems, including boilers, pumps, VFDs, air separators, expansion tanks, and glycol loops.
• Operate and maintain cooling towers, including water treatment support.
• Troubleshoot BAS/BMS platforms (e.g., Niagara/Tridium, Trane Tracer, Johnson Controls Metasys).
• Perform electrical troubleshooting to the component level: motors, VFDs, contactors, control boards, and schematics.
• Read and interpret mechanical drawings, P&IDs, and controls sequences.
• Recover, handle, and document refrigerant in compliance with EPA Section 608.
• Follow OSHA Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures and all required PPE standards.
• Immediately report incidents, near-misses, and hazards to the Service Manager.
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation to company standard (service tickets, readings, recommendations).
• Mentor and train apprentices and lower-tier technicians in the field.
• Represent Archer Mechanical professionally on commercial and industrial accounts.
• Self-direct troubleshooting on complex systems with minimal escalation.
• Support on-call/emergency service rotation per Service Department scheduling needs.
• Follow all OSHA and Archer safety requirements.
• Uphold Archer’s core values: Excellence, Quality, Innovation, Integrity.

Requirements

Licensing & Certifications (Required)

• EPA Section 608 Universal Certification.
• Valid driver’s license with a clean MVR (required for operating a company vehicle).

Licensing & Certifications (Preferred, Not Required)

• OSHA 10 certification (OSHA 30 preferred for candidates with apprentice/crew oversight responsibilities).
• Current brazing/soldering certification (Archer provides in-house training for candidates who need it).

Field Experience (Required)

• 10+ years of verifiable field experience in commercial/industrial HVAC/R.
• Minimum 5 years hands-on low-temp refrigeration experience (racks, walk-ins, blast/freezer applications).
• Minimum 5 years hydronic systems experience: boilers, pumps, VFDs, air separators, expansion tanks, glycol systems.
• Direct chiller experience—air-cooled and water-cooled (centrifugal, screw, or scroll platforms).
• Cooling tower operation, maintenance, and water treatment familiarity.
• BAS/BMS exposure and troubleshooting (e.g., Niagara/Tridium, Trane Tracer, Johnson Controls Metasys).

Technical Skills (Required)

• Superheat/subcooling calculations; charging low, medium, high, and low-temp refrigerant blends.
• Compressor diagnostics and replacement (reciprocating, scroll, screw).
• Electrical troubleshooting to the component level: motors, VFDs, contactors, control boards, schematics.
• Pump curve reading, hydraulic balancing, and system commissioning.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, P&IDs, and controls sequences.
• Pressure testing to code.

Safety Standards (Required)

• Working knowledge of OSHA Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures.
• Required PPE compliance: cut level 3 gloves, safety glasses, steel-toed boots, company-issued uniform.
• Electrical safety, ladder safety, and roof access procedure competency.
• Refrigerant handling safety and EPA Section 608 recovery compliance.
• Verifiable record of zero preventable safety incidents (reference-checked).

Preferred (Not Required)

• NATE certification (Commercial Refrigeration or Chiller specialty preferred).
• Manufacturer factory training (Trane, Carrier, Daikin, York).
• Prior experience in a lead-technician or crew-lead capacity.
• Ammonia or CO2 refrigeration system experience.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift 50+ lbs; work at heights, in confined spaces, and in extreme temperature environments.
• Availability for on-call/emergency rotation per Service Department scheduling needs.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance