Utility Systems Operator

About the role

This position reports to the Engineering Operations Supervisor of the VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas facility. The facility is a campus type hospital on 84 acres consisting of five major patient care buildings, an accredited research facility and several outlying buildings supporting patient care and administrative services totaling 2.5 million square feet making this facility the third largest hospital in the VA Health Care system.

Responsibilities

• Boiler Operation: Starts, operates, adjusts, stops, maintains, and performs various operation repairs on the steam plant consisting of three D-type pressurized water-tube power boilers, each developing 32,000 pounds of steam per hour and a Combined Heat and Power plant consisting of a SOLAR Mercury 50 gas-turbine electrical generator producing 4.6 MW of campus electricity per hour and a RENTECH Heat Recovery Steam Generator producing 14,000 - 45,000 pounds per hour of steam for a maximum of 141,000 pounds per hour operating 110-125 psig. Also operates all support equipment-Deaerator Tank, Condensate Storage Tanks, associated condensate and boiler feed pumps, natural gas compressor, glycol cooling system, chemical injection systems, and air-control systems. Incumbent starts and stops equipment and regulates the steam plant and associated equipment as steam load varies. He must anticipate load changes based on operations occurring at various times of the day such as laundry and changing weather conditions. Incumbent continuously monitors gauges, meters, boiler water level indicators and computer control equipment and displays to detect changes in operation to keep system operating safely and efficiently.
• Chiller Operation: Manages two (2) 1000-ton steam turbine-driven chiller units and four 1000- ton centrifugal chiller units in conjunction with a 3.25 million gallon chilled water thermal storage system, performing hourly checks of all operating equipment in the chiller plant, making shiftly inspections of the cooling towers and utility tunnels. Operates a primary, secondary, tertiary chilled water pumping system, maintaining proper chilled water flows throughout the system to maintain required conditions in all zones of the Medical Center. Operator may be required to make manual adjustments to system to maintain system efficiency and integrity. Operates chilled water thermal storage system, making manual adjustments to system water flows and chiller cycling to maintain system capacity and efficiency. Performs preventive and corrective maintenance on chillers, cooling towers, boilers, pumps, steam traps, and other associated equipment. Performs major and minor repairs to equipment in accordance with VA regulations and directives, ASME boiler and pressure vessel codes, ASHRAE standards, facility policies, and good engineering practices.
• FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND BUILDING SYSTEMS: Monitors 24/7 all hospital required emergency power systems including the fire alarm system, master medical gas alarm panel, emergency communications systems, elevator emergency call system and elevator monitoring computer for forty-two elevators campus-wide and coordinates events as required to ensure life safety measures are taken. In the event of a fire alarm, notifies Safety, VA Police and Engineering personnel of the location of the alarm. After-hours, notifies the VA Police, Nursing Clinical Coordinator and responds to the scene.
• CENTRALIZED BULK OXGYGEN PLANT: Manages the bulk liquid oxygen (cryogenic) system,11,000 gallon primary source and 500 gallon reserve supply of medical oxygen throughout campus for direct patient care. Manages all deliveries, performs daily inspections, monitors regulating devices, pressure gauges and recording of tank levels. Operator manages portable bulk nitrogen supply, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide systems that directly support the surgical suites.

Physical Requirements

• Frequent work in confined areas in and around boilers.
• Moderate to strenuous effort and long periods of walking, standing, climbing, bending, and crouching.
• Frequently lift and carry boiler parts and chemical supplies weighing up to 40 pounds unassisted.
• Occasionally, and with assistance, carries items weighing over 40 pounds.

Qualifications

• Experience: 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:
• Dexterity and Safety
• Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
• Machine Tools
• Measuring Instruments
• Technical Practices
• Without more than normal supervision