Maintenance Worker III, McDonald Observatory

Job Posting Title: Maintenance Worker III, McDonald Observatory ---- Hiring Department: McDonald Observatory ---- Position Open To: All Applicants ---- Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40 ---- FLSA Status: Non-Exempt from FLSA ---- Earliest Start Date: Immediately ---- Position Duration: Expected to Continue ---- Location: MCDONALD OBSERVATORY ---- Job Details: General Notes The McDonald Observatory is a major astronomical research observatory located 16 miles from Fort Davis, Texas (440 miles from The University of Texas at Austin campus). This position is at McDonald Observatory and reports to the Technical Trades Crew Leader and the Assistant Physical Plant Manager as required. The position includes variable scheduling with some holiday rotation. Residence in the Observatory's residential community may be available. The position is considered an essential employee for emergency or critical response. The University of Texas at Austin provides an outstanding benefits package to staff, including: Competitive health benefits (Employee premiums covered at 100%; family premiums at 50%) Vision, dental, life, and disability insurance options Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays Teachers Retirement System of Texas (a defined benefit retirement plan) Additional voluntary retirement programs: tax-sheltered annuity 403(b) and a deferred compensation program 457(b) Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses For more details, please see: https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards Purpose Perform daily advanced maintenance and repair tasks across one or more craft areas at McDonald Observatory. Works independently and supports journey-level craft workers. Routinely conducts preventive maintenance. Responsibilities Mechanic/Technician Support. Assists Mechanic/Technicians with maintenance and repair of residential, commercial, and telescope structures related to mechanical, electrical, HVAC, and hydraulic systems. Facility Maintenance. Assists with carpentry and general residential maintenance, including concrete work, structure repairs, drywall, painting, appliance servicing, and plumbing repairs. Preventative Maintenance. Performs preventive maintenance tasks as required on telescope domes and physical plant equipment. Heavy Equipment. Operates various types of equipment, including tractor, backhoe, and forklift. Maintains logs and records on equipment. Safety and Facility Support. Maintains a professional, customer-service demeanor and a professional appearance according to UT McDonald Physical Plant dress code. Wears applicable protective gear as appropriate. Participates, as necessary, as part of the Emergency Response Team for the Observatory, including wild-land fire training, first aid, CPR, and AED as required. Performs Other Duties as Required. Performs duties to meet the facility needs. Drives a UT vehicle to perform work and maintains a Texas driver's license. Required Qualifications High school diploma or GED. At least three years of experience in one or more of the following crafts and trades: installation, carpentry, heavy equipment/construction, maintenance, plumbing, and/or repair work in commercial or residential electrical, or HVAC systems, as well as maintenance and repair of vehicles, facilities, or equipment. One year of experience in facilities maintenance, residential electrical and HVAC, general construction, welding, or machine shop fabrication. Provides updates and workload status to supervisors and team, including needed maintenance and repair needed for facilities at the observatory. Manages time efficiently, supports other workers, and exhibits a professional demeanor. Competencies required are accuracy and attention to detail, services excellence, effective project/task communications skills, taking initiative and performing work needed around the facility, strong interpersonal skills, listens to clients, and demonstrates strong planning and problem-solving skills. Complies with all safety policies, practices, and procedures; reports unsafe activities or structural issues to supervisors. Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate. Preferred Qualifications Significant experience in installation and troubleshooting electrical systems, HVAC systems, or hydraulic lift systems. Driving Required This job requires a class "C" operator's driver's license. The applicant selected must provide a current three-year driving record from the current state of residence. If not currently a Texas resident, a Texas driver's license must be obtained within 30 days of becoming a Texas resident. Salary Range $40,000 depending on qualifications and experience Working Conditions Wears uniforms and personal protective safety equipment, if required, and follows safety guidelines or procedures. According to UT policy, maintain professionalism in interactions with the public and fellow workers, as well as professionalism in appearance. Use of tools and standard equipment for the particular trades working in. May work around varied conditions involving fire, mechanical and chemical hazards, and other hazardous materials. Work in all weather conditions and extreme temperatures. May work around chemical fumes, chemicals, and biohazards. May work around electrical and mechanical hazards. Work around standard office conditions. Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation. Use of manual dexterity. Climbing stairs and ladders. Lifting and moving heavy objects. May require working extended hours in inclement weather with hazardous equipment or materials. Acts as a member of the Observatory's Emergency Response Team that responds to fire, medical, hazardous material, or other emergencies that threaten or interfere with the facility's normal operations. Observatory on-site housing may be available. Staff on-site in the residential community may serve as an essential employee. Work Shift Work evening, weekend, and holiday hours as needed Occasional after-hours work Required to respond to an emergency or non-emergency situations Required Materials Letter of interest Resume/CV Three work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, and then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes. Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left-hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled into your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above. ---- Employment Eligibility: Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval. ---- Retirement Plan Eligibility: The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. ---- Background Checks: A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position. ---- Equal Opportunity Employer: The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. ---- Pay Transparency: The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. ---- Employment Eligibility Verification: If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university. ---- E-Verify: The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following: E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF] ---- Compliance: Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031. The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701. Start Here, Change the World At The University of Texas at Austin, tradition meets innovation in the heart of a city that frequents lists of the best places to live and work. Named by Forbes as one of America's Best Large Employers for the sixth year in a row in 2025, UT offers both a dynamic work environment and a gateway to vibrant local culture. Whether you're at the forefront of the student experience, conducting world-changing research or supporting the engine that drives Texas’ flagship university, working at UT means making a lasting impact on our city, our state and our world. Our more than 20,000 faculty and staff empower 55,000 students to challenge ideas, pursue passions and shape their futures. Joining UT, you’ll become part of a community dedicated to making a meaningful impact on campus and throughout the world. Looking for a student job? Please see our Student Employment site. Comments and Inquiries: Email comments to hrsc@austin.utexas.edu. For questions or concerns regarding equal opportunity only, contact Equal Opportunity Services. Additional information for applicants can be found on the Human Resources web page: Applying for Employment. For more job information, call the Human Resource Service Center at (512) 471-4772, or toll-free at (800) 687-4178. UT Austin is a Tobacco-free Campus