What are the responsibilities and job description for the Pipefitter position at VA Puget Sound Health Care System?
This position is for the Facilities Management Service at the Seattle & American Lake campuses VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS).
This is an open continuous announcement.Applicants will be accepted on a ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered. The close date for this announcement is Thursday, May 14, 2026.
EXPERIENCE: A 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:
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; religions; 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.
Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Position Description Title/PD#: Pipefitter/PD41355A
Physical Requirements: Employee often works from ladders, scaffolds, and platforms where parts of systems are in hard-to-reach places. The incumbent may be required to stand, stoop, bend, kneel, climb, and work in tiring and uncomfortable positions. The incumbent may be required to lift and carry heavy items. All lifts over 50 pounds will be assisted with a two person lift or using a mechanical handling equipment lifting device. The two-person lift limit is 100 pounds and will only be used for single event, non-routine lifts.
This is an open continuous announcement.Applicants will be accepted on a ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered. The close date for this announcement is Thursday, May 14, 2026.
Qualifications:
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.EXPERIENCE: A 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:
- Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
- Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading)
- Measurement and Layout
- Technical Practices
- Troubleshooting
- Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
- Without more than normal supervision
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; religions; 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.
Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Responsibilities:
Duties include but are not limited to:- Follows pipe-fitting work procedures that are specified in some detail for a for recurring and routine work.
- Completes pipe-fitting work in compliance with instructions and adherence to established practices and standards
- Follows pipe-fitting instructions and assignments that are normally provided verbally but may occasionally be made in writing
- Receives, stores, identifies, issues, and maintains records of tools and materials.
- Inventories all tools at prescribed intervals and checks bin cards frequently to assure accurate stock levels are maintained.
- Picks up from the warehouse materials purchased for specific jobs, labels those materials to job orders, and occasionally delivers these materials to the job site.
- Performs pipe assembly
- Uses tools and equipment such as tapes, rules, hacksaws, hand and power pipe threaders and cutters, packing and caulking irons, and pipe wrenches.
- Erect protective enclosures, clean rooms, negative air machines to provide negative airflow to the work area to protect patients and staff from potential hazards of the work area
- Installs, replaces, or repairs various pipes and flanges.
- Installs, replaces, or repairs various joints shut-off valves and unions.
- Sets and adjusts die to cutter
- Installs, replaces, or repairs various joints, ceiling or wall radiators.
- Eliminates water hammer in steam lines by changing pitch of branches to risers; and covering pipes with insulating material.
- Sets and adjusts threader.
- Covers pipes with insulating material.
- Cuts threading lengths of pipe.
- Measures threading lengths of pipe.
Position Description Title/PD#: Pipefitter/PD41355A
Physical Requirements: Employee often works from ladders, scaffolds, and platforms where parts of systems are in hard-to-reach places. The incumbent may be required to stand, stoop, bend, kneel, climb, and work in tiring and uncomfortable positions. The incumbent may be required to lift and carry heavy items. All lifts over 50 pounds will be assisted with a two person lift or using a mechanical handling equipment lifting device. The two-person lift limit is 100 pounds and will only be used for single event, non-routine lifts.
Salary : $33