HVAC Technician (12 mon, 1st)

Michigan Technological University is an R1 technological research university founded in 1885 in Houghton. Our rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Research focus areas include defense, health, energy, automotive, environment, and aerospace.

The area’s waters, forests, and snowfall support year-round recreation, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, and paddling. The University is an integral part of the region, supported by a friendly and welcoming community that takes pride in being a true college town. We embrace our size, climate, sense of adventure, and originality.

Summary

Michigan Technological University is seeking a HVAC Technician for our Facilities Management department. The HVAC Technician is responsible for the inspection, maintenance, repair, installation, calibration, and troubleshooting of all components of campus HVAC systems, including refrigeration and steam systems.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

• Maintain, repair, replace, inspect, calibrate, install and troubleshoot:
• Refrigeration equipment and building air conditioning systems including coolers, refrigerators, freezers, chillers, cooling towers, condensers and related equipment.
• HVAC system components such as fans, motors, pumps, compressors, dampers, heat pumps, humidifiers, coils, ductwork, heat exchangers, boilers, stills, steam traps, and piping.
• DDC and Pneumatic control systems and components such as controllers, modules, sensors, actuators, transducers, and software.
• Fabrication and installation of HVAC systems and controls.
• Maintains spare parts inventory for essential HVAC and control equipment.
• Responds to emergency call outs which may occur during off shift hours.
• Follows all university safety policies and procedures while performing duties including use of hot work permits and confined space procedures and takes prescribed safety classes and training.
• Attends additional training classes as assigned and continually works toward increasing knowledge and skills relative to field of work.
• Prepare cost estimates, layout sketches, material selection, schedules, surveys, and reports for various projects as assigned. Coordinate and/or lead as assigned the efforts of other trades in projects involving multiple trades, solicit input in project estimates, layout and material selection from other trades and planning and engineering.
• Contribute to a safe working environment by following safe work procedures, wearing assigned PPE, actively participating in safety training and development of safe work procedures.
• Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives.
• Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

• High School diploma or equivalent post-secondary certificate.
• EPA 608 Universal Refrigerant Recycling and Recovery Certification
• Graduate of a Trades school program in HVAC or Refrigeration or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired.
• Valid driver’s license.

Required Experience

• Four years of experience in maintaining, repairing, and trouble-shooting commercial HVAC systems.
• Four years of experience in maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting commercial or industrial refrigeration systems which may include walk-in freezers, refrigerators, coolers, and ice making machines.
• Four years of experience in maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting chillers, cooling towers, evaporators, and condensers.

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• Six years of experience in maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting commercial or industrial refrigeration including freezers, refrigerators, coolers, and ice making machines.
• Six years of experience in installing, maintaining, troubleshooting or repairing chillers, cooling towers, evaporators and condensers.
• Training and coursework in air conditioning and refrigeration, blueprint reading, CAD, industrial piping, piping systems, pneumatic and electronic controls, steam systems and welding.
• Experience in maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting direct digital controls, network control modules and controllers, resistive temperature devices, (RTD’s), thermistors, and I/P transducers

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries and work harmoniously with diverse groups of students, faculty, and staff.
• Demonstrated knowledge of safe maintenance procedures applicable to the trade.
• Demonstrated knowledge of standard practices, building codes, regulations and theory applicable to HVAC control systems.
• Knowledge and ability to properly troubleshoot, maintain and repair commercial or industrial refrigeration and HVAC systems.
• Demonstrated knowledge of typical commercial and industrial digital and pneumatic HVAC controls systems and components.
• Demonstrated ability to read blueprints, wiring diagrams, temperature control diagrams, operating and maintenance instructions, plans and manuals.
• Basic knowledge of parallel and series electrical circuits.
• Basic knowledge of 3-phase circuits up to 480 volts.
• Demonstrated ability to use manual and electrical tools and equipment applicable to the position.
• Demonstrated ability to join piping and related components by soldering, threading and adhesives.
• Ability to be trained for and to work in OSHA regulated confined spaces.
• Knowledge of the basics of hot work permits.
• Demonstrate competency in using personal computers to access web sites, load and operate software, use word processors and spreadsheets and manage files and directories.
• Ability and availability to work flexible hours, overtime, evenings, nights and weekends when required to handle emergencies or work backlogs

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Knowledge of water treatment for boilers, hot water systems, chilled water systems and cooling towers.
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability of how to properly maintain, troubleshoot, calibrate, repair and install typical commercial and industrial steam systems and their components including boilers, boiler controls, boiler auxiliaries, piping, valves, PRV’s, safety valves, steam traps, expansion joints and condensate pumps.
• Basic knowledge of digital and computer control systems.
• Basic knowledge of the National Electric Code for Class 1, 2 and 3 low voltage circuits.
• Pneumatic control components such as regulators, air dryers, controllers, thermostats, actuators, and operators.
• Basic knowledge of Variable Frequency Drives
• Knowledge of Building Energy Management system control components and software including fume hood control systems
• Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with persons with a wide variety of backgrounds and viewpoints.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, sense heat or feel objects, tools, keyboards and controls; stand; talk and hear; and taste and smell. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms; climb or balance on stairs, ladders and work platforms; kneel, crouch or crawl.
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close, distance, peripheral, and color vision; depth perception; and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee must be able to control hand movements required while using tools and equipment for this trade.
• The work environment is that of a typical industrial fabrication shop or equipment room setting.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. Hearing protection is required.
Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
• Hearing protection, safety glasses, hard hat, work gloves and as prescribed by specific safety assessments for various tasks

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.

Required University Training:
• Employee Safety Overview
• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
• Annual Data Security Training
• Annual Title IX Training

Background Check:
Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) % (1=100%)

1

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Appointment Term

12 months

Shift

1st Shift

Pay Rate/Salary

Contractual. External candidates will receive the minimum amount hr

Title of Position Supervisor

Maintenance Manager

Posting Type

Internal & External

Dependent on Funding

No

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

AFSCME Posting - 07/16/2026 - 07/22/2026
External Applicants are encouraged to apply, however internal AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal AFSCME posting dates.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or accommodations during Michigan Tech’s hiring process please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; color: #000000; font-size: 11pt">
Other Conditions of Employment:
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

The contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. Michigan Tech will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the Michigan Tech Public Safety.

In compliance with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) and its implementing regulations (34 CFR Part 86), Michigan Tech is committed to maintaining a drugfree campus environment and actively promoting the health and safety of its community. Find that outlines the University's policies, legal sanctions, health risks, and available support resources related to the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures* (minimum requirements)