HVAC Mechanic or Senior HVAC Mechanic

The University of Virginia Facilities Management team is seeking a skilled HVAC Mechanic or Senior HVAC Mechanic to join our Housing Zone, supporting Facilities Management's goal of providing consistent, cost-effective, and reliable maintenance to the University community.

This position supports the Housing portfolio, encompassing roughly 180 buildings and 3.1 million square feet of residential and program space. These buildings serve thousands of students and span historic houses, modern residence halls, and student support facilities.

This role is a great fit for someone who enjoys hands-on work, solving problems, and being part of a fast-moving team. Your work has a real impact on students' daily lives and plays a meaningful part in shaping their UVA experience.

This position will be filled at either the HVAC Mechanic or Senior HVAC Mechanic level based on the selected candidate's qualifications, licensure, and experience.

Why Join UVA Facilities Management:

• Year-round stability: Full-time, local work with no travel or seasonal layoffs.
• Professional development: Access to trade credentialing, continuing education, and advancement through UVA training and apprenticeship pathways.
• Strong community: A collaborative, service-minded team that values craftsmanship, communication, and safety.
• Great benefits: Health, dental, retirement, and educational benefits for you and/or your family.
• Meaningful work: Every task directly supports students, faculty, and staff across UVA's residential community.

Position Summary:

HVAC Mechanics and Senior HVAC Mechanics play an important role in keeping UVA's residential facilities safe, comfortable, and functional. Both positions perform journey-level installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems throughout the Housing portfolio.

HVAC Mechanics independently perform skilled maintenance, diagnostics, and repairs on a variety of HVAC equipment, including packaged and central systems, heat pumps, ventilation equipment, refrigeration systems, and temperature and humidity controls. They perform preventive maintenance, respond to service requests, and support the reliable operation of building mechanical systems.

Senior HVAC Mechanics perform advanced troubleshooting, repairs, and maintenance on complex HVAC systems with minimal supervision. They provide technical leadership, help establish preventive maintenance schedules, coordinate complex assignments, and mentor other mechanics and apprentices. Senior Mechanics also serve as technical resources when diagnosing recurring or difficult system problems.

Both positions work within a collaborative, multi-trade maintenance team, providing opportunities to develop additional skills in plumbing, electrical, carpentry, and general building systems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair HVAC systems and equipment, including heat pumps, packaged units, central heating and cooling systems, ventilation equipment, refrigeration systems, and associated mechanical components.
• Perform preventive maintenance and inspections to identify potential problems, improve system efficiency and reliability, and reduce unplanned equipment failures.
• Diagnose and repair heating, cooling, ventilation, temperature, and humidity control issues in occupied residential buildings while minimizing disruptions to students and building operations.
• Troubleshoot electrical, mechanical, and control components associated with HVAC equipment, including motors, compressors, pumps, valves, thermostats, and control devices.
• Respond to maintenance work orders, service requests, and emergency HVAC issues in a timely and professional manner.
• Read and interpret blueprints, mechanical drawings, wiring diagrams, equipment documentation, and technical specifications.
• Identify and estimate materials, equipment, and labor requirements necessary to complete assigned work.
• Maintain accurate documentation, including labor, materials, preventive maintenance records, and work order updates within UVA's maintenance management system (AIM).
• Communicate effectively with residents, customers, supervisors, and other trades regarding work progress, scheduling, and service interruptions.
• Perform work in accordance with applicable mechanical, electrical, and refrigeration codes, OSHA regulations, University safety requirements, and proper use of personal protective equipment.
• Serve as a primary resource for HVAC-related issues within the assigned Housing area while participating in cross-training opportunities that strengthen the team's capabilities across multiple building trades.
• Participate in emergency response, snow and ice removal, and standby or callback rotations as assigned.
• Perform other duties necessary to support Housing Zone operations.

Additional Responsibilities – Senior HVAC Mechanic Level:

• Independently perform advanced diagnostics, troubleshooting, repairs, and installations on complex HVAC and refrigeration systems.
• Diagnose recurring or difficult equipment failures, identify root causes, and recommend long-term corrective actions.
• Establish and support preventive maintenance schedules and procedures to improve equipment reliability, efficiency, and service life.
• Determine priorities for emergency service requests to maintain critical HVAC operations and prevent damage to University property.
• Estimate labor, materials, equipment, and time necessary for complex maintenance repairs and small projects.
• Provide technical guidance, training, and mentorship to HVAC Mechanics, assistants, apprentices, and other maintenance staff.
• Review completed work for quality, safety, and compliance with applicable codes and University standards.
• Coordinate with other skilled trades, supervisors, and contractors when work involves multiple building systems.
• Support improvements to maintenance practices, equipment performance, and operational efficiency throughout the Housing portfolio.

Required Qualifications for HVAC Mechanic:

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience: Minimum of four (4) years of experience in the HVAC trade.
• Licensure: Valid Journeyman or Master HVAC license and valid driver's license.
• Skills: Demonstrated ability to independently troubleshoot, install, maintain, and repair HVAC and refrigeration systems and equipment.

Required Qualifications for Senior HVAC Mechanic:

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience: Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in the HVAC trade.
• Licensure: Valid Journeyman or Master HVAC license and valid driver's license.
• Skills: Demonstrated advanced troubleshooting and diagnostic abilities, experience working with complex HVAC systems, and the ability to provide technical guidance and mentorship to other trades staff.

Preferred Qualifications:

• EPA Section 608 Universal Certification.
• Experience maintaining HVAC systems in commercial, institutional, multifamily residential, or higher-education facilities.
• Experience with variable refrigerant flow (VRF), heat pump, packaged, and central HVAC systems.
• Experience with building automation systems (BAS), direct digital controls (DDC), and HVAC control troubleshooting.
• Experience developing or supporting preventive maintenance programs and computerized maintenance management systems.
• Experience mentoring or training other skilled trades staff.
• Experience working collaboratively with other building trades.

For this position, the selected candidate must complete the required background checks prior to their start date.

Compensation:

• HVAC Mechanic: Anticipated Hiring Range is $24.50 to $30.00 per hour ($50,960 to $62,400 Annually)
• Senior HVAC Mechanic: Anticipated Hiring Range is $31.00 - $36.00 per hour ($64,480 to $74,880 Annually)

The selected candidate's starting compensation will be determined by qualifications, relevant experience, licensure, and the level at which the position is filled.

Employees new to the University may be eligible for a $2,500 sign-on bonus, subject to current University policy and approval.

This is a full-time position with UVA benefits. Employee benefits package highlights include:

• 22 days of paid time off, increasing with service; 13+ paid holidays each year, in addition to paid time off; Parental and Community Service Leave
• Health plan with options to meet healthcare and financial needs
• Retirement through the Virginia Retirement System
• Tuition and professional development benefits
• Employee wellness program featuring activities to earn up to $500/year

Physical Demands:

Requires regular walking, standing, kneeling, crawling, squatting, and climbing ladders or stairs, lifting and carrying of various weights. Repetitive motion for grasping, pulling, pushing, and operating hand and power tools; work may occur in a variety of indoor and outdoor conditions and environments.  

To Apply:

Apply online, search for requisition R0088441. Internal applicants may search and apply for jobs on the UVA Internal Careers website. Complete the application, and upload the following Required materials:

• Resume

Applications that do not contain all required documents or partial applications will not receive full consideration. 

This position will remain open until filled.

Questions regarding the application process should be directed to Marcus Rozier, Academic Recruiter at hjv5vm@virginia.edu.

Requires regular walking, standing, kneeling, crawling, squatting, and climbing ladders or stairs, lifting and carrying of various weights. Repetitive motion for grasping, pulling, pushing, and operating hand and power tools; work may occur in a variety of indoor and outdoor conditions and environments.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.