Apprentice System Operator Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $59,533.00 Annually
Location : City Hall - 117 West Duval Street, Jacksonville, FL
Job Type: Civil Service
Job Number: 2026-07080
Department: PUBLIC WORKS
Opening Date: 05/05/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Job Description
Are you looking for a position with a work/life balance? Do you want to earn four (4) weeks off during your first year of employment? Do you want low and no cost health insurance options? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you need to complete your application now. Work for the city you love!!!
The Public Works Department is actively seeking an Air Conditioning and Heating Apprentice.
Did you know as a City of Jacksonville employee, you would also have twelve (12) paid holidays and a personal leave day as well? In addition to health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance and flexible spending plans are also available. City of Jacksonville employees are also eligible for Federal Student Loan Forgiveness after ten (10) years of public service and on-time payments.
This is skilled craftwork at the apprentice level in the installation, operation, maintenance, overhaul, and repair of air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating systems. The work requires knowledge of techniques, methods, and procedures used in installing, operating, maintaining, overhauling, and repairing air conditioning, refrigeration and heating systems which is learned on the job or through specialized training. Contacts require courtesy, tact, and skills in dealing with others. The work is semi-routine in that tasks are covered by procedures, but some latitude is permitted to consider the most appropriate method, technique, or procedure to follow. The work is patterned involving similar situations and generally requiring only the choice of the correct procedure. The work is performed indoors and outdoors where there are some risks and hazards, but they are controllable. Operates power, mechanical and hand tools and motor vehicles. The physical demands consist of walking, standing, sitting, bending, climbing ladders to work in high elevated spaces, crawling under equipment and moving or lifting equipment and tools, such as fan motors, compressors and various types of components weighing more than fifty (50) pounds, and include exposure to dust, dirt, and other unpleasant conditions. May be assigned to work shift hours. The work is performed under general supervision where the work assignments are varied and subject to practices and procedures, but the worker is permitted latitude to set priorities subject to superior's approval.
Examples of Work

• Assists the Air Conditioning & Heating Technician to perform the job responsibilities.
• Installs, operates, maintains, overhauls, and repairs air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating systems.
• Diagnoses system-operating conditions using central control or energy management panel.
• Maintains and repairs automatic control circuitry relays and drive equipment.
• Maintains chemical balance in air conditioning water systems through testing and water treatment.
• Monitors air conditioning and heating systems.
• Performs major overhaul of air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating systems.
• Repairs, recalibrates, and maintains electronic controls of energy management systems.
• Performs electrical, plumbing, and construction duties related to air conditioning maintenance, repair, and installation.
• Inspects, repairs, and lubricates fans, motors, pumps, and ductwork.
• Inspects air-handling units.
• Demonstrates proficiency in the City of Jacksonville's competencies.
• Performs related work as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the techniques, methods, and procedures used in the installation, maintenance, overhaul, and repair of air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating equipment.
• Knowledge of the equipment, tools, and materials used in the operation and maintenance of air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating equipment.
• Knowledge of liquid petroleum and natural gas systems.
• Knowledge of occupational hazards and safety precautions.
• Skill in the care and use of air conditioning and heating systems tools and equipment.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints and schematics.
• Ability to perform preventative maintenance of air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating system.
• Ability to operate computerized control panels.
• Ability to use various electrical testing equipment.
• Ability to operate power, mechanical and hand tools.
• Ability to read, comprehend, and apply written materials including equipment, instruction, and safety manuals.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Open Requirements/Supplemental Information

• Three (3) years of experience involving the operation and maintenance of air conditioning and heating systems.
  
  • Note: (Up to one half of this experience requirement may be met by completing formal education and training through a trade school or community college program).
• During the probationary period, must pass a competency examination on liquid petroleum gas equipment conducted by the State Division of Liquid Petroleum Gas Division.

LICENSING/CERTIFICATION/REGISTRATION:

• Must obtain within 18 months, a valid certificate of competency as a Journeyman Class "A" HAR Mechanic license or comparable State of Florida license and must be maintained during employment in this class.
• A valid driver's license is required prior to appointment and must be maintained during employment in this class.
• Must qualify for prior to appointment, obtain, and maintain during employment City of Jacksonville Public Driver Certification.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• The probationary period for this class is one (1) year.
• Depending upon assignment, must pass the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) background screening performed by the Jacksonville Sherriff's Office prior to appointment. Within thirty (30) days of appointment date to classification, acquire and maintain the appropriate level of Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) certification which corresponds to the job responsibilities. The level will be determined by current CJIS guidelines and may change periodically. Certification is obtained by successfully completing a web-based training course and test which covers physical security, incident response, the protection of information and other IT specific security threats, vulnerabilities, and risks.
• Depending upon assignment, may be required to obtain specialized certifications.
• This classification performs safety-sensitive functions and is subject to pre-employment, random and other drug/alcohol testing programs as set forth in the City of Jacksonville's Drug Free Workplace Policy (0401).

A FULLY COMPLETED ONLINE APPLICATION IS REQUIRED. Apply at Work history is required for all employment/volunteer work in which qualifications are being based. When meeting/basing qualifications on education, a copy of your college transcript, with your social blackout, is required with your application. U.S. transcripts do not need to be official, but must state your name, the school's name, classes taken, grades received, type of degree, and date degree was conferred. Transcripts outside the U.S. must be converted to U.S. standards.
The application system works best with Google Chrome or Edge with Chromium web browsers. Please try to apply using one of these browsers. To ensure you receive email notifications, be sure to make "" a trusted sender. You may also track the status of your application and see notifications by logging into your account. For further information regarding the application process. please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions on the website.
Certain servicemembers and veterans, and the spouses and the family members of such service members and veterans, receive preference and priority, and certain servicemembers may be eligible to receive waivers for post-secondary educational requirements, in employment and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.
If claiming veteran's preference, you must attach a DD-214 (Member Form-4 copy) or military discharge papers, or equivalent certification from the Department of Veterans Affairs listing military status, dates of service and character of discharge. You must also attach the Veterans Preference Certification Form and if applicable, the additional forms as noted here:
If a candidate believes he or she was not afforded the veteran's preference, he or she may file a written complaint, within sixty (60) calendar days upon receipt of notification of the hiring decision, requesting an investigation to:
Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
Attention: Veterans' Preference Coordinator
11351 Ulmerton Road, Suite 311-K
Largo, FL 33778-1630
Email:
The City of Jacksonville provides a wide array of benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Our comprehensive benefit programs include medical, dental and vision plans; life insurance coverage for you and your dependents; flexible spending plans for medical reimbursement, dependent care, parking, and transit expenses; an employee assistance program for you and your dependents; a 457(b) tax-deferred compensation plan to supplement your retirement, and a ROTH IRA plan. We also provide an extensive wellness program that includes a health intervention program if qualified, lunch and learns, health fairs, and discounted gym memberships. Please visit the Employee Benefits website for details on all the plans we offer.
01
Each applicant must complete this supplemental questionnaire as a part of the application screening and selection process. The information you provide will be reviewed and used to determine your eligibility to move forward in the selection process. Copying and pasting your resume or stating "see resume" does NOT fulfill the requirements of the question. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Do you agree to answer each supplemental question truthfully and certify that your responses can be verified from information included within the application?

• Yes
• No

02
Are you authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship from the City of Jacksonville either now or in the future?

• Yes
• No

03
The budgeted annual salary for this position is $59,533. This is not negotiable. If selected, would you be willing to accept this position at this salary? (Civil Service positions have a 5% increase after successfully completing probation.)

• Yes
• No

04
Do you have three (3) years of experience involving the operation and maintenance of air conditioning and heating systems?

• Yes, I have more than three (3) years of experience involving the operation and maintenance of air conditioning and heating systems.
• No, I have less than three (3) years of experience involving the operation and maintenance of air conditioning and heating systems.

05
Provide a detailed description (at least 3-4 complete sentences) of your experience.
06
Indicate the organization(s) you worked for where you gained this experience.
07
Must be willing to obtain within 18 months, a certificate of competency as a Journeyman Class "A" HAR Mechanic license or comparable State of Florida license and must be maintained during employment in this class.

• Yes, I am willing to obtain.
• No, I am not willing to obtain.

08
During the one (1) year probationary period, you must obtain and pass a competency examination on liquid petroleum gas equipment conducted by the State Division of Liquid Petroleum Gas Division.

• Yes, I agree.
• No, I do not agree.

09
Do you understand this classification performs safety-sensitive functions and is subject to pre-employment, random and other drug/alcohol testing programs as set forth in the City of Jacksonville's Drug Free Workplace Policy (0401)?

• Yes, I have read and understand the statement above.
• No

10
Do you have a valid motor vehicle operator license that is not under suspension/revocation or restricted under any pending or current citations/court proceedings? Please indicate which license you possess.

• FL Class A Commercial Driver License (CDL)
• FL Class B Commercial Driver License (CDL)
• FL Class C Commercial Driver License (CDL)
• FL Class E Driver License
• GA Standard Driver's License
• GA Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
• GA Class B Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
• GA Class C Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
• License from another State.
• Learner Permit
• My license is currently invalid.
• I do not possess any type of Driver's License.

11
If you have a State of FL license, does your license currently have one or more of these restrictions?

• C or 1 - Business Purpose Only
• D or H - Employment Purposes
• P or 2 - Probation Interlock Device
• S or I - Other Restriction
• Two or more of these restrictions.
• I have an out of state license.
• None of the above.

12
Have you been cited for more than three (3) moving violations, or two (2) at fault accidents within the past 12 months from current date?

• Yes
• No

13
Have you been convicted of Driving-Under-the-Influence (DUI) in any state during the last 36 months from current date?

• Yes
• No

14
Have you been considered a "Habitual Traffic Offender" (HTO) within the past 12 months from current date?

• Yes
• No