Summary
Incumbent serves as a Machinist and Maintenance Mechanic in Engineering Service. Duties are a composite of five different crafts including machinist, equipment mechanic, millwright, welder, sheet metal mechanic. Works at two-divisional teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, Ky. Will normally work at one of the locations for the two divisions (Cooper Drive Division or Leestown Road Division), but required to work at the other location as necessary.
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Duties
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MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Assembles and installs a variety of equipment from plans, blueprints and manufacturer's literature. Incumbent uses skills to solve problems that are mechanical in nature and cannot be resolved by other trade mechanics. S/he operates a metal lathe, milling machine and drill presses and other machine shop equipment to fabricate replacement parts for various items of equipment.
2. Repairs wheelchairs, carts of various types, hospital stretchers, lockers and other ward equipment; dietetic equipment and utensils, operating tables, IV stands, litters and other items of medical equipment of a mechanical nature.
3. Incumbent troubleshoots, performs maintenance and repairs on specialty equipment such as pneumatic tube systems, medical air and vacuum pumps, air compressors, industrial emergency generators sets, industrial fans and blowers, dock levelers, trash compactor, floor cleaning machines and other items of equipment that include pneumatics, hydraulics and electric.
4. Repairs roads and ground equipment such as lawn mowers, tractors, end loaders, street sweepers, forklift, etc.
5. Cuts and welds various metals to make or repair such items as braces, shackles, hangers, etc., for shop equipment and for use by craftsmen of other shops for equipment installations.
6. The incumbent is frequently called upon to fabricate and install sheet metal duct and accessories for modifications to ventilation and air conditioning ducts and plenums; installs mixing boxes, volume dampers diffusers, etc.
7. Incumbent fabricates replacement parts for hospital equipment. While not regular and recurring, occasionally designs and fabricates parts for special projects that are unavailable on the open market. Assignments may require special adaptation of conventional machines or the use of specialized or non-conventional machine tools such as jig borers, jig grinders, setup plates, etc. Occasionally, the incumbent utilizes tools that must be designed by the machinist for specific fabrication processes, or which may involve the machining of surfaces at unusual or compound angles. Often works in tolerances of +/- one thousandth using a variety of depth micrometers, v-blocks, vernier calipers, gauge blocks, dial indicators etc.
8. The incumbent must communicate with personnel in the departments in which equipment is located or serves relative to problems experienced with equipment, probable solutions and "down times." S/he discusses operating procedures and operator maintenance with user personnel. S/he talks with other craftsmen regarding installations or repairs in which they will be involved. S/he contacts contractors and supply houses for identifications, sources of supply and availability of units, operating supplies, materials and replacement parts.
9. Other duties include assisting other journeymen in, and in their absence or when specifically assigned, performing repairs on other equipment and systems as directed by the Supervisor.
10. Other Duties As Assigned
Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday 08:00am - 16:30pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Machinist/PD05870A
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
- All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
- Subject to background/security investigation
- Pre-employment physical required
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/07/2026.
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:
Mechanical
Metal Processing and Metalworking
Technical Competence
Technical Problem Solving
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.
Physical Requirements: Incumbent frequently carries materials and equipment that weigh up to fifty (50) pounds. He/she occasionally must lift equipment weighing one-hundred (100) pounds. In transporting heavy equipment or materials, hand trucks and dollies are used. He/she makes repairs, adjustments and installations from ladders, scaffolding and platforms where components are in hard-to-reach places. Many installations are in interstitial spaces available only by crawling through the spaces and made additionally more difficult by the necessity of carrying materials and tools. To further complicate the process, there are ducts, conduits and piping intersecting the crawl-spaces and above ceilings that he/she must transverse. The work also requires prolonged standing and reaching. Therefore, standing, stooping, stretching, bending, reaching, kneeling and crawling are frequently necessary in performing duties assigned.
Working Conditions: Incumbent works in areas where there is dust, dirt and fumes; danger to the skin from flying metal chips and hot metal, and to fingers and hands from close contact with sharp edges, moving cutters and grinding wheels. Incumbent will be subject to abnormal environmental conditions such as heat, cold, noise, toxic amounts of gas, and the handling of toxic chemicals. Mental application is a necessity due to the complexity of equipment and systems being monitored. Incumbent must remain alert at all times in order to be prepared for emergency situations and equipment hazards or malfunctions.
Education
There is no education substitution for this position.
Additional information
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
