Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation. This is an open continuous vacancy announcement. Applicants will be referred periodically throughout the announcement period. Final application disposition will be completed once all positions have been filled or the announcement reaches the end of the open period stated in the announcement. The first cut-off date is 11:59 pm (EST) two weeks from 02/06/2026.

Pipefitter at the Memphis VAMC performs a variety of tasks needed to install, troubleshoot, test, repair, modify, and provide general maintenance on a wide variety of plumbing and piping systems used for waste, drain and vent systems, hot and cold potable water distribution systems, HVAC heating and air conditioning piping systems, pneumatics, medical air and gases, hydraulics, natural gas, steam, and condensate systems commonly used at a medical facility and in a modern industrial laundry.

As the Pipefitter, the incumbent's duties are defined as:

• Plan and perform work involving the installation, modification, and repair of new and existing low and high-pressure piping systems and equipment.
• Independently plan, sets up, and perform complex modifications to low and high-pressure piping systems requiring changes in layout; and the assembly, adjustment, and test of parts to meet desired specifications.
• Install and operate various low and high-pressure piping systems and equipment such as steam heating, steam generation, vacuum, fuel gas, and fire sprinkler systems, radiators and circulating pumps.
• Perform simpler tasks such as cutting pipe, installing hangers and brackets, and replacing valve washers, worn nuts and bolts.
• Reads and comprehends, as an expert, blueprints, technical manuals, sketches, building plans, and notes which are complex or incomplete requiring extensive knowledge of pipefitting terminology and symbology.
• Interprets and applies plans, blueprints, and sketches in the installation, modification, and repair of low and high-pressure piping systems and equipment.
• Plans and lays out unusual and difficult work on low and high-pressure piping systems and equipment to meet high standards of quality and quantity.
• Possesses knowledge of shop mathematics enabling mechanic to layout angles, arcs, and circles in performing work such as calculating pipe, joint, and valve sizes needed to support pressures of systems; aligning pipes, valves, fittings, and joints for accurate match; and installing proper braces and supports to control movement and vibration.
• Isolates and repairs unusual operational failures as when other competent employees have failed to find malfunctions; or to serve as a special troubleshooter in tracing and eliminating unusually difficult problems as in the case of prototype modifications when documentation and operating knowledge are incomplete.
• Traces and locates the cause of malfunctions in various low and high-pressure piping systems and equipment, identifies type and extent of repairs needed and performs tests requiring knowledge of how the various piping systems and their supporting and controlling devices, including pneumatic controls, are installed and operate.
• Detects malfunctions in most low and high-pressure piping systems and equipment, determine corrective measures, and make repairs using tools and equipment as dividers, grinders, reamers, pipe wrenches, hand and power pipe threaders and cutters, flangers, sliding squares, plumb bobs, mercury gauges, and hydrostatic testing equipment.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 0700-1530, 0730-1600, or compressed schedule
Position Description Title/PD#: Pipefitter/PD50132-A
Physical Requirements: The pipefitter makes repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding, and platforms, and where the systems and equipment worked on are in hard-to-reach places. This requires him/her to stand, stop, bend, kneel, climb and work in tiring and uncomfortable positions. The pipefitter frequently handles, lifts, carries, and sets up parts and equipment that weigh up to 50 pounds. Occasionally, he/she may lift and carry items that weigh over 50 pounds.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; including Resume, Transcripts, etc. is 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.

Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed.

Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.

Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX).

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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, 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.

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
• 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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Documents Accepted:

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Documents Required:

• Resume

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

Next steps