Pipefitter Helper/Pipefitter Worker Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. HOB-2025-149 Department Architect of the Capitol
Salary $24.25 to $40.14 Grade 05 to 10
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 2/6/2025 Close Date 2/24/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Office of the Chief of Operations, Superintendent, House Office Buildings (HOB), Assistant Superintendent, Facility Operations Division, Mechanical Systems Branch, Mechanical Systems Day/Evening/Night Sections with an emphasis on industrial pipefitting, or sprinkler systems work.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all U.S. Citizens.

Duties

This position is emergency essential - Depending on the type of emergency the employee may be required to report to work during emergency situations

Tour Of Duty: Day - 6am-2:30pm; Evening - 2pm -10:30pm; Night -10 pm -6:30am;

Hours may change due to operational needs.

MAJOR DUTIES:  

Duties include installation, modification and repair of high pressure utilities, radiators, supply and disposal systems as well as welding of commonly used metals.

Serves as a journey-level pipefitter and inspects and troubleshoots piping system equipment and fixtures.

Using specifications and plumbing codes, fixes and replaces pipes, fittings and water and storm drainage systems. Replaces toilets, lavatories, showers, water heaters, hot water tanks, water pumps and sprinkler systems.

Uses knowledge and experience of welding processes and equipment. Uses accepted trade methods and a variety of manual welding processes to weld all types of commonly used metals in various shapes, sizes and thicknesses. Uses a wide range of metal welding processes to make more difficult welds meeting close tolerance, strength and other requirements. These welds may be in hard to reach places. Devises special jigs and fixtures to hold the parts to be welded. Demonstrated knowledge of several related trade procedures. Lays out and plans work from blueprints, sketches, drawings, specifications and work orders.

Restores pipe, steam traps and relief and control valves. Uses unions, flanges and sweating to attach pipes. Attaches pipe sections by screwing, bolting, brazing, welding, gluing, fusing and soldering.

Positions system routes, fixes regulating devices and arranges hangers for proper angle. Fixes risers, expansion joints, pumps, gauges and pressure and assures proper operation. Uses blueprints, layout sketches and specifications for correct sizing.

Replaces steam heating, steam-generating or radiator systems and fixes high-pressure piping systems and equipment. Fixes, adjusts and replaces sewage or water systems, showers and fire sprinkler systems.

Refurbishes current plumbing systems.

The incumbent is responsible for utilizing a thorough knowledge of and compliance with applicable AOC, Office of Congressional Workers’ Rights (OCWR) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety rules and regulations to ensure that work progresses in a safe manner. Provides or receives training, either on-the-job or through classroom training, to ensure that required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is utilized.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be able to pass a drug test.
  • Your resume and question responses must demonstrate job-related elements.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication

To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet one of the categories below:

  • A citizen of the United States;
  • A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B);
  • A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible;
  • A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408); or
  • A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States.

Qualifications

You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement.  

WG-5: 

SCREEN-OUT FACTOR: Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision:

  • Performing basic mathematical operations such as: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and working with simple fractions to take measurements and make calculations needed to complete the task.
  • Using tools common for the trade including: hacksaws, pipe wrenches, tape measures, levels, and square tools.
  • Using a computer for communication, accessing information, completing work orders, and maintaining accurate record-keeping.
  • Reading and interpreting written and oral instructions in order to accomplish the assigned work.

WG-8: 

SCREEN-OUT FACTOR: Ability to perform pipefitter worker duties without more than normal supervision:

  • Showing job responsibility and exercising initiative.
  • Performs troubleshooting, repair and installing plumbing systems and components.

Within 6 months of start date you must be able to obtain a Confined Space Certification required for sewer clean-outs, a Backflow Prevention Certification, have ability to weld steel and other metals as required and be Fall Protection Certified.  

WG-10:

SCREEN-OUT FACTOR: Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision:

  • Journey-level pipefitter skills and performs troubleshooting, repair and installing plumbing systems and components.

Within 6 months of start date you must be able to obtain a Confined Space Certification required for sewer clean-outs, a Backflow Prevention Certification, have ability to weld steel and other metals as required and be Fall Protection Certified.  

Education

There is no educational requirement.

Additional information

Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement. If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable. For more information, please visit OPM vet guide

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System.  If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC’s suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide, and cover the cost for the drug test.
 
The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol.
 
The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1185221678150.shtm

The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, genetic information, sexual orientation, and/or disability.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.
 
Moving expenses are not authorized.
 
Relocation expenses are not authorized.
 
Probationary Period- Selectee(s) is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol.

All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.

Benefits

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.

A variety of health insurance plans; retirement system with investment options; paid holidays; paid sick and annual (vacation) leave; life insurance; incentive systems; subsidized transportation; training and development opportunities, etc.

Selected applicant(s) may be eligible to earn a higher annual leave accrual rate credit towards annual leave accrual based on prior non-Federal or uniformed service work experience. The amount of service credit will be based on specialized experience or qualifying experience that is provided on the applicant profile submitted. As such, if you are a new employee to the Federal Government or a rehire, it is important that you provide a work history that lists all directly related positions held, and it must include the dates of employment (month/day/year).

The Architect of the Capitol offers eligible employees opportunity to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program.

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Review your resume and responses carefully. Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions.

Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate performance of the duties of the position rather than length of experience. Eligibility will be determined by the relevance, scope, and quality of experience and training, regardless of where or how acquired.

Applicants will be rated based on knowledge of the job elements identified below for the WG-05/08/10 level:

  • Ability to perform pipefitter worker duties without more than normal supervision
  • Ability to read, write, and interpret oral and written instructions.
  • Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment.
  • Ability to use measuring devices.
  • Knowledge of equipment assembly, installation, and minor repair work.

Your responses to the self assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions. Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter. Your resume must support your answers to the self assessment questions. Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or disqualification for further consideration. 

Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the “Required Documents” section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

The Architect of the Capitol's job application process is designed to ensure that we only ask you for the information that is absolutely needed to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility for the position.

To apply for this position, you only need to submit online the following: a) your resume and 2) answer the online vacancy assessment questionnaire. The online questionnaire contains eligibility and screening questions and other relevant supplemental information. No additional documentation or attachment is required at the time of application. 

We ask that you prepare and submit a resume that best describes fully your background experience, skills, abilities, education, training and other relevant credentials. The resume should include dates of employment.

Nothing further is required until it is requested by the staff of the Human Capital Management Division. If additional documentation is required for a position, you will be asked to provide it during the selection process or upon selection. At that point, we may ask you to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume.

For example, we may ask you to provide documents such as college transcripts, copy of diploma or proof of Federal employment status. If the position requires a license or certification, we will ask candidate(s) to provide proof at the time of selection.

If you are claiming veterans' preference, we may ask you to submit proof of Veterans preference (DD-214, and, if claiming 10-point preference, the SF-15 plus proof required by that form).

If you fail to provide the required documents, we will withdraw a tentative job offer made and/or remove you from further consideration.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

You MUST apply online. FORMS RECEIVED BY FAX, EMAIL OR U.S. POSTAL SERVICE DELIVERY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

If you are a new user to the USAJobs Site and have never registered for an account; you will first need to create an account profile with your basic contact information and a resume to begin applying. You must be a registered USAJobs user AND you must be signed-in to your account in order to apply for this position. For help setting up an account or for general help using USAJobs, go to USAJobs Help Page.

NEED HELP?
If you experience any difficulties with the application site, help is available! If you have problems completing your on-line application, contact the Monster Hiring Management Help Desk at 1-866-656-6831 or by e-mail at MGSHELP@monster.com. The help desk is available Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You may call and leave a voice mail message at all other times.

All required supporting documents will be collected electronically via the USAJobs “Saved Documents” feature.

If you are unable to apply on-line, you may visit our Employment Center for technical assistance in entering your application. The Employment Center is located at 441 Second & D Streets S.W., Washington, D.C., Room H2-178, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You may call (202) 226-7000 for directions.

Agency contact information

Franky Reese
Phone
202-226-7000
Fax
202-226-9755
Email
Franky.Reese@aoc.gov
Address
Architect of the Capitol
2nd and D Street, S.W.
Washington, District of Columbia 20515
United States

Next steps

You will receive a notice generated by the USAJobs System when you have successfully submitted your application. After all application packages have been received, we will review your application and transcript(s) (if you are qualifying based on education) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements.

You can check the status of your application by logging into http://www.usajobs.gov. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application has changed by logging into your USAJobs Account, editing your profile and changing the ‘Notification Settings’ to indicate that you want to be notified by email when the status changes. Information regarding the status of your application should be updated in the system within two (2) weeks after the closing date of this job announcement.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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