About This Position
The Pipefitter position is in the Maintenance and Repair Section of the Engineering Service Line at the Memphis VAMC. The Pipefitter independently plans and lays out the installation and modification of high-pressure systems. The incumbent must have skill in the use of tools and equipment in the pipefitting trade and possess the skill to work from blueprints, sketches, schematics and instructions.
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.
Major Duties
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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
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.
Additional Information
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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/30/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12882914. 1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. 2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Required Documents
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the Pipefitter position at Veterans Health Administration?
The salary range for this position is $30 - $35/hr. This is a WG-10 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Pipefitter job located?
This position is located in Memphis, Tennessee. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
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 y...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Sep 30, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What does WG-10 mean?
WG-10 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.