Unit: E and U Operations

Department: Engineering and Utilities

Duties & Responsibilities:

VCU’s Facilities Management Department is seeking to hire an Electrical, Instrumentation, and Controls (EI&C) Technician in the Steam Plant. The steam plant is a 24/7/365 day operation, and the main steam plant consists of three 125,000 lbs/hour boilers with typical loads ranging from 35,000 lbs/hour (summer) and up to 135,000 lbs/hour (winter).

The Electrical, Instrumentation, and Controls Technician is responsible for the maintenance and repair of MCV and MPC steam plants and distribution systems, ensuring that each plant operates reliably, efficiently, and at all times in compliance with safety and environmental regulations.

Additional responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Maintain, repair electrical, instrumentation, and control equipment providing utilities for Hospital, Academic, and State buildings
• Ensure long equipment life, operating efficiency, and equipment availability by following accepted procedures
• Use solid inspection techniques to detect and correct problems at an early stage to avoid costly problems later
• Utilize troubleshooting skills to remedy malfunctions and return equipment to full functionality in minimum time, maximizing revenue and profitability, and minimizing maintenance costs
• Work assigned shifts including weekends and overtime as required
• Work during inclement weather
• At times work other than normal shifts
• 24-hour rotational on-call status is required
• Make repairs and perform preventive maintenance tasks as needed
• Follow safety procedures to guard against burns, electric shock, noise, moving parts, and exposure to hazardous materials
• Interface with customers ensuring needs are met should problems arise
• Demonstrate competency through successful completion of maintenance tasks and repair situations

EI&C Specific Knowledge

• Conduit Machine Bending: Perform bends on all sizes of conduit up to six inches utilizing mechanical, hydraulic, and/or electrical benders
• Hydraulic Controls: Understand hydraulic principles and fluids, device functions & controls, symbols & drawings, and safety considerations. Understand troubleshooting applications
• Pneumatic Controls: Understand pneumatic systems & drawings, and system safety, functions, and control of components. Utilize proper troubleshooting guidelines & techniques
• Motor Operated Valves: Service and maintain small servo-mechanical valve actuators to large electrical, pneumatic, and/or hydraulic motor operators
• Standby & Emergency Systems: Installation, utilization, and maintenance for standby and emergency electrical systems
• Process Control Elements, Transducers, & Transmitters: Understand common instrumentation elements and their principles of operation; Service and maintain.
• Instrument Calibration & Configuration: Proper methods of instrumentation calibration, including three- and five-point methods in pneumatic, analog, and smart loops

EI&C Global Knowledge

• Perform responsibilities ranging from advanced to supervisory levels in support of specialty activities. Provide leadership, guidance and supervision to staff where required
• Provide technical assistance to others and perform detailed reviews of related projects
• Maintain project correspondence and records from conception to completion. Ensure timeliness and accuracy of research and compilation of data
• Determine work processes and methods that are the most appropriate to accomplish technical assignments. Rely on experience and judgement to accomplish tasks
• Determine validity of data through observations and recording of field data and reports
• Set up test equipment and evaluate how parts, assemblies, or systems perform under simulated conditions. Gather data and analyze test information to resolve problems
• Knowledge of the installation, repair and maintenance practices, equipment, and materials used in steam distribution operations, including procurement procedures and requirements
• Work as a member of teams responsible for providing repair and maintenance services in all assigned campus and building areas. Perform or provide assistance to others
• Use technical manuals, understanding of industrial equipment, and observations to determine causes of, and solutions to problems. Identify and repair equipment malfunctions
• Calibrate and perform preventive maintenance on equipment and systems
• Read blueprints, diagrams, and instructions for EI&C units and components
• Write reports and record data on testing, techniques, equipment, and specifications

Steam Plants and Distribution Systems Safety and Environmental

• Follow proper safety procedures at all times
• Understanding of all potential hazards and the safety systems that provide protection
• Practice required Lockout/Tagout procedures when performing maintenance and repairs
• Know the locations of all fire extinguishers, emergency showers, and eyewash stations

Essential Qualities

• Technical Skills: Ability to diagnose and repair complex systems and machines
• Manual Dexterity: Must use precise motions to control, maintain, or repair equipment. Grasp tools and use hands to perform many tasks. A steady hand and good coordination
• Mechanical Skills: Use hand tools and soldering irons on small circuitry and electronic parts to build components by hand. Ability to operate, maintain, and repair equipment
• Problem Solving Skills: Ability to identify and fix problems that arise in assembling and inspections designs and prototypes. Must figure out how things work and solve problems
• Writing Skills: Ability to write reports about onsite construction, design problems, or testing results. Writing must be clear and well organized to properly convey information in reports
• Math Skills: Utilize mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting tasks
• Detail Oriented: Attention to detail when working on electro-mechanical systems
• Communication Skills: Ability to follow instructions. Ability to clearly convey problems. Ability to direct work, plan schedules, and talk to customers/clients

Work Environment

• Typically work in areas containing electrical switchgear, piping, valves, and machinery
• May be exposed to high temperatures, dust, dirt, and loud noise from equipment
• Maintenance and repair duties may require contact with oil, grease, fuel oil, and smoke
• Much time is spent on feet lifting heavy materials, climbing ladders, and work in tight spaces
• May have to crawl inside cabinets, boilers, vessels, tanks, etc. and work while crouched, or kneel to inspect, clean, or repair equipment

Training

• Train on-the-job under the supervision of experienced electrical, instrumentation, and controls (EI&C) technicians
• Participate in self-learning activities for performing role duties
• OJT may be supplemented by courses at trade, vocational, or technical schools
• After competence, move on to complicated tasks. Use tasks to refine knowledge and skills
• Update skills in the profession regularly, especially when new equipment is introduced
• NCCER Training Workbook: Industrial Maintenance Electrical & Instrument Tech (Vol 3-4)

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• High school graduate, GED, or equivalent
• General maintenance knowledge or experience in steam or industrial settings
• General computer skills
• Familiarity with basic safety and environmental rules/procedures
• Good interpersonal communication, role model, operational, and professional excellence skills
• Valid Driver’s license required
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge and experience in steam boiler or industrial steam plants preferred
• Electrical, instrumentation, and controls training or education program completed
• Engineering, Military, or combined experience
• Experience in University, Boiler Plant, Power Plant, or Central District Heating systems
• Combined education and experience in repairing electrical, instrumentation, and control systems
• Previous electrical, instrumentation, and controls and/or technical experience
• Strong technical abilities for analyzing, repairing, and working on various systems
• Strong communication skills to collaborate with colleagues and interact with clients

Salary Range: $70,000 - $90,000

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Work Days/Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm, and on-call

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

University Job Title:  17151N - 17153N (Electrical, Instrumentation, and Control [EI&C] Technician FM1 - FM3)