HVAC Technician

SUMMARY:

The HVAC Technician is responsible for maintaining and repairing refrigeration, glycol chilling, and building HVAC systems to ensure food safety and uninterrupted airline catering operations. The role involves troubleshooting and servicing walk-in coolers/freezers, evaporators, glycol chillers, and rooftop HVAC units, while serving as the primary responder to refrigeration and HVAC issues. The technician will work closely with maintenance teams and external contractors, focus heavily on preventive maintenance, and document all work in the CMMS to minimize equipment downtime and extend asset life.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Inspect, troubleshoot, service and repair production-area evaporators, walk-in freezers and coolers, blast chillers and reach-in refrigeration, including defrost systems (electric and hot gas), coil icing, drain pans and drain-line heaters, fan motors and expansion valves (TXV/EEV).
• Maintain and troubleshoot the glycol-based chilling system: chillers, propylene glycol loop, pumps, plate heat exchangers, expansion tanks and valves; test and adjust glycol concentration and freeze point.
• Service and repair rooftop units (RTUs) and makeup air / exhaust systems for building heating, cooling and ventilation, including compressors, gas heat, economizers, belts and filters.
• Diagnose failures to root cause using gauges, superheat/subcooling readings, multimeters, amp clamps, meggers and leak detectors; troubleshoot refrigeration controls, thermostats, contactors, VFDs and motor circuits (single-phase and 3-phase up to 480V).
• Find and repair refrigerant leaks; recover, evacuate, braze and recharge systems in line with EPA Section 608 rules, and keep accurate refrigerant records (charges, leak inspections, repairs).
• Respond to temperature alarms and breakdowns, including on-call; protect product first by notifying QA and moving product to backup storage when temperatures leave the safe range.
• Escalate to the Maintenance Supervisor and approved contractors or OEMs when a repair needs specialist support, major compressor or chiller work, or will exceed allowed downtime; brief the contractor, supervise the work and verify the repair.
• Perform preventive maintenance on all refrigeration, glycol and HVAC equipment (coil cleaning, filters, belts, drains, defrost checks) to minimize downtime and extend equipment life.
• Ensure all work complies with EPA Section 608, OSHA lock-out/tag-out (LOTO), NFPA 70E arc flash safety and site safety rules.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable requirements related to product and service quality, environmental standards, food safety, and health and safety regulations.
• Promote a safe and healthy work environment by preventing work-related injuries and illnesses, eliminating hazards, and reducing health and safety risks.
• Compliance with Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP)/General manufacturing practices (GMP) guidelines for personal hygiene and observe security precautions as mandated by unit management.
• Satisfactory and punctual attendance is expected.
• All other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• High school diploma or GED required; technical/vocational certificate or associate degree in Industrial Maintenance, Electronics, or related field preferred but not required
• Texas TDLR Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (ACR) technician registration or license.
• NATE certification (Commercial Refrigeration or Air Conditioning), or RSES / HVAC Excellence credentials.
• A2L refrigerant safety training (newer RTUs and refrigeration equipment use mildly flammable A2L refrigerants).
• RETA CARO / CIRO, or ammonia (R-717) experience, if ammonia refrigeration is used on site.
• OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 (General Industry) and NFPA 70E arc flash training.
• Aerial lift / scissor lift and forklift certification.
• Experience with refrigeration controls and building management / temperature monitoring systems.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Certification: EPA Section 608 Universal certification (required to handle refrigerants).
• Experience: Minimum 3–5 years of commercial or industrial HVAC/R experience, with at least 2 years on refrigeration; prior maintenance background in a commercial kitchen, food/beverage processing plant or cold-storage environment preferred.
• Proven troubleshooting of evaporators, walk-in freezers and coolers, and defrost systems.
• Hands-on experience with chillers or glycol (secondary coolant) systems and rooftop units.
• Strong working knowledge of 120V/208V/240V/480V single and three-phase systems, motor controls and wiring diagrams.
• Proficiency in reading refrigeration schematics, P&IDs, electrical diagrams and manufacturer service manuals.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, talk and/or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to handle or feel. The employee must also occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee is also required to frequently inspect the manufacturing floor and will be exposed to noise levels that may range from moderate to loud.