HVAC Technician

Job Summary
The HVAC/Refrigeration Technician Level A is a senior-level, hands-on technician responsible for troubleshooting, repairing, maintaining, and improving HVAC, refrigeration, and building comfort systems across the facility. This position requires advanced technical knowledge, strong troubleshooting skills, and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
This role supports production, warehouse, office, and utility areas by maintaining rooftop units, air handlers, exhaust fans, make-up air units, split systems, refrigeration equipment, coolers, freezers, condensers, evaporators, controls, ductwork, pumps, motors, VFDs, and related components.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

- Troubleshoot, repair, and maintain commercial and industrial HVAC and refrigeration systems, including rooftop units, air handlers, exhaust fans, make-up air units, mini-splits, split systems, coolers, freezers, condensers, evaporators, and related equipment.

- Diagnose HVAC and refrigeration issues related to airflow, temperature control, motors, belts, bearings, coils, compressors, contactors, relays, sensors, actuators, dampers, controls, electrical circuits, refrigerant charge, and defrost operation.

- Perform preventive maintenance on HVAC and refrigeration equipment, including filter changes, coil cleaning, belt replacement, lubrication, drain cleaning, electrical checks, temperature checks, defrost checks, and system performance checks.

- Troubleshoot and repair condensate drain issues, clogged drain lines, frozen coils, low airflow problems, fan failures, compressor issues, refrigeration alarms, temperature issues, and control-related failures.

- Inspect and repair ductwork, diffusers, dampers, exhaust systems, louvers, refrigeration piping, insulation, and ventilation components.

- Replace motors, belts, pulleys, bearings, contactors, capacitors, thermostats, sensors, actuators, VFDs, compressors, evaporator fans, condenser fans, and other HVAC/refrigeration-related components.

- Perform electrical troubleshooting on HVAC and refrigeration control circuits, power circuits, disconnects, overloads, safeties, relays, contactors, defrost controls, and low-voltage controls.

- Work with building automation or control systems to monitor equipment status, alarms, temperatures, setpoints, schedules, and basic control operation.

- Assist with installation and startup of new HVAC and refrigeration equipment, including vendor coordination, equipment placement, ductwork, piping support, controls, electrical support, and commissioning checks.

- Identify root causes of repeat HVAC or refrigeration failures and recommend long-term corrective actions.

- Support facility projects involving airflow improvements, comfort cooling, ventilation, exhaust, humidity control, refrigeration, cooler/freezer operation, and temperature control.

- Complete assigned work orders safely, efficiently, and professionally while following GMP policies, safety procedures, and company standards.

- Document work performed, parts used, readings taken, issues found, and recommended follow-up actions in the work order system.

- Communicate equipment status, repair needs, downtime risks, temperature concerns, and parts requirements to the Facilities Supervisor or Facilities Manager.

- Support emergency repairs, shutdown work, after-hours issues, and critical HVAC/refrigeration calls as needed.

- Assist and mentor lower-level technicians on HVAC/refrigeration troubleshooting, PMs, safety, and proper repair practices.

- Maintain clean and organized work areas, mechanical rooms, rooftops, tools, and parts.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Qualifications

- Strong hands-on experience troubleshooting commercial or industrial HVAC and refrigeration systems.

- Ability to work independently on advanced HVAC and refrigeration repairs and diagnostics.

- Strong knowledge of motors, compressors, belts, bearings, coils, evaporators, condensers, fans, dampers, actuators, sensors, thermostats, VFDs, and control circuits.

- Ability to read basic electrical diagrams, wiring schematics, refrigeration diagrams, equipment manuals, control diagrams, and mechanical drawings.

- Ability to safely use a multimeter, clamp meter, refrigerant gauges, vacuum pump, recovery machine, manometer, temperature probes, hand tools, power tools, ladders, and lifts.

- Working knowledge of 24V controls, 120V/240V/480V power circuits, disconnects, overloads, relays, contactors, safeties, compressors, defrost controls, and refrigeration controls.

- Ability to troubleshoot airflow problems, temperature issues, refrigeration issues, equipment trips, control failures, electrical faults, and cooling performance problems.

- Ability to identify when a repair can be completed in-house and when vendor or engineering support is required.

- Strong communication skills and ability to work with Facilities, Maintenance, Production, Quality, Safety, and outside vendors.

- Must be dependable, safety-focused, and able to respond to urgent facility needs.

Preferred Qualifications

- 2+ years of commercial, industrial, or facilities HVAC/refrigeration experience.

- EPA 608 Certification required; Universal preferred.

- Experience with rooftop units, air handlers, exhaust fans, make-up air units, split systems, coolers, freezers, condensers, evaporators, VFDs, and building automation systems.

- Experience with refrigerant recovery, evacuation, charging, leak checks, superheat, subcooling, and basic refrigeration cycle troubleshooting.

- Experience in a manufacturing, food production, warehouse, cooler, freezer, or industrial facility preferred.

Physical Requirements

- This is a hands-on, physically demanding position.

- Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs regularly and heavier items with assistance or proper lifting equipment.

- Must be able to climb ladders, work from rooftops, use scissor lifts or boom lifts, and access mechanical rooms and overhead equipment.

- Must be able to stand, walk, bend, kneel, crawl, reach, push, pull, and work in awkward positions for extended periods.

- Must be able to work in hot, cold, wet, dusty, noisy, refrigerated, freezer, and outdoor environments as needed.

- Must be able to carry tools, parts, filters, motors, belts, gauges, recovery equipment, ladders, and other HVAC/refrigeration equipment throughout the facility.

- Must be able to work around production equipment, dock areas, rooftops, mechanical rooms, coolers, freezers, and warehouse spaces safely.

Safety and Compliance Requirements

- Follow all company safety rules, GMP requirements, PPE requirements, and facility procedures.

- Follow lockout/tagout procedures before servicing HVAC or refrigeration equipment.

- Follow EPA refrigerant handling requirements and company refrigerant procedures.

- Follow ladder safety, lift safety, roof access, electrical safety, hot work, and fall protection requirements.

- Maintain clean work areas and prevent tools, debris, or parts from creating safety or GMP concerns.

- Immediately report unsafe conditions, equipment hazards, refrigerant leaks, electrical hazards, temperature risks, or facility concerns.

Schedule and Availability

- Must be available to work assigned shift.

- Overtime, weekend work, shutdown support, or off-shift work may be required based on business needs.

- May be required to support emergency HVAC/refrigeration calls or urgent facility issues after hours as assigned.

Alamance Foods Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against persons because of age, race, color, creed, religion, disability, gender, ethnic or national origin, or veteran status. Alamance Foods Inc. prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and will reasonably accommodate applicants with a disability, upon request, and will also ensure reasonable accommodation for employees with a disability.

Alamance Foods Inc. participates in the federal E-Verify program. All employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a Form I-9 and verification of authorization to work in the United States.