Senior Digital Control Technician – Facilities/Operations – UT Health Houston

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That’s where you come in.

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It’s because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you’d expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:  

• 100% paid medical premiums for our full-time employees  
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year) 
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you’ll accrue! 
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service) 
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan! 

We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees’ wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as... 

• Free financial and legal counseling 
• Free mental health counseling services 
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs 
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc. 
• Resources for child and elder care 
• Plus many more! 

Position Summary:

Provides advanced skilled work in the efficient and effective installation, maintenance, and application of digital controls and building automation systems in the monitoring and operation of building equipment used to support and maintain the environment within administrative, service, and research facilities campus-wide.

The ideal candidate has good verbal and written communication skills and service experience; working directly with clients and experience with Johnson Controls systems and hardware - Metasys web navigation and line of controllers. Hands-on experience with instrumentation; using a multimeter and understanding control voltage and signals. Advanced skills with building automation, including installation, maintenance, programming, and troubleshooting; experience with commercial HVAC controls, mechanical systems, and psychrometry. Able to work unsupervised and as part of a team; the ability to interact with end users to help resolve temperature issues.

• Department: Facilities and Operations
• Location: University Professional Building @ 6410 Fannin Street
• Status: Full-time /exempt

Position Key Accountabilities:

1.    Maximizes utility savings and effective operational control of equipment using the energy management control system (EMCS)/building automation system (BAS).  This includes monitoring, adjusting, balancing, testing, calibrating, scheduling, troubleshooting, repairing, installing, performance testing, and commissioning direct digital controls (DDC) controls, and performs database backups and systems software and hardware upgrades. Affected equipment and systems include, but are not limited to, HVAC, electrical, lighting, compressors, RO, domestic and lab water, fire, flood doors, sump pumps, vacuum, steam, and exhaust.
2.    Installs and maintains metering devices. Sets up and records trends, historical, and totalization data logs to determine utility consumption and identify issues campus-wide. Performs system analysis and develops strategies to improve system efficiency using real time data, data logs, psychrometric chart, spreadsheets, and utility manager software applications.
3.    Develops strategies for improving overall system efficiency. Maintains and configures control systems, develops and writes programs using various programming and graphical building automation software applications, and set limits for critical building and associated equipment alarms. Review, share, and discuss energy savings strategies during monthly energy conservation meetings. 
4.    Responds to environmental calls (temperature, mechanical noise, odors, etc.) from internal and external customers and troubleshoots associated systems to determine the cause of the problem. 
5.    Works with Director of Controls and Utilities, Project Management, and Maintenance and Operations personnel to review, inspect, and record project information as needed. Works directly with contractors to define the project scope of work, collect quotes, and follow up on work performed. Provides support and training to other departmental personnel as required. Participate in monthly Faculty Advisory Council meetings by answering questions and providing updates.  
6.    Receives, enters, and completes assigned work orders using the computerized maintenance manager system (CMMS) through personal computer (PC) and smartphone applications. Provide weekly written summary of day to day activities to the Director of Controls and Utilities. 
7.    Required to carry a university communication device as assigned and respond to calls during normal business hours.
8.    This job classification is designated as "essential" at the UT Health Science Center at Houston. In 
case of an emergency, "essential" positions are those required to sustain clinical services and/or are responsible for the protection of university assets. Personnel in designated “essential" positions are expected to report to their designated work site during their appointed work schedules, even when the institution has been officially declared to be on "restricted access" or "closed" due to adverse conditions.
9.    Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

Advanced building automation system (BAS) skills.
Advanced understanding of laboratory environmental systems controls.
Working knowledge of MS Office Suite software applications (Word, Excel, Visio, etc.).
Familiar with BACnet and other Gateway protocols.  
Computer hardware and networking knowledge as well as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (mechanical equipment), electrical and basic electronics knowledge.
Proficient in the use of electrical testing instruments such as digital multi meters, clamp-on ammeters, hand held temperature, humidity, and water hardness testing equipment, temperature and humidity data loggers, air flow testing and balancing equipment, and a psychrometric chart. 

Minimum Education:

Associate’s degree in HVAC or Instrumentation; or equivalent HVAC and Digital Controls experience in lieu of education.

Minimum Experience:

Five (5) years of experience in commissioning, installing, and operating direct digital controls and communications network without direct supervision.

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds frequently and/or up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code § 51.215

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.