Building Technician, Plumber

Job Summary

Building Technician – Plumber (Full‑time) – Reno campus. The role includes routine and emergency plumbing maintenance, mechanical system monitoring and repair, and on‑call responsibilities for after‑hour emergencies.

• Perform light plumbing preventive and emergency maintenance including faucet repair, mixing valve replacement, water heater replacement, clearing drains, replacing flush valves, repairing or replacing sewer ejector pumps and motors.
• Execute complex plumbing and pipe‑fitting duties for laboratory and central plant systems such as compressed air, vacuum, deionized water, and domestic and industrial hot and cold water systems.
• Install gas lines and related fixtures and fittings; maintain and repair above‑ground and underground waste systems; solder and braze pipes and perform coil leak repairs.
• Read and interpret piping system diagrams typically associated with a large campus.
• Respond to work orders for temperature, leaks, smells, and repairs.
• Modify and repair existing mechanical systems.
• Monitor the campus building system using the Building Automation System (BAS), aka Direct Digital Control (DDC), and diagnose issues while performing operator duties.
• Maintain department budgets, supervise spending, and manage vendor purchasing accounts to uphold fiscal accountability.
• Provide general assistance to department personnel, faculty, and staff; ensure building safety and security; inspect and maintain emergency systems for the buildings and physical plant.
• Handle a wide range of mechanical equipment including chillers, cooling towers, air handlers, furnaces, boilers, fan‑coil units, compressors, heat pumps, VAV boxes, walk‑in freezers, refrigerators, and related electrical equipment such as variable frequency drives, motors, pumps, and fans.
• Participate in rotating on‑call duties and respond to after‑hour alarms and emergencies.
• Independently resolve emergency service calls and alarms, minimizing downtime and ensuring continuous operations and safety.
• Assist in remodeling, renovation, and installation of scientific equipment and experimental setups.
• Perform tasks such as moving furniture, light carpentry, carpet, drywall installation, painting, light HVAC, and plumbing systems.

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Completion of a certified plumbing/pipe‑fitting apprenticeship program and two years of varied journey‑level plumbing and pipe‑fitting experience OR five years equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Current Nevada/City of Reno Journeyman Plumber license or ability to obtain within six months.
• Knowledge of methods, materials, tools, and equipment for operating, maintaining, and repairing buildings, plumbing, and mechanical systems.
• Knowledge of construction safety standards and strict enforcement of all safety protocols.
• Basic understanding of Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Experience with a computerized maintenance management software (CMMS) or work‑order system.
• Effective communication with a wide range of personnel, including technical and academic staff.
• Experience working within a team environment.

• Backflow certification.
• Experience or certifications in welding.
• Facilities maintenance experience in a large hospital, laboratory, educational, or institutional facility.
• Hands‑on experience in building trades, including HVACR and electrical.

• Employment contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
• Ability to perform physical tasks such as lifting and moving objects > 50 lbs., digging, excavating, planting, pulling wire, climbing ladders and working at heights up to 30 ft., stooping, bending, kneeling, and exposure to dust, fumes, pollutants, chemicals, and construction materials.
• Possible exposure to raw sewage.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Regular work hours 6:00am – 2:30pm, Monday through Friday, with variations; long and irregular hours may be required.
• Required rotating on‑call duty to respond to after‑hour emergencies.

• Grade
  34 salary range $60,611 – $84,870, commensurate with education and experience.
• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance (flexible spending and health savings account options).
• PERS 19.25% retirement match.
• 10 hours of annual leave and 10 hours of sick leave accrued per month.
• 12 paid holidays.
• Educational benefits.
• No state income tax or Social Security deduction.
• Eligibility for relocation assistance.

Desert Research Institute is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment free of discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All applicants hired by DRI are subject to E‑Verify.