Boiler Operator

Job Description

BOILER OPERATOR (T237051)

Position Summary:

Operate, monitor, inspect, maintain, repair, and optimize boilers and boiler support systems to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient plant operation supporting mission‑critical steam and hot‑water infrastructure for campus and hospital facilities. Perform routine, preventive, and corrective maintenance on boilers, combustion systems, control systems, water treatment equipment, and associated mechanical and electrical components. Conduct inspections, operational testing, efficiency analysis, and water chemistry testing;

adjust and calibrate equipment and controls to maintain performance, safety, and regulatory compliance. Document operational data and maintenance activities, maintain a clean and orderly boiler plant, and coordinate with contractors and inspectors during maintenance, repair, and inspection activities.

Essential Accountabilities:

• Operate, monitor, and inspect boilers and support systems to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient performance.
• Continuously monitor boiler and hot water system alarms and trends, taking appropriate operational or escalation actions as needed.
• Provide operational support for steam and hot water systems serving all UAB Campus and Hospital facilities.
• Conduct routine, preventive, and corrective maintenance on boilers and related mechanical/electrical components.
• Install, test, calibrate, maintain, and repair control systems including combustion controls, BAS interfaces, sensors, relays, and safety interlocks.
• Perform routine boiler water and condensate testing (pH, hardness, alkalinity, chlorides, etc.) and adjust chemical feed systems.
• Maintain, repair, modify, install, and replace boilers, pumps, motors, valves, heat exchangers, piping, and related equipment.
• Assist insurance carriers, regulatory agencies, and authorized inspectors; provide operational information and support required testing.
• Record operational data, inspection findings, maintenance actions, and test results per departmental and regulatory standards.
• Read and interpret blueprints, schematics, drawings, and manufacturer specifications for boiler and mechanical systems.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and orderly boiler plant, including minor painting and corrosion‑prevention tasks.
• Support contractors on special projects within the chilled water plant and across campus.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support plant operations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrate ability to operate, maintain, and repair boilers, combustion systems, feedwater systems, pumps, motors, valves, compressors, heat exchangers, and safety devices.
• Conduct boiler water and condensate testing and manage chemical feed and treatment programs to maintain proper system chemistry.
• Understand OSHA regulations and safe work practices, including lockout/tagout (LOTO), confined space entry, hot work, fall protection, respiratory protection, and PPE requirements; follow applicable codes, standards, and inspection protocols.
• Identify pressure, temperature, chemical, and electrical hazards and implement appropriate mitigation measures and emergency response procedures.
• Diagnose system issues using test instruments and trend data, develop corrective actions, and apply root cause analysis to prevent recurrence and improve reliability.
• Proficient with combustion analyzers, water chemistry test kits, multimeters, manometers, thermal imagers, vibration meters, and BAS/SCADA interfaces.
• Use computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) to document work, update digital logs, create work orders, and track system performance; navigate technical manuals, drawings, and schematics.
• Communicate effectively with supervisors, operators, mechanics, contractors, and inspectors; document findings and recommendations; brief teams on safety, system status, and action plans; collaborate to support plant operations.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and orderly boiler plant environment; uphold housekeeping and 5S principles; mentor junior staff on safe practices and standard procedures.
• Prioritize tasks, manage multiple responsibilities, plan preventive maintenance windows, coordinate parts and tools, and…