Journeyman HVAC/R Technician

Archer Mechanical is seeking a full-time Journeyman HVAC/R Technician to join our growing team.

Archer Mechanical specializes in sustainable mechanical and plumbing systems, providing design-build, design-assist, new construction, additions, remodels, retrofits, service, and preventative maintenance.

The organization has been established since 1987 and has continued to grow rapidly over the past 39 years. Archer Mechanical produces a higher-value product cost-effectively and efficiently using progressive construction planning technologies, advanced construction materials, and manufacturing methods, reducing safety risks, schedule durations, and congestion on the job site while enhancing the construction results.

As a Journeyman HVAC/R Technician at Archer Mechanical, you will bring deep, hands-on expertise in low-temp refrigeration, hydronic systems, and chiller platforms to some of the most demanding commercial and industrial accounts in our Service Department. This role is focused on high-level, self-directed fieldwork - diagnosing complex refrigeration, hydronic, and chiller systems, performing precise electrical and mechanical troubleshooting, and ensuring every repair meets EPA, OSHA, and Archer safety standards. By joining Archer, you are bringing your mastery of the trade to a team that values best-in-class technical performance and provides the stable, high-volume service environment where a skilled technician can truly excel.

Responsibilities

• Install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair commercial/industrial HVAC/R systems, with a specialization in low-temp refrigeration, hydronic systems, and chillers.
• Diagnose and repair air-cooled and water-cooled chillers, including centrifugal, screw, and scroll platforms.
• Perform superheat/subcooling calculations and charge refrigerant systems across low, medium, high, and low-temp blends.
• Diagnose and replace compressors (reciprocating, scroll, screw).
• Troubleshoot hydronic systems, including boilers, pumps, VFDs, air separators, expansion tanks, and glycol loops.
• Operate and maintain cooling towers, including water treatment support.
• Troubleshoot BAS/BMS platforms (e.g., Niagara/Tridium, Trane Tracer, Johnson Controls Metasys).
• Perform electrical troubleshooting to the component level: motors, VFDs, contactors, control boards, and schematics.
• Read and interpret mechanical drawings, P&IDs, and controls sequences.
• Recover, handle, and document refrigerant in compliance with EPA Section 608.
• Follow OSHA Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures and all required PPE standards.
• Immediately report incidents, near-misses, and hazards to the Service Manager.
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation to company standard (service tickets, readings, recommendations).
• Mentor and train apprentices and lower-tier technicians in the field.
• Represent Archer Mechanical professionally on commercial and industrial accounts.
• Self-direct troubleshooting on complex systems with minimal escalation.
• Support on-call/emergency service rotation per Service Department scheduling needs.
• Follow all OSHA and Archer safety requirements.
• Uphold Archer’s core values: Excellence, Quality, Innovation, Integrity.

Qualifications

Licensing & Certifications (Required)

• EPA Section 608 Universal Certification - required.
• Valid driver’s license with a clean MVR - required for operating a company vehicle.

Licensing & Certifications (Preferred, Not Required)

• OSHA 10 certification (OSHA 30 preferred for candidates with apprentice/crew oversight responsibilities).
• Current brazing/soldering certification - not required to apply; Archer provides in-house brazing and soldering training for candidates who need it.

Field Experience (Required)

• 10+ years of verifiable field experience in commercial/industrial HVAC/R.
• Minimum 5 years hands-on low-temp refrigeration experience (racks, walk-ins, blast/freezer applications).
• Minimum 5 years hydronic systems experience: boilers, pumps, VFDs, air separators, expansion tanks, glycol systems.
• Direct chiller experience - air-cooled and water-cooled (centrifugal, screw, or scroll platforms).
• Cooling tower operation, maintenance, and water treatment familiarity.
• BAS/BMS exposure and troubleshooting (e.g., Niagara/Tridium, Trane Tracer, Johnson Controls Metasys).

Technical Skills (Required)

• Superheat/subcooling calculations; charging low, medium, high, and low-temp refrigerant blends.
• Compressor diagnostics and replacement (reciprocating, scroll, screw).
• Electrical troubleshooting to the component level: motors, VFDs, contactors, control boards, schematics.
• Pump curve reading, hydraulic balancing, and system commissioning.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, P&IDs, and controls sequences.
• Pressure testing to code.

Safety Standards (Required — per Archer Safety SOP)

• Working knowledge of OSHA Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures.
• Required PPE compliance: cut level 3 gloves, safety glasses, steel-toed boots, company-issued uniform.
• Electrical safety, ladder safety, and roof access procedure competency.
• Refrigerant handling safety and EPA Section 608 recovery compliance.
• Verifiable record of zero preventable safety incidents (reference-checked).

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift 50+ lbs; work at heights, in confined spaces, and in extreme temperature environments.
• Availability for on-call/emergency rotation per Service Department scheduling needs.

Preferred (Not Required)

• NATE certification (Commercial Refrigeration or Chiller specialty preferred).
• Manufacturer factory training (Trane, Carrier, Daikin, York).
• Prior experience in a lead-technician or crew-lead capacity.
• Ammonia or CO2 refrigeration system experience.

This posting is for candidates only. Third-party recruiters and staffing agencies: please do not contact Archer Mechanical employees, leadership, or hiring managers regarding this or any other opening. We do not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from agencies.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance