DDC Technician

Employment Type: Permanent Staff (SHRA)

Vacancy ID: P012150

Salary Range: $44,273 - $56,200

Position Summary/Description:

This recruitment is for three (3) Electronics Specialists – Journey positions (#00060638, #00058681 & #00057186). By applying, you will be considered for all three positions.

This position is being recruited at the State banded role/competency of an Electronics Specialist – Journey with a working title of DDC Technician. The first priority of this position is to manage increasingly complex BAS field controller databases. BAS databases determine if and how building mechanical systems operate including energy use, laboratory pressurization/safety, air exchange rate, ventilation, humidity control, and other critical factors core to UNC's mission. This position supports the people, processes, and systems for database management for assigned brands and generations.

This position serves as a DDC field technician for focused hardware, software, and networking support for Johnson controls, Inc. (Metasys, PMI, LN Builder, Tridium N4) brand BAS. This includes working with contracted controls techs on related service contracts, training needs and supporting projects by reviewing designs, inspecting installations. This position helps maintain DDC spare parts inventory, and performs highly complex hands-on BAS installations, repairs, and upgrades. Since much of this work is Information Technology (IT) related, this position works closely with UNC's IT staff on networking, software installation, backups, licensing, security, and related issues for computers and controllers. While this position is not responsible for the gateway device or front end graphics, it must work closely with Energy Management Control System (EMCS) personnel to ensure that graphics and front end functions such as point mapping, scheduling and alarming are functional. For new installations, this position works closely with electricians, sheet metal and building maintenance staff to implement the control work. This position will work under a lead technician and coordinate support needs with the lead tech for JCI systems.

Working with minimal supervision, this position must proactively pursue BAS challenges and optimization aligned with university goals and priorities. Focusing primarily on projects, the position helps ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget. This position will provide technical documentation and check out sheets for work being performed. This position also assists building techs with reactive maintenance needs in resolving complex BAS communication and programming issues. This position must anticipate BAS safety issues and take proactive steps to maximize safe operations. With constant construction, renovation, and improvements occurring, this position supports those efforts by identifying and planning repair, replacement, and upgrade priorities, performing design reviews, and inspecting construction jobs.

This position works with other technicians (including those in Life Safety Services, Campus Maintenance, Housing, and HVAC Services), supervisors, and staff to sustain a high performance service culture that promotes sound planning and excellent execution and supports shop efforts to foster a safe, respectful, and diverse work environment that values its people. This position also works closely with building coordinators and others such as Environment, Health and Safety, Energy Management, Construction Services, and Facilities Planning and Design to ensure that facilities meet programmatic requirements and remain compliant. Requires a demonstrated commitment to customer service; a continuous quality improvement focus; sensitivity in working with diverse groups; responsive project support and technical skills including the ability to make sound decisions, provide timely direction to staff, and maintain an approachable demeanor with the ability to motivate staff and maintain positive morale.

Education and Experience:

Associate’s degree in electronics; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Essential Skills:

Ability to understand that good database management practices are being followed; ability to maintain good communication between the building tech and the weekend crew; ability to understand general IT options and practices for software version control and backups, as well as specific DDC software database management strategies and procedures. Must be capable of reading and understanding narratives and drawings in the UNC controls guidelines and implementing the intent of those standards as closely as possible with a given mechanical and software system. The position is also required to troubleshoot, reverse engineer, and improve existing installations including comparing them to the UNC controls guidelines. Requires the ability to understand the different training needs and interests of the various staff using software programming tools and help them achieve their goals through formal or informal training, mentoring, coaching, cross training, and/or use of training panels. Ability to assist technicians in ensuring they have the software and hardware interfaces needed to do their jobs. This position must be technically capable of balancing conflicting demands of energy efficiency, indoor air quality, reliability, and occupant thermal comfort. Knowledge of principals (e.g., psychometrics, fluid flow, control theory), indoor environmental quality (e.g., thermal comfort, air contaminants, odors), loads (e.g., ventilation, infiltration, energy calculations), HVAC design (e.g., space air diffusion, duct design, insulation), and equipment and components (e.g., variable frequency drives, humidifiers, valves) is essential. General knowledge of codes, standards, and practices such as the NC Mechanical Code, the NC Energy Conservation Code, ASHRAE Standard 62.1 Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 American National Standard for Laboratory Ventilation, and NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace are needed. This position must communicate with building managers and occupants to understand their needs and ensure the HVAC system, particularly from the software side, delivers what they need (e.g., for JCAHO, AAALAC, or CDC accreditation) while complying with the UNC energy use policy.

This position may be required to work in active BSL3 labs, which requires a baseline blood draw, a physical, and vaccines (currently flu and tetanus), as well as annual medical certification, respirator fit testing, and specific training. Entry into such labs require escort from Environment, Health, & Safety, respirator use, safety attire, and possibly shower in/out.

Ability to serve as a mandatory employee and report to work in support of mandatory University operations, even when adverse weather or other emergency conditions require the University to close.

Preferred :

Preferred qualifications include a two-year degree in electronics, computers, or HVAC technical trades (or similar), and three or more years of progressively responsible experience in the installation, operation, and maintenance of complex DDC systems.

Other preferred qualifications include specific knowledge of: