City of Palo Alto

  • Facilities Technicians

  • City of Palo Alto
  • Palo Alto, California United States View Map
Description

The City of Palo Alto has exciting opportunities for individuals with journey-level HVAC experience!
We are looking for 2 individuals to join us at the Public Works Department Public Services Division.

The Facilities Technician position performs a variety of skilled tasks in the operation and maintenance of City facilities, systems, and equipment. An HVAC journey-level skill set is highly desirable for this position.

A successful candidate will have
1) previously completed an HVAC apprenticeship program or HVAC Trade School that includes theory and on the job work
2) four years of journey-level HVAC experience
3) possession of an EPA Refrigerant Transition and Recovery Certificate.

Be part of a 13-person skilled Facilities team who are responsible for maintaining a very diverse group of buildings, ranging from fire stations, community centers, libraries, theaters, parking garages, Jr. Museum and Zoo, interpretive centers, swimming pool complex, Art Center, the new Public Safety Building, and multi-story office buildings.

There is never a dull day when you work in Facilities Maintenance. The City of Palo Alto is a place to come and stay for your entire employment career!

This position is represented by Service Employee International Union position (SEIU).

Essential Duties

Incumbents in this position will perform technically complex facilities maintenance duties requiring specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities in the areas of installation, operation, adjustments, troubleshooting and maintenance of HVAC systems, electrical, electronic controls, and auxiliary equipment. This position exercises a broad range of independent judgement and responsibilities in assessing, organizing, prioritizing, scheduling, planning, and purchasing of materials and equipment for all assigned work orders.

Duties include:
  • Using a computerized maintenance management system to manage work orders, which includes scheduling, recording materials costs, labor hours worked, and description of work completed.
  • Performs skilled maintenance, repair and installation work related to facilities heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration (HVACR), and electrical systems.
  • Troubleshoots HVAC mechanical/electrical malfunctions on items such as chillers, AC compressors, boilers, pumps, motors, electric and electronic controls via functional tests, visual inspection, and other tests and checks to identify cause and action needed.
  • Performs emergency repairs, as necessary; uses established safety procedures in doing such work.

    ..... And more!

For a full list of duties and job benefits, please view the detailed job description here: FACILITIES TECHNICIAN


Minimum Qualifications

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills and abilities, which would typically be acquired through:
  • High school graduate or GED preferred supplemented by completion of an electrical, plumbing, or HVAC apprenticeship program or HVAC Trade School that includes theory and on-the-job work.
  • Four years of journey-level experience working as an electrician, plumber, or HVAC technician, in troubleshooting, maintaining, and repairing building equipment in a commercial, industrial or large facility environment.
Special Requirements:
  • Possession of a valid California Driver's License.
  • Possession of EPA Refrigerant Transition and Recovery Certificate.
  • Attainment of Aquatic Facilities Operator Certificate will be required upon the discretion of the manager.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements
Work is performed indoors and outdoors; travel required from site to site; exposure will occur to noise, dust, grease, smoke, fumes, vehicular traffic, electrical energy and voltage, and all types of weather and temperature conditions; will work at heights on scaffolding and ladder; will work around construction and operating equipment; will have frequent exposure to hazardous activities such as electricity and heights.

Requires physical ability and mobility to walk, stand, and sit for prolonged periods of time; frequently stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, reach, twist, push, pull, lift, and/or carry moderate to heavy amounts of weight; dexterity of hands and fingers to operate specialized hand and power tools, equipment, and vehicles; verbally communicate to exchange information.

Supplemental Information

This job opening is for 2 Facilities Technician positions.

Multiple positions may be filled from this posting.

The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO). In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), theCitywill provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both perspective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.

Closing Date/Time: 7/16/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
City of Palo Alto

City of Palo Alto

650-329-2376

The Community


The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. The community's treelined streets and historic buildings reflect its California heritage, and, at the same time, many world-class businesses maintain or started offices here, such as Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Amazon, Broadcom, Hewlett-Packard, Houzz, Rivian, SAP and SAP Ariba, Tesla, and Varian Medical Systems. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the start-up capital of the world. Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community's dedication to lifelong learning. Stanford's cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City's exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public-school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation. Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy featuring premium shopping and dining options. Excellent healthcare facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are some of the community's incredibly desirable and cherished amenities. To learn more, visit https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/City-Manager/Latest-News

City Government

Palo Alto is a full-service charter city with a council-manager form of government. The seven-member City Council is elected at large, and the City Council annually selects the Mayor and Vice Mayor from among its members. The Mayor and City Council appoint the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Auditor. The City Manager is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the City. Palo Alto is organized into 15 departments/offices with 1,093.10 authorized positions in FY 2025. There is also a FY 2025 capital budget of $316.2 million. Palo Alto owns and operates its own utilities, including electricity (carbon-neutral), gas, water, wastewater, and an expanding fiber network. This dynamic municipal environment ensures an ever-engaging platform for unique problem-solving and advances new initiatives, including sustainability, broadband, and effective service delivery. Community assets also include five libraries, 36 parks, five community centers, a museum and zoo, youth centers, a general aviation airport, an 18-hole golf course, a regional water treatment plant, and wildland open space preserves at the San Francisco Bay and in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains offering 41 miles of walking/biking trails in addition to its police, fire, and ambulance services. Palo Alto has long been a leader in sustainability, and the City's ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals are part of what sets it apart. Since the City's first Climate Protection Plan was passed in 2007, Palo Alto has set goals that exceed State and Federal targets. Today, the City's goal to reduce emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030 (the "80x30" goal) and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 guides sustainability efforts. An award-winning City, Palo Alto is recognized nationally as innovative and well-managed. City services and performance also receive impressive marks from community members in the Palo Alto Community Survey.

Many of those ratings put City programs and services in the highest percentiles among the hundreds of benchmark cities. Palo Alto makes decisions through comprehensive processes and proactively seeks to involve its extremely informed, educated, and engaged residents. Projects are naturally a cooperative effort among the City Council, Boards, Commissions, Committees, engaged residents, neighborhoods, businesses, property owners, and staff.

Join an Award Winning Team 

Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government. We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.

Want to learn more about our benefits? Learn more by reviewing our "Benefits at a Glance Booklet."

Contact Us

Phone: 650-329-2376   

Email: Recruit@paloalto.gov   

Location: City Hall, 1st Floor | 250 Hamilton Ave 94301 | View Map

 

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