Refrigeration Technician

Summary of Job Duties

This position is responsible for the maintenance, troubleshooting, and modification of Ice Machine and Refrigeration Equipment that serves the medical and research facilities on the UAMS Campus. These systems are essential to patient care and critical research operations, directly impacting patient health and outcomes.

The Ice Machine/Refrigeration Technician will be tasked with performing routine maintenance, diagnostics, and repair on a wide range of commercial refrigeration systems, including hermetic and semi-hermetic compressors, air-cooled and water-cooled condensers, evaporative coils, thermostatic expansion valves (TXVs), solenoid valves, and various refrigeration control systems.

Additional Information

The role involves performing regular preventive maintenance and emergency repairs on refrigeration systems, ensuring optimal performance and compliance with regulatory standards. The technician will diagnose issues using advanced refrigeration diagnostics, including refrigerant leak detection, pressure testing, and electrical system analysis.

• Execute component repairs and replacements, such as brazing of copper refrigerant lines, evacuation of systems, and recharging with appropriate refrigerants (e.g., R-404A, R-134a, R-22).
• Calibrate and adjust control systems, such as thermostats, pressure switches, and defrost timers, to ensure systems operate within specified parameters.
• Interpret and analyze complex technical diagrams, blueprints, and refrigeration piping schematics.
• Utilize refrigerant pressure-temperature relationship tables to calculate superheat and subcooling.
• Operate and maintain electrical and mechanical testing equipment, such as multimeters, clamp meters, refrigerant recovery machines, and vacuum pumps.
• Maintain detailed records of all shop inventories, including refrigerants, lubricants, and specialized tools.
• Identify the need for and request new or specialized equipment.
• Engage with medical staff and research personnel to understand specific equipment issues, communicate proposed repair or maintenance plans, and provide thorough follow-up.
• Accurately complete all required documentation, including maintenance logs, repair reports, and safety checklists.
• Collaborate effectively with other technical shops and departments within the Engineering and Operations division.

This position requires a deep understanding of refrigeration principles, strong technical skills, and the ability to work in a critical healthcare environment where the reliability of equipment is paramount.