The HVAC Specialist is the senior technical authority for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and building environmental control systems. Guided by our values, “Safety Above All”, we proactively manage the risks inherent in human spaceflight through our daily actions. This role goes beyond routine maintenance to own the reliability, performance, and continuous improvement of complex mechanical systems — including chillers, VRF/VRV systems, boilers, rooftop units, and building automation controls. The HVAC Specialist serves as the escalation point for complex diagnostics, mentors Facilities Technicians, and partners with the Facilities Manager on vendor management, and critical-environment reliability. Support the company strategy by holding ourselves and one another accountable for getting the work done.

Responsibilities

Advanced HVAC Systems Ownership

Own the performance, reliability, and lifecycle planning of complex HVAC equipment: chillers, boilers, VRF/VRV systems, air handlers, and associated pumps/motors.
Diagnose and resolve complex, multi-system HVAC failures (refrigerant circuits, compressors, controls integration) without routine escalation; serve as the escalation point for Facilities Technicians.
Perform and oversee refrigerant handling in accordance with EPA Section 608 regulations, including recovery, recycling, and leak-rate reporting.

Building Automation System (BAS) Optimization

Analyze BAS trends, alarms, and energy performance data to identify inefficiencies, drifting setpoints, and early failure indicators.
Modify control sequences and programming within approved parameters; Manager coordination with Controls/IT and BAS vendors on system upgrades or fault resolution.
Recommend and help implement BAS optimization projects that improve energy efficiency and equipment longevity.

Preventive Maintenance Program Coordination, verification and reporting

Develop, refine, and audit PM schedules and procedures for HVAC and humidification equipment; ensure completion quality, not just completion rate.
Establish and track reliability KPIs (mean time between failures, PM compliance, energy performance) and report trends to the Facilities Manager, Supervisor and Manager.

Humidification & Critical Environmental Control

Own humidification system performance where air quality or environmental tolerances are mission-critical; Manager root-cause analysis on recurring issues (water quality, steam generation, sensor drift).

Mentorship & Technical Coordination, verification and reporting

Mentor and technically train Facilities Technicians on HVAC diagnostics, safe work practices, and CMMS documentation standards.
Review technician work for quality and completeness; provide informal on-the-job coaching and structured skills development.

Vendor Support

Partner with the Facilities Manager to scope HVAC-related capital projects, equipment replacements, and major repairs; provide technical input on specifications and vendor quotes.
Serve as the primary technical point of contact for HVAC contractors and equipment vendors, ensuring work meets specification and safety standards.

Electrical & General Maintenance (Oversight Level)

Perform and validate minor electrical work (breaker resets, lighting circuits, low-voltage checks) per EH&S and lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures; identify and escalate panel/wiring concerns.
Support general building maintenance as needed and ensure technician-performed work (carpentry, door hardware, minor plumbing) meets quality standards.

Emergency/Incident Response Coordination, verification and reporting

Take charge during response to complex HVAC failures, roof/building leak events, and environmental incidents; direct technicians and coordinate vendors during high-impact events.
Support power, network, and environmental incident response with documented root-cause analysis and after-action recommendations.

Independent Work & Weekend Coverage

Operate independently with minimal supervision, prioritizing complex work orders and coordinating technician coverage during weekend or off-hours periods.
Focus on timeliness and execution of tasks and deliverables every day.
Maintain rigorous documentation in CMMS; ensure SOP adherence across the team.

Customer Relationship & Stakeholder Communication

Serve as a trusted technical point of contact for building occupants and stakeholders on complex or recurring issues; provide clear, proactive updates.

Technical Proficiency & Continuous Improvement

Use CMMS, BAS front-ends, and digital tools to manage work orders, asset history, and equipment performance data; read and interpret complex schematics, O&M manuals, and sequences of operation.
Identify systemic trends and failure modes across the portfolio; Manager lessons-learned reviews and drive continuous improvement initiatives with Facilities, IT, Security, Safey and Emergency Response.
Work collaboratively to achieve goals and/or complete assigned tasks.

Required Skills and Experience

6+ years of progressive experience in commercial HVAC, building operations, or critical facilities maintenance, including demonstrated ownership of complex systems.
EPA Section 608 Universal Certification (refrigerant handling).
Advanced hands-on experience with commercial HVAC systems (chillers, boilers, VRF/VRV, RTUs) and BAS programming/troubleshooting.
Strong working knowledge of humidification systems and critical environmental controls.
Proven ability to safely perform minor electrical work and apply LOTO procedures.
Demonstrated experience mentoring or training junior technicians.
Strong communication skills, with experience partnering directly with facility management and vendors.
Ability to work independently, prioritize competing demands, and Manager through incidents.
Proficiency with CMMS and BAS platforms; comfortable with tablets/laptops for documentation and reporting.
Valid driver's license..
Demonstrate willingness to adjust thinking and behavior.
Ability to communicate in a manner that is timely, respectful, and open to other ideas.
Continuously practice safety behavior and Foreign Object Debris (FOD) awareness/prevention; adhere to regulatory protocols and rules.

Preferred Skills and Experience

Journeyman or Master HVAC license, or equivalent industry certification.
Experience with major BAS platforms (e.g., Johnson Controls, Siemens, Honeywell, Distech) at an administrator or programming level.
NFPA 70E certification and experience training others on LOTO/safe work practices.
Prior experience in data center, laboratory, aerospace, or other critical-environment facilities.
Experience supporting capital project scoping, vendor selection, or contractor management.

Physical and/or Additional Requirements

Frequent walking, standing, climbing ladders, kneeling, and working in mechanical spaces/rooftops.
Exposure to noise, dust, and weather conditions (including roof access).
Ability to lift 50 lbs
Use of PPE as required by task (safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection, arc-flash rated gear as applicable, etc.).

Shift & Availability

1st Shift, 4-day schedule (e.g., Monday–Thursday or Tuesday–Friday); schedule may adjust to support business needs.
Occasional overtime during inclement weather, critical incidents, or project work.
Participation in on-call rotation required; expected to manage incident response when on call.

#LI-LN1

The annual U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $61,526.00–$87,516.00. The base pay actually offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, location, and experience and take into account internal equity. Other forms of pay (e.g., bonus or long term incentive) may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the position offered. For more information regarding Virgin Galactic benefits, please visit https://vgcareers.virgingalactic.com/global/en/benefits

Who We Are

Virgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers with its advanced air and space vehicles. We are making the dream of space travel a reality, delivering spaceflight at an unprecedented frequency, with the development of next generation space vehicles.

Export Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. Person (either a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident or a protected individual as defined 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or be able to obtain the required authorization from either the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The applicant must also not be included in the list of Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. See list here.

EEO Statement
Virgin Galactic is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Virgin Galactic is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Drug Free Workplace
Virgin Galactic is committed to a Drug Free Workplace. All applicants post offer and active teammates are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria is met as outlined in our policies. This can include pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, and accident related drug and alcohol testing.

Phoenix Employment Requirements
For individuals seeking employment at our Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport facility, employment is contingent upon you obtaining and maintaining a TSA authorized security badge. This includes initial and annual mandatory background checks that are governed by TSA, and conducted by the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport badging office.

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