Lead Installer/Lead Pipefitter (Boiler Installer)

A long-established Chicago heating and mechanical contractor is adding boiler installers to a growing, non-union crew. The company replaces and installs steam boilers, hydronic boilers, and commercial water heaters in condo buildings, apartment buildings, and churches on Chicago’s north side and nearby north suburbs. All of the work is retrofit work inside boiler rooms and storage areas, and there is more of it than the current crew can handle. The company is not private-equity owned, runs weekday daytime hours, and supplies the van and fuel card. For a strong installer or pipefitter, this role offers steady work close to home, performance-based pay on top of an hourly rate, and a path to lead-level earnings.

• Up to $55/hr, based on experience and qualifications
• PPO health insurance
• 401(k) with company matching up to 5%
• Profit Sharing
• Annual bonus of approximately 10%
• Company van and gas card
• 40-hour week, 7:45 AM start, finishing 4 to 5 PM; overtime to finish installs, heaviest in winter; weekends are rare

Overview

• Lead boiler replacements and new boiler installs from material planning through startup, working from piping diagrams and manufacturer instructions
• Lay out and pipe mechanical rooms: near-boiler piping, pumps, valves, safety controls, storage tanks, and volume water heaters
• Direct a crew of 2 to 3 installers and keep each job on schedule
• Replace corroded piping and install safety controls on steam and hydronic boilers
• Coordinate equipment removal, shutdowns, and testing with the office and building contacts; specialty subcontractors handle equipment pulling and welding
• Leave a clean, safe mechanical room and an install the customer does not have to call back about

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Pipefitting, plumbing, or HVAC trade training or a completed apprenticeship; this is not an entry-level or apprentice role
• Valid driver’s license, and insurable on the company vehicle policy
• Strongly Preferred — 5+ years of hands-on installation of commercial boilers and mechanical piping, steam, hydronic, or both
• Strongly Preferred — Working knowledge of steam and hydronic piping configurations
• Commercial water heater and storage tank installation experience
• Pipe layout, measuring, fabrication, and installation skills
• Ability to run an install with limited supervision (lead level preferred; standard level considered)
• Ability to work in tight spaces around boiler piping
• Commercial plumbers with substantial boiler installation experience, and pipefitters or hydronic installers ready to build steam skills, are encouraged to apply
• Lives within a reasonable commute of Chicago’s north side

Keywords: boiler installer, lead pipefitter, pipefitter, steamfitter, steam boiler, hydronic boiler, commercial boiler, boiler replacement, boiler retrofit, boiler installation, commercial water heater, storage tank installation, near-boiler piping, boiler room, mechanical room, hydronic piping, steam piping, pipe layout, pipe fabrication, commercial plumber, safety controls, lead installer, HVAC, mechanical contractor, direct hire, non-union, Chicago

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