Senior HVACR Technician

Salary : $100,422.40 - $120,556.80 Annually
Location : City of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Varies by Position
Job Number:
Business Area: 1317 - General Services
Opening Date: 11/13/2026
Closing Date: 11/23/2026 12:00 AM Pacific

JOB INFORMATION
See NOTE(S) below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

Senior HVACR Technician positions control the operation of refrigeration, heating, and combined heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems on a building automation system or facility management system; design, modify, and make programming and software improvements on the systems; perform or serve as a technical resource on the more difficult refrigeration and HVAC work; and perform other duties as assigned.

NOTES:

• Employees in job classifications represented by AFSCME Local 127 are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:
  • 3.5% effective 7/1/27
  • 2% effective 7/1/28
  • 2% effective 1/1/29
• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Senior HVACR Technician employees may be required to work overtime, including nights, weekends, holidays and/or rotating shifts for which they may receive 5% additional pay.
• Senior HVACR Technician employees may be required to work at heights over 100 feet, perform physical tasks including stooping, bending, squatting, reaching, twisting, and lifting and carrying items weighing up to 125 pounds.
• Senior HVACR Technician employees are required to work both indoors and outdoors, sometimes in extreme weather conditions or a cramped workspace, and may be exposed to hazards of building maintenance (e.g., lead, asbestos).
• Senior HVACR Technician employees may be required to be clean-shaven in order to pass a respirator-fit test utilizing a self-contained breathing apparatus.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: You must meet ONE of the following options:

1. Completion of a state-accredited four-year Refrigeration Apprenticeship Training Program AND one year of full-time experience in all phases of work as a journey-level HVACR Technician (previously known as Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Mechanic). Qualifying experience must include BOTH of the following: Installing, maintaining, and repairing air-conditioning systems with capacities of TEN TONS and over and HVAC systems in multi-story buildings; AND maintaining, adjusting, and operating a computerized building automation system or facility management system.
2. Five years of full-time experience in all phases of work as a journey-level HVACR Technician (previously known as Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Mechanic). Qualifying experience must include BOTH of the following: Installing, maintaining, and repairing air-conditioning systems with capacities of TEN TONS and over and HVAC systems in multi-story buildings; AND maintaining, adjusting, and operating a computerized building automation system or facility management system.
3. An equivalent combination of experience and apprenticeship training as specified above that equals five years.

CERTIFICATE: A valid U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Program-approved Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) Certificate.
LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire.
NOTE:

• Candidates will generally be required to provide proof of a valid driver license within approximately two weeks of receiving a conditional job offer.

HIGHLY DESIRABLES:

• Strong background in programming, configuring, and troubleshooting a building automation system.
• Experience and knowledge to set up, configure, and troubleshoot a desktop computer.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION):

• Proof of apprenticeship completion, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• Proof of apprenticeship transcript/hours of completion, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• Proof of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Program-approved Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) Certificate.

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: (619) 533-3337; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.
SCREENING PROCESS
Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may be cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change to their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.
Rev. 8 - November 13, 2026 (New Recruitment Date)
City employees may be eligible to participate in a benefit program including holidays, vacations, savings and retirement plans, health programs, and other benefits.

Eligible City employees initially hired or assuming office on or after July 10, 2021, with the exception of Police Recruits participating in the City's Police Academy, will participate in the City's Defined Benefit Plan administered by the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (SDCERS).

Benefits may change due to employer-employee contract negotiations.

or review the
01

I understand that failure to respond to the following questions in the spaces provided may result in the rejection of my application. In addition, I may miss out on employment opportunities. Résumés are NOT reviewed for assessing the minimum requirements, qualifications will be determined from the answers provided to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02

Are you a current or former City of San Diego government/municipal employee?

• Current city employee
• Former city employee
• Current & former city employee
• None of the above

03

If you have previously worked or are currently working for the City of San Diego, please enter your PERNR.
04

The minimum age for this job is 18, unless you are 17 and a high school graduate. Do you meet the minimum age requirements for this job?

• Yes
• No

05

Have you successfully completed a state-accredited four-year Refrigeration Apprenticeship Training Program?

• Yes
• No

06

Are you using a combination of experience and apprenticeship training to meet the minimum qualifications?

• Yes
• No

07

If you are using a combination of experience and apprenticeship training to qualify, which of the following best describes your level of apprenticeship training?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years or more

08

How many years of full-time experience do you have in all phases of work as a journey-level HVACR Technician (previously known as Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Mechanic), which includes BOTH of the following: Installing, maintaining, and repairing air-conditioning systems with capacities of TEN TONS and over and HVAC systems in multi-story buildings; AND maintaining, adjusting, and operating a computerized building automation system or facility management system.

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

09

Describe your full-time experience in all phases of work as a journey-level HVACR Technician (previously known as Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Mechanic). Specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent performing the duties, and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in this area, write "None."
10

In which of the following areas do you have full-time experience?

• Installing, maintaining, and repairing air-conditioning systems with capacities of TEN TONS and over and HVAC systems in multi-story buildings.
• Maintaining, adjusting, and operating a computerized building automation system or facility management system.
• None of the above.

11

Describe your full-time experience with air conditioning systems with capacities of TEN TONS and over and HVAC systems in multi-story buildings in the following areas: a. Installing; b. maintaining; c. repairing. For each area, specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent on each area and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in a specific area, write "None."
12

Describe your experience with computerized building automation systems or facility management systems in the following areas: a. Maintaining; b. adjusting; c. operating. For each area, specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent on each area and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in a specific area, write "None."
13

Do you possess a valid U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Program approved Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) Certificate?

• Yes
• No

14

I understand that if I receive a conditional job offer, I will generally be required to provide proof of a valid driver license within approximately two weeks of receiving the offer.

• Yes
• No

Required Question