Journeyman Pipefitter — Commercial Hydronics
Quality Air Services | Rockville, MD
$3,500 SIGNING BONUS
$1,500 at 6 months · $2,000 at 12 months
$40 – $45 per hour, depending on experience and credentials
About Quality Air Services
Quality Air Services is a Rockville, Maryland HVAC and mechanical contractor serving the DC metro. We do the harder hydronic work most contractors won’t touch. Dual-temperature riser pipe replacements in occupied multifamily and commercial buildings. Fan coil unit replacement at scale. A national pipe-freezing program that lets us isolate valves on live systems without draining a building. Quality work, clear communication, no drama. Non-union shop.
We need real journeyman pipefitters on our field crews to help us run more of this work.
The Role
You’re the hands on our commercial mechanical piping work. Hydronic systems mostly. Chilled water, hot water, dual-temp risers, fan coils, air handlers, valve packages. Mostly copper. Steel when we’re tying new to existing on riser replacements. Some AquaTherm polypropylene and PEX depending on the project.
This is not a babysitter position. You see work and do it. You take ownership of your area. You ask the right questions and surface issues early. You don’t need a foreman standing over you to keep moving.
Most of our work is in occupied buildings. Apartment communities, condos, offices. That means professional conduct, clean work areas, and respect for the residents around you.
What You’ll Do
- Cut, prep, fit, and install commercial mechanical piping per drawings and field conditions.
- Copper work. Press, solder, braze, thread. Steel when we tie new to existing on riser replacements.
- Old-to-new tie-ins on riser replacements. We use pipe freezing to isolate live systems so we don’t drain the building. You’ll learn this if you don’t already know it.
- Pipefit valve packages on FCUs and AHUs. Isolation valves, control valves, strainers, thermometers, PT ports, manual air vents.
- Pressure testing and leak checks per spec and code.
- Coordinate with the foreman and other trades. Sequence your work to keep things moving.
- Daily clean-up. Containment in occupied spaces. Professional conduct around residents and building staff.
- Field notes for the foreman’s daily log. Sketches, redlines, quantities.
Credentials
One of these. We’ll verify.
- UA apprenticeship completion, any local. Active members can’t take a non-union job, but withdrawn or retired card holders, come talk to us.
- Completed ABC, MCA, MCAA, or other DOL-registered apprenticeship.
- NCCER Pipefitter Level 3 or 4.
- MD or VA journeyman license in plumbing or HVAC.
- 10+ years on commercial pipefitting with references we can actually call.
Beyond the Credential
- 5+ years on commercial hydronic work. Chilled water, hot water, dual-temp risers, fan coils, valve packages.
- Strong on copper. Press, solder, braze, thread. Comfortable with steel. Cut, thread, join. Welding is a plus, not required.
- Reads drawings without help. Plan, section, iso, schedule, details.
- Takes ownership. Runs your own area without a foreman watching.
- Shows up on time. Every day.
- Willing to do a paid working interview. Half day on a real job, our foreman runs you through a few tasks. We pay either way.
- Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
- OSHA 10 preferred, or you’ll certify within 30 days.
Top of the Range
- AWS welding certs. 6G pipe weld, B31.1, B31.9, ASME Section IX.
- Roll groove / Victaulic certification.
- NCCER Pipefitter Level 4.
- AquaTherm polypropylene fusion experience.
- PEX for hydronics.
- Riser pipe replacement in occupied multifamily.
- Live-system valve isolation. Pipe freezing, hot taps.
- FCU and AHU valve package installation.
- Bilingual English/Spanish.
Compensation
- Hourly: $40 – $45 per hour, depending on experience and skill set.
- $3,500 signing bonus, paid in three installments: $1,000 at 6 months, $2,500 at 12 months.
- Overtime as available, paid time-and-a-half.
- Health insurance, 401(k) with company match, paid time off, paid holidays.
- Company-provided PPE and standard tools. We expect you to have your own hand tools.
Schedule
Full-time, Monday through Friday. Project hours typically 7am–3:30pm with occasional adjustments to accommodate building access. Occasional night or weekend work during critical cutovers — paid at premium rates.
How to Apply
Send your resume and a short note. In the note:
- Which credential fits you, with specifics. UA: which local, when, current status. Apprenticeship: which program, what year. License: type, state, number. 10+ years: foremen or PMs we can call.
- Welding certs, NCCER certs, or other trade credentials you hold.
- A tough piping job you ran. What made it hard. How you got it done.
The note matters. It tells us whether you can think through a problem and explain it.
Quality Air Services is an equal opportunity employer and a registered apprenticeship employer in MD and DC. We value craftsmanship, safety, transparency, and growth on every job site.
Quality Air Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Pay: $40.00 - $45.00 per hour
Experience:
- Hydronic Work: 5 years (Required)
License/Certification:
- driver’s license and reliable transportation. (Required)
- Journeyman License (Required)
Work Location: In person
