Boiler Plant Operator Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Boiler Plant Operators can qualify for H-1B and other work visas if the role requires specialized technical knowledge and at least a bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or electrical engineering. Power plants, manufacturing facilities, and large commercial buildings frequently sponsor experienced operators with engineering backgrounds for visa sponsorship. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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This position is located in the Facilities Engineering Service - General Utilities Section at Coatesville VA Medical Center. The Boiler Plant Operator is responsible for general maintenance and operation of the boiler plant. The incumbent performs regularly scheduled preventive maintenance and repairs boilers - safety devices - pumps and other equipment throughout the boiler plant - as well as prepares the boilers for safety inspections.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required - but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge - skills - and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards.
SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element - which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated.
The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements:
- Dexterity and Safety Equipment Assembly - Installation - Repair
- Interpret Instructions - Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
- Measurement and Layout
- Operation of Equipment/Machinery
- Technical Practices
Without more than normal supervision, experience refers to paid and unpaid experience - including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. - Peace Corps - AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g. - professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies - knowledge - and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience - including volunteer experience.
Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Beginning September 27, 2025 - Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages - and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge - skills - abilities - and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility - minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF - JPG - JPEG - PNG - RTF - TXT - PDF - ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato - if available. Other widely available options are Calibri - Helvetica - Arial - Verdana - Open San Source Sans Pro - Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.
Duties
The Boiler Plant Operator is a key position in maintaining the safe - uninterrupted operations of the boiler plant - which is a very complex - potentially dangerous and critically needed resource of the Medical Center. The duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to:
- Maintains repairs and operates the Boiler Plant and related equipment and systems
- Operator must accomplish daily chemical analysis of boiler water
- Responsible for the operation of four (4) sets of boiler controls - ensuring a continuing production of steam and hot water
- Determines adjustments or corrections necessary for proper boiler operations or changing load requirements
- Performs minor electrical repairs within the boiler plant to include but not limited to wiring of pumps/ motors/ control valves - troubleshooting controls - and replacing breakers
- Repairs - installs - modifies hot water generating equipment and circulating pumps - natural gas and fuel oil - and related tanks - fittings - valves - traps - mixing - and pressure regulating apparatus
- Prepares and participates in the inspection of all boilers by a certified licensed boiler inspector
- Assist Chemical Company representative in taking water samples each month in conjunction with required tests
- Using daily test results - Operator must blend and introduce required chemical dosage to meet Bureau Boiler water specifications
- Responsible for cleaning duties such as washing down floors - sweeping - mopping - stripping and waxing of all tile floors - cleaning all sinks - chemical test station and other areas - pipes - tanks - and boiler tops
- Other duties as prescribed by the Boiler Plant Work Leader
Work Schedule:
4pm-12am Friday and Monday
12pm-12am on Saturday and Sunday
This schedule is subject to a rotating 7 day - 3 shift operation to include weekend and holidays. Includes a 25% per hour shift premium Saturday and Sunday - along with shift differential.
Position Description Title/PD#: Boiler Plant Operator/PD03074A
Physical Requirements:
Incumbent is frequently subject to very uncomfortable and possibly dangerous conditions. They must be in satisfactory physical and mental condition and fit for duty at all times. The incumbent works from ladders - scaffolding and hydraulic platforms. They often work in portions of the utility systems requiring attention that are cramped - dirty and hard-to-reach locations. The work may involve prolonged crouching and standing and frequent stooping - bending - kneeling - climbing - and working in exhausting and uncomfortable positions. The Incumbent must be capable accessing the water side and the fire box of the water tube boilers. The incumbent frequently lifts or carries tools - equipment - ladders - scaffolding - parts and supplies up to 50 pounds. Occasionally - the incumbent will be required to lift and carry items over 80 pounds. Incumbent must possess valid state driver's license.
NOTE: Must be able to fit through a 12"X16" manway for confined space entry.
Working Conditions:
Exposed to a full array of weather conditions. Subject to danger of falling when working from ladders or hydraulic lifts. Exposed to dust/dirt. Work is performed mostly in an operating boiler plant with some work outside. Work is often dirty - dusty - and greasy. The incumbent is subjected to such hazardous conditions as injury from power driven tools - falling from scaffolds and ladders - temperature extremes - noise - and bad weather conditions. The incumbent is frequently exposed to the possibilities of cuts - bruises - scratches - broken bones - and burns. They are subject to asbestos exposure and chemicals which can cause burns or irritation to the skin. Some duties may require incumbent to wear protective equipment and clothing that is heavy and uncomfortable.
Summary
This position is located in the Facilities Engineering Service - General Utilities Section at Coatesville VA Medical Center. The Boiler Plant Operator is responsible for general maintenance and operation of the boiler plant. The incumbent performs regularly scheduled preventive maintenance and repairs boilers - safety devices - pumps and other equipment throughout the boiler plant - as well as prepares the boilers for safety inspections.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required - but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge - skills - and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards.
SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element - which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated.
The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements:
- Dexterity and Safety Equipment Assembly - Installation - Repair
- Interpret Instructions - Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
- Measurement and Layout
- Operation of Equipment/Machinery
- Technical Practices
Without more than normal supervision, experience refers to paid and unpaid experience - including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. - Peace Corps - AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g. - professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies - knowledge - and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience - including volunteer experience.
Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Beginning September 27, 2025 - Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages - and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge - skills - abilities - and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility - minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF - JPG - JPEG - PNG - RTF - TXT - PDF - ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato - if available. Other widely available options are Calibri - Helvetica - Arial - Verdana - Open San Source Sans Pro - Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.
Duties
The Boiler Plant Operator is a key position in maintaining the safe - uninterrupted operations of the boiler plant - which is a very complex - potentially dangerous and critically needed resource of the Medical Center. The duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to:
- Maintains repairs and operates the Boiler Plant and related equipment and systems
- Operator must accomplish daily chemical analysis of boiler water
- Responsible for the operation of four (4) sets of boiler controls - ensuring a continuing production of steam and hot water
- Determines adjustments or corrections necessary for proper boiler operations or changing load requirements
- Performs minor electrical repairs within the boiler plant to include but not limited to wiring of pumps/ motors/ control valves - troubleshooting controls - and replacing breakers
- Repairs - installs - modifies hot water generating equipment and circulating pumps - natural gas and fuel oil - and related tanks - fittings - valves - traps - mixing - and pressure regulating apparatus
- Prepares and participates in the inspection of all boilers by a certified licensed boiler inspector
- Assist Chemical Company representative in taking water samples each month in conjunction with required tests
- Using daily test results - Operator must blend and introduce required chemical dosage to meet Bureau Boiler water specifications
- Responsible for cleaning duties such as washing down floors - sweeping - mopping - stripping and waxing of all tile floors - cleaning all sinks - chemical test station and other areas - pipes - tanks - and boiler tops
- Other duties as prescribed by the Boiler Plant Work Leader
Work Schedule:
4pm-12am Friday and Monday
12pm-12am on Saturday and Sunday
This schedule is subject to a rotating 7 day - 3 shift operation to include weekend and holidays. Includes a 25% per hour shift premium Saturday and Sunday - along with shift differential.
Position Description Title/PD#: Boiler Plant Operator/PD03074A
Physical Requirements:
Incumbent is frequently subject to very uncomfortable and possibly dangerous conditions. They must be in satisfactory physical and mental condition and fit for duty at all times. The incumbent works from ladders - scaffolding and hydraulic platforms. They often work in portions of the utility systems requiring attention that are cramped - dirty and hard-to-reach locations. The work may involve prolonged crouching and standing and frequent stooping - bending - kneeling - climbing - and working in exhausting and uncomfortable positions. The Incumbent must be capable accessing the water side and the fire box of the water tube boilers. The incumbent frequently lifts or carries tools - equipment - ladders - scaffolding - parts and supplies up to 50 pounds. Occasionally - the incumbent will be required to lift and carry items over 80 pounds. Incumbent must possess valid state driver's license.
NOTE: Must be able to fit through a 12"X16" manway for confined space entry.
Working Conditions:
Exposed to a full array of weather conditions. Subject to danger of falling when working from ladders or hydraulic lifts. Exposed to dust/dirt. Work is performed mostly in an operating boiler plant with some work outside. Work is often dirty - dusty - and greasy. The incumbent is subjected to such hazardous conditions as injury from power driven tools - falling from scaffolds and ladders - temperature extremes - noise - and bad weather conditions. The incumbent is frequently exposed to the possibilities of cuts - bruises - scratches - broken bones - and burns. They are subject to asbestos exposure and chemicals which can cause burns or irritation to the skin. Some duties may require incumbent to wear protective equipment and clothing that is heavy and uncomfortable.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Boiler Plant Operator
Target Engineering-Focused Positions
Look for roles emphasizing system design, automation, or efficiency optimization rather than basic operations. Positions requiring SCADA programming, emissions compliance, or process improvement have stronger H-1B cases.
Highlight Specialized Certifications
EPA certification, boiler inspector licenses, or specialized training in high-pressure systems demonstrate expertise beyond basic operation. These credentials strengthen the specialty occupation argument for visa applications.
Focus on Large Industrial Employers
Power generation companies, chemical plants, and large manufacturing facilities are more likely to sponsor visas. They understand regulatory requirements and have budgets for immigration processing.
Emphasize Process Engineering Skills
Frame your experience around heat transfer calculations, combustion optimization, and energy efficiency analysis. These engineering functions support the degree requirement better than routine maintenance tasks.
Consider Power Plant Engineering Roles
Titles like Plant Engineer, Operations Engineer, or Control Systems Engineer have clearer visa pathways than Operator positions. The work may overlap but engineering titles strengthen applications.
Document Complex Problem-Solving Experience
Prepare examples of troubleshooting major equipment failures, implementing safety improvements, or leading efficiency projects. These demonstrate the analytical skills that justify degree requirements for sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do I need an engineering degree to get visa sponsorship as a Boiler Plant Operator?
Most sponsoring employers require a bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, or industrial engineering. The role must demonstrate specialty occupation requirements, which typically means engineering analysis, not just equipment operation. Some employers may accept equivalent experience through the 3-for-1 rule where three years of work experience substitutes for one year of education.
Which visa types work best for Boiler Plant Operators?
H-1B is the primary option for engineering-focused operator roles requiring a degree. TN visa works for Canadian and Mexican citizens in engineering positions. E-3 applies to Australians with engineering backgrounds. The key is positioning the role as engineering work rather than manual operation for any visa type.
What industries sponsor Boiler Plant Operators most frequently?
Electric power generation companies, large manufacturing facilities, chemical plants, and university campuses with central heating systems sponsor most frequently. These employers understand complex regulations and have experience with immigration processes. Smaller facilities rarely sponsor due to costs and complexity.
How do I strengthen my sponsorship case without traditional engineering experience?
Focus on technical training, specialized certifications, and complex problem-solving examples. Document experience with computerized control systems, emissions monitoring, or efficiency optimization projects. Consider pursuing additional certifications in process control or environmental compliance to demonstrate specialized knowledge that supports degree requirements.
What approval rates can Boiler Plant Operators expect for H-1B applications?
Success depends heavily on job description and degree alignment. Roles clearly requiring engineering analysis have higher approval rates than basic operation positions. USCIS scrutinizes whether the position truly needs a degree-level professional. Well-documented engineering functions with proper degree requirements typically see approval rates similar to other engineering roles.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Boiler Plant Operator jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.
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