Assembles, installs, maintains and repairs industrial, commercial and domestic air-conditioning and refrigeration systems and equipment.

Establishes job requirements from drawings and specifications, and lays out installation reference points; drills holes, installs mounting brackets and cuts bends and threads piping; installs and repairs components such as compressors and gauges, and copper lines for steam, gas, refrigerant, compressed air, oil and chilled water; bolts, solders, rivets, welds and brazens pipes to connect equipment, and checks alignment and accuracy of fit; fills systems with gas or fluid to check for leaks; test-operating refrigeration systems, check mechanisms and make adjustments; remove test gas and fluid using vacuum pumps, and fill with refrigerant; check and overhaul refrigeration systems, diagnose faults and repair and replace defective components; adjust system controls and mechanisms and reassemble systems; record causes of malfunctioning and action taken.

• Works indoors predominantly in workshops but frequently travels to worksites to carry out installation, repair or maintenance work. Indoor work spaces will usually be adequately heated and ventilated, but refrigeration equipment maintenance work may be carried out in chillers or cool stores and in areas in which heating or ventilation systems are not functioning.
• Workspaces may include confined spaces, heights and roofs. Utilises a variety of personal protective equipment including eye, ear and foot protection.

• Physical demand is medium to heavy.
• Standing is constantly required and is often on concrete floors and at workbenches. Walking is frequently required but sitting is not a significant requirement.
• Lifting, carrying and holding and bending are frequently required, as is stretching up and across. Employees will frequently be holding ducting units, ventilation or cooling units, tools or parts when doing so. Squatting, crouching or kneeling and twisting of the body or neck are occasionally required.
• Repetitive movements are occasionally required especially in the use of hands and arms for screwing, holding and tightening but power tools often used and tasks are occasional.
• Driving is frequently required.
• Uses a range of general engineering and sheetmetal hand, power and machine tools and equipment.
• Mental skills required are technical, problem-solving, communication and organisation.

A New Zealand Register Level 4 qualification or at least three years of relevant experience (ANZSCO Skill Level 3). In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification. For entry-level positions on-the-job training may be sufficient.

There are opportunities for flexibility of movement but they are limited.