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HVAC/R & Kitchen Equipment Technician - Columbus, GA

SmartCare · GA · Remote available · Full time

Posted Sep 15, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you used a wiring diagram or schematic to find a fault you couldn't see by just looking.

What they are checking: Whether reading schematics is a real working skill for them or something they only list on a resume.

Part of your pay comes from quarterly bonuses tied to efficiency. How do you keep your pace up without rushing a repair and causing a callback?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that real productivity means fixing it right the first time, not just closing tickets quickly.

Tell me about a time you recommended a repair or replacement the customer didn't expect. How did you explain it?

What they are checking: Whether they can act as a trusted advisor who explains value honestly instead of overselling or staying silent.

What would you do

The job talks about predicting and preventing failures. On a routine visit, what would you look at to spot a problem before it shuts a kitchen down?

What they are checking: Whether they think like a preventive maintenance advisor rather than someone who only shows up after a breakdown.

You get an on-call page at 2 a.m. on a Saturday for a hospital walk-in freezer. How do you handle that call from start to finish?

What they are checking: Whether they take the emergency rotation seriously and can communicate clearly with a customer under pressure.

A restaurant manager is upset because this is the third visit for the same ice machine. How do you handle that conversation?

What they are checking: Whether they can own a repeat failure, calm a frustrated customer and keep the account.

How do you keep your service vehicle stocked and organized so you aren't making extra trips for parts?

What they are checking: Whether they plan ahead, since parts runs eat into efficiency and leave customers waiting longer.

This role includes occasional overnight travel and a driving record check. Is there anything about either that would be a problem for you?

What they are checking: Whether they can meet the basic conditions of the job before the company invests in training them.

About the work

Walk me through how you'd troubleshoot a reach-in cooler at a restaurant that's running warm in the middle of a Friday dinner rush.

What they are checking: Whether they work a refrigeration problem in a logical order while the customer is losing product and patience.

A commercial fryer won't light. What do you check first, and what would make you shut it down and tag it out?

What they are checking: Whether they know gas cooking equipment well enough to fix it fast without cutting safety corners.

What experience do you have with dish machines and warewashing equipment, and what usually goes wrong with them?

What they are checking: Whether they can cover the specialty food service equipment this role handles beyond standard HVAC work.

Which EPA refrigerant certification do you hold, and how do you handle recovery when you open a sealed system?

What they are checking: Whether they handle refrigerant legally and correctly, which protects both the company and the customer.

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The full job description

As published by SmartCare.

Summary of the Job: As a Service Technician, you will become a trusted advisor to your customers by consistently delivering innovative solutions to predict and prevent HVAC/R and kitchen equipment failure, contributing to the success of thousands of restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and other commercial customers. What You Will Do: • Partner with HVAC/R, restaurant, and hospitality managers to offer comprehensive service solutions for commercial cooking, refrigeration, warewashing, and other specialty food service equipment • Demonstrate your mechanical aptitude, troubleshooting skills, and ability to read diagrams and schematics • Drive your income through quarterly bonuses by meeting efficiency and productivity goals • Basic Qualifications: • High School diploma or equivalent • A minimum of one (3) years of technical experience with refrigeration, appliance repair, kitchen equipment, HVAC, or military service • Valid driver’s license and acceptable motor vehicle record • Willingness and ability to be involved with the emergency on-call rotation that includes nights and weekends • Availability for occasional overnight travel as assigned • Immigration sponsorship not provided for this role Preferred Qualifications: • Relevant technical training, licenses, and/or certifications (i.e., EPA, CFESA) • Commercial refrigeration and/or commercial cooking equipment repair experience • Self-motivated with the proven ability to prioritize and work independently with minimal direct supervision Position Requirements: • Ability to frequently kneel, bend, squat, push, pull, reach, and occasionally lift and carry up to 70 pounds • Ability to work with moving mechanical parts, pressurized steam equipment, open flames, heated surfaces, liquids, and risk of electrical shock in damp, humid, or freezing conditions • Ability to work on ladders, roofs, and in rare cases, high, precarious places What’s in it for You: • On-the- job training as well as ongoing training with the potential for advanced certifications • Receive a company service vehicle, fuel card, computer, and cell phone for business use • Comprehensive benefits program including 401k, pension and paid time off with eligibility beginning upon start date • Independent work environment where you will plan your own schedule • Take charge of your career through growth opportunities including advanced technician and management About Smart Care Smart Care is a national repair and service provider for commercial foodservice, refrigeration, and cold storage equipment. Our offering of comprehensive mechanical services includes hot side cooking equipment, stand-alone refrigeration, specialty coffee and beverage, complex rack refrigeration and HVAC. Smart Care is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other protected class status. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. If you need a reasonable accommodation with respect to Smart Care’s application or hiring process due to a disability, please contact the Human Resources department at HR@smartcaresolutions.com .

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