Field Manager / Lead Installer

Lead the Field and Prosper with Tampa Bay’s Premier HVAC Team!

About the Company

Viking Air is an independent, locally owned HVAC company proudly serving St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, and the greater Tampa Bay area - not a faceless private equity firm. Here, technicians are never treated as numbers on a spreadsheet; leadership genuinely cares about your craft, your family, and your life outside of work. Guided by our foundational pillars of Care and Professionalism, we are committed to achieving excellence by working together as a team, putting customers at the heart of everything we do, and doing well by doing good. We refuse to cut corners, guess, or settle for slapping parts in. Instead, we invest directly in your development through on-site manufacturer training, run on open-book financial transparency so the entire team shares in our success, and guarantee true year-round stability with zero winter layoffs. From quarterly team outings, Tampa Bay Rays games, and Bucs tailgates to shop cookouts and ax throwing outings, our team is a true family that prospers together.

About the Role 

We are expanding our department and seeking a high-caliber Field Manager / Lead Installer who approaches the trade as a diagnostic craftsman and leader. The HVAC industry is undergoing rapid technological transformation. Modern variable-speed inverter equipment and communicating systems demand sharp technicians who understand micro-electronics, airflow dynamics, and advanced refrigeration cycles. In this role, you will be the vital link between our office operations and the field across Tampa Bay.

As our new Field Manager / Lead Installer, you will oversee new unit installations and ductwork to ensure projects are completed according to company specifications and local codes, while serving as our front-line technical expert for complex diagnostic calls. You will lead morning staging, verify material lists, run pre-job checklists, mentor helpers into confident lead technicians, and ensure systems operate at peak efficiency in the demanding Florida heat. What does success look like in this role? It means zero red tags (no failed inspections), all work completed on schedule, nominal callbacks, and identifying the true root causes of system failures rather than treating symptoms. Meeting these quality benchmarks unlocks direct performance incentive bonuses on top of your pay.

What's In It for You 

We believe top talent deserves radical pay transparency, weekly direct deposit through ADP, and a compensation package that directly rewards your leadership and craftsmanship: 

• • Total Target Earnings (OTE): $80,000 – $120,000+ per year.

  • Base Pay & Leadership Compensation:

    • Hourly Base: $36.00 – $42.00 / hour (based on experience), or a structured base ($32–$36/hr) plus a $200–$300/week Field Management Stipend to compensate your off-truck responsibilities (morning huddles, staging equipment, material verification, and phone support).

    • Overtime & Weekend Differential: 1.5x overtime rate for hours over 40, plus premium pay for your scheduled 1x/month Saturday rotation.

  • Performance Spiffs & Quality Bonuses:

    • "Zero Red Tag" Pass Spiff: $50 bonus per job that passes city/county building inspection on the first attempt with zero red tags.

    • Quality & Low-Callback Pool: $500 monthly bonus ($6,000/year potential) when departmental callbacks remain under 2%.

    • Helper Mentorship Bonus: $750 – $1,000 milestone spiff every time a helper you mentor and train successfully graduates to running their own install truck.

  • Quarterly Company Bonus Pool: Transparent, metric-driven quarterly bonuses tied directly to our open-book P&L. When the team hits the numbers, everybody gets paid.

  • 401(k) Retirement: 401(k) and Roth options with a 3% company match after 90 days.

  • Health & Wellness Benefits:

    • HSA Plan: Company covers 55% of premiums plus a $25/month company contribution directly into your HSA.

    • Co-Pay Plan Alternative: Company pays 50% of employee medical premiums after the probationary period.

    • Dental & Life: 100% company-paid dental insurance, plus 100% company-paid life and long-term disability insurance (short-term disability, vision, and pet insurance available via ADP).

  • Paid Time Off & Holidays: Paid holidays plus accrued PTO (1 week in year one, 2 weeks thereafter, 3 weeks after 5 years).

  • Equipment & Perks: Fully supported new company vehicle, fuel card, company phone,branded uniforms, direct factory manufacturer training, and guaranteed year-round work with zero winter layoffs.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead morning operations: attend a weekly meeting once per week at 7:00 AM, and participate in daily 7:30 AM morning huddles Tuesday through Friday.

• Work a flexible schedule as needed, including a Saturday rotation exactly once per month.

• Manage staging and job preparation: review job summaries, pull equipment, verify material lists, and execute pre-job checklists so crews launch seamlessly.

• Perform advanced diagnostics on residential and light commercial systems, accurately troubleshooting complex electrical, mechanical, and refrigerant issues to identify the root cause.

• Master inverter technology: test, diagnose, and repair variable-speed compressors, electronic expansion valves (EEVs), inverter drive boards, and communicating thermostats.

• Oversee unit installations and ductwork to guarantee full compliance with local building codes, company standards, and permit requirements.

• Execute precision mechanical repairs, including compressor changeouts, TXV replacements, reversing valves, line repairs, and leak detections without shortcuts or guesswork.

• Serve as the primary technical lifeline for field technicians and installers, troubleshooting issues over the phone to keep jobs moving.

• Mentor, train, and delegate to install helpers, actively developing them into capable, self-sufficient leads.

• Educate homeowners with honest transparency and clear options, avoiding high-pressure sales tactics while upholding our standard of care.

• Ensure every job site is treated with respect, drop cloths are used, and homes are left spotless.

• Maintain accurate digital invoices, diagnostic readings, and inventory tracking using your company-issue phone and ServiceTitan workflows.

Required & Preferred Experience

• Experience: 5+ years of dedicated hands-on HVAC installation and/or service diagnostic experience on residential and light commercial systems.

• Certifications: Universal EPA Certification is required. NATE Certification is preferred. Factory credentials (Trane, Carrier, Daikin, etc.) are a major advantage.

• Technical Mastery: Solid understanding of air conditioning fundamentals, refrigeration cycles, and airflow dynamics. Hands-on proficiency with inverter-driven heat pumps, mini-splits, straight cool systems, gas furnaces, and package units.

• Electrical Troubleshooting: Strong ability to read complex wiring schematics, test high/low voltage circuits, and diagnose printed circuit boards.

• Licensing & Background: Journeyman License is not required. Must possess a valid, clean Florida Driver's License and pass standard pre-employment background checks and drug screenings.

• Tools & Logistics: Must own install/service hand tools and have a reliable vehicle to commute to the office to take your company vehicle. Work is predominantly based in Pinellas County.

• Physical Demands: Must pass a physical exam and be physically fit for the trade: lifting 50+ lbs, kneeling, crawling, stooping, climbing extension ladders, safely navigating pitched rooftops, and working in extreme Florida heat and attics.

Key Attributes for Success

• Core Pillar – Genuine Care: You do the right thing when nobody is watching. You care about the safety and growth of your crew, treat customers’ homes with deep respect, and leave work areas spotless.

• Core Pillar – Uncompromising Professionalism: You take immense pride in your craft and appearance. You command respect naturally, hold yourself to a higher standard, and foster a positive, team-first attitude.

• Diagnostic Integrity: You despise shotgun part-swapping. You verify why a component failed before recommending a replacement and take pride in fixing it right the first time.

• Eagerness to Learn: You welcome evolving technology and jump at the chance to attend factory training to master the latest inverter platforms.

• Emotional Intelligence & Leadership: You communicate with empathy and clarity, remain calm under pressure, and turn field mistakes into teachable moments for younger technicians.

• Obsession with Execution: You double-check the little things—from clean wiring and capped service ports to proper permits—ensuring zero red tags and nominal callbacks.

Why Join Us? 

As an organization built for individuals who want a lasting career and are willing to grow with our company, Viking Air offers an environment where quality craftsmanship is rewarded rather than rushed. If you are tired of working for investment funds pushing high-pressure sales quotas, or shops that cut corners and leave you without modern inverter training, it’s time to work with a company that values your trade - as our new Field Manager / Lead Technician. At Viking Air, we provide direct factory training, transparent profit sharing, top-tier compensation, regular team outings, and guaranteed year-round stability without seasonal slowdowns.

Viking Air is an equal opportunity employer.