ARCHITECT

Summary

About the Position: The selectee performs a variety of Architectural duties related to the development of architectural designs and writing detailed specifications for new construction, interior, and exterior alterations, restorations, additions, and repairs to existing buildings and structures.

Duties

• Serve as an Architect within the Design Branch of Engineering and Construction Division.
• Responsible for all aspects of architectural design for facilities including new construction, renovations of existing structures, and other architectural design support for assigned civil works and military program projects.
• Serve technical or design team leader on assigned in-house, A/E, and Design-Build projects.
• Develop spatial requirements and relationships, code analysis, coordinate building design elements, create building floor plans, elevations, and sectional relationships, development of construction drawings, design analysis, and specifications.
• Coordinate architectural design work and life safety requirements at all stages of design .
• Collaborate with structural, mechanical, electrical, environmental, civil site, cost, other engineers, and other designers and integrates engineer discipline requirements to produce a coordinated design.
• Research, program, plan, and design new buildings or extensions or alterations to existing structures.
• Restore and conserve historic structures by applying knowledge of architectural design, construction detailing and procedures, building and life safety codes, and building materials and systems.
• Develop general and detailed drawings, design analyses, computations and calculations, and technical specifications for architectural features of assigned projects.
• Perform office and field architectural duties associated with field verification, in house design, reviews, and support during construction.
• Utilize computer aided design and drafting systems and three-dimensional building information modeling in the design and development of design and construction contract drawings
• Evaluate technical data pertaining to materials, equipment, shop drawings, proposals for modifications and additions.
• Evaluate methods of installation submitted by contractors and performs reviews for technical feasibility, adequacy and compliance with specifications.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. Current Civilian Employees of the Command Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473 Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998 In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. 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; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Basic Requirement for Architect GS-12: NOTE: You must provide a copy of your transcript. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in architecture or in a related field that included 60 semester hours of course work in architecture or related disciplines of which at least (1) 30 semester hours were in architectural design, and (2) 6 semester hours were in each of the following: structural technology, properties of materials and methods of construction, and environmental control systems. OR Combination of Education and Experience: College-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the arts and sciences underlying professional architecture, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the architectural principles, methods, and techniques and their applications to the design and construction or improvement of buildings. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by at least one of the following: (1) Related Curriculum - Degree in architectural engineering provided the completed course work in architectural engineering provided knowledge, skills, and abilities substantially equivalent to those provided in the courses specified in statement A above, or (2) Experience: 1 year of experience in an architect's office or in architectural work for each year short of graduation from a program of study in architecture. In the absence of any college courses, 5 years of such experience is required. This experience must have demonstrated that you have acquired a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and theories of professional architecture. In addition to meeting one of the basic requirements above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: Minimum Qualification requirements for the GS-12: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes professional knowledge of architectural concepts, principles, and practices applicable to a broad range of architectural, engineering, construction management, life cycle management, and related assignments; ability to apply comprehensive architectural practices, methods, and techniques to perform relatively complex projects with complete responsibility; knowledge of design and construction practices and techniques in establishing design parameters and preparing project documents and specifications; knowledge of computer aided design and drafting (CADD) programs to perform complex design and drafting assignments, convey design concepts and ideas, and formulate working drawings; and knowledge of and familiarity with related fields of work (ie various engineering groups) to ensure areas of overlapping responsibilities receive proper design consideration. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11) Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-11).

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. As a reminder, your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. For additional information, refer to the 'Required Documents' section. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13042409 Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/09/2026. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside about two (2) hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. For more general information, system requirements, reasonable accommodation information, and to request assistance regarding the USA Hire Assessments, review the following resources: https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/28980562523540-USA-Hire-Assessments To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.