Chief Engineering Advisor

Summary

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) advises the Commission on technical and engineering matters; develops and administers FCC decisions regarding spectrum allocations; grants equipment authorizations, experimental licenses, and special temporary operation authority; regulates the operation of unlicensed devices; and conducts engineering and technical studies.

Duties

• The Chief Engineering Advisor provides authoritative engineering advice and consultation to OET leadership, and, as appropriate, the Chairman, Commissioners, Bureaus and Offices, and other senior Commission officials on matters involving advanced communications technologies, radiofrequency spectrum, wireless and electronic communications systems, interference, equipment and device technologies, technical standards, and other complex engineering issues within the Commission's jurisdiction. Job duties of the Chief Engineering Advisor include: Serving as a principal senior engineering advisor to OET leadership and other senior Commission officials on the most complex and consequential engineering and technology matters before the FCC. Providing authoritative professional engineering advice concerning radiofrequency spectrum, electromagnetic compatibility, interference, propagation, wireless and communications systems, electronic devices and equipment, advanced communications technologies, and other technical matters affecting Commission programs and regulatory responsibilities. Analyzing complex issues involving spectrum sharing, harmful interference, electromagnetic compatibility, propagation characteristics, transmitter and receiver performance, antenna systems, technical operating parameters, and related communications engineering matters. Providing expert engineering analysis and advice regarding the efficient and effective use of the radiofrequency spectrum and the technical characteristics of communications systems operating within spectrum regulated by the Commission. Assessing the engineering implications of new technologies, architectures, devices, and communications capabilities and advises Commission leadership regarding potential impacts on spectrum use, interference environments, technical rules, and regulatory policy. Reviewing and evaluating technical proposals, engineering studies, industry submissions, petitions, comments, standards, and other technical materials presented to the Commission. Consulting with nationally recognized engineers, scientists, technical experts, industry representatives, and government officials concerning highly complex communications and spectrum engineering matters. Providing technical leadership through expert consultation, mentoring, and professional guidance to engineers and other technical professionals throughout OET and the Commission.

Qualifications

To be deemed as qualified, candidates must meet the qualification criteria as listed in both Part A & Part B. PART A. REQUIRED OPM EDUCATION Candidates must meet the OPM educational qualification standards as listed here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf Applicants are required to submit transcripts (unofficial or official) to confirm attainment of the OPM educational requirements for this position. If transcripts are not submitted, the application will be rated as ineligible. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order to receive credit towards qualifications. Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html PART B. ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION CRITERIA Specialized Experience 1. Providing authoritative engineering advice and technical expertise on highly complex communications and electronics engineering matters involving areas such as radio frequency spectrum, wireless communications systems, electromagnetic compatibility, interference analysis, propagation, or advanced communications technologies. 2. Evaluating and resolving complex or precedent-setting engineering issues involving communications technologies, spectrum use, electronic systems, or emerging technologies, including assessing technical studies, engineering analyses, standards, models, or other technical evidence and developing technically supportable recommendations for senior decision-makers. 3. Advising senior officials and engaging with technical stakeholders on significant engineering and technology matters, including communicating complex technical concepts and recommendations to senior leadership, government officials, industry representatives, standards organizations, academia, or other technical experts. AND Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ's/Required Competencies) Electronics, Communications, and Spectrum Engineering-Ability to demonstrate expertise applying advanced electronics and communications engineering principles to exceptionally complex matters involving radiofrequency spectrum, wireless communications systems, electromagnetic compatibility, interference, propagation, electronic equipment, or related technologies. Complex Engineering Analysis and Technical Judgement-Ability to evaluate and resolve novel, highly complex, or precedent-setting engineering issues and develop authoritative technical recommendations based upon engineering analyses, studies, standards, models, measurements, or other technical evidence. Senior Technical Advice and Influence-Skill providing authoritative engineering advice to senior decision-makers and communicating complex technical issues and recommendations to senior officials and external technical stakeholders. SME REVIEW Subject matter experts will be conducting a competency based, scored structured resume review and will be reviewing resumes to determine if candidates meet the required specialized experience criteria and the required competencies listed above to determine which candidates are eligible to be referred for selection to the selecting official. Candidates must meet the required specialized experience along with the required competencies and receive a score of 90 or higher on the scored structured resume review to be eligible for referral to the selecting official.

Requirements

N/A

How to apply

To apply to this announcement go to the website: https://www.usajobs.gov/Search/Results?a=FC00&k=Federal%20Communications%20Commission Your application, including resume, all supplemental documents, registration information and answers to job specific questions must be received no later than midnight U.S. Eastern time of the closing date. For more information on applying federal jobs, please check this webpage https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/process As outlined in the "Required Documents Details" section of the announcement, resumes must meet be no longer than two pages in length and must meet the resume formatting requirements. If applying online poses a hardship, you may contact either the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement or you may contact the Apply Government Solutions help desk (prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement) via e-mail at [email protected] or you may reach them directly at 866-656-6831. The Apply Government Solutions Help Desk is available Monday-Friday 7:00 am to 7:00 pm EST. NOTE: To be considered for an announced vacancy in the area of consideration within which the employee is eligible to compete, the employee must apply online using the Commission's automated recruitment system. Employees must submit all necessary application materials identified in the announcement by the specified closing date. If applying as an ICTAP or CTAP candidate... The Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) are programs designed to afford selection priority to well-qualified Federal employees who meet the definition of a “surplus” or “displaced” employee. To be eligible for consideration under CTAP you must meet all of the following criteria: 1) Be a current FCC employee who has received an official notice stating that your position is no longer needed, or that you will be separated by reduction in force (RIF); 2) Have a current performance rating of at least "fully successful" or equivalent as substantiated by the submitted/uploaded performance appraisal. This must be submitted with your application package; 3) Occupy a position in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; 4) Apply for a specific vacancy at or below your current grade level with no greater promotion potential than your current position; 5) Meet the application deadline in the announcement; and 6) Be deemed as "qualified" by meeting all of the required qualification criteria. To be eligible for consideration under ICTAP, you must be a displaced Federal employee and have a current duty station within the local commuting area of this vacancy. You must submit a copy of the appropriate documentation such as a RIF separation notice, a letter from OPM or your agency documenting your priority consideration status with your application package. The following categories of candidates are considered displaced Employees: Current or former career or career-conditional (tenure group I or II) competitive service employees who: Received a specific RIF separation notice; or Separated because of a compensable injury, whose compensation has been terminated, and whose former agency certifies that it is unable to place; or Retired with a disability and whose disability annuity has been or is being terminated; or Upon receipt of a RIF separation notice retired on the effective date of the RIF and submits a Standard Form 50 that indicates "Retirement in lieu of RIF", or Retired under the discontinued service retirement option, or Separated because he/she declined a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area. The additional following types of candidates are considered displaced Employees: Military/National Guard Technician--you were a Military Reserve or National Guard Technician and now receive a special OPM disability retirement annuity. To be eligible for consideration under ICTAP you must: 1) Have a current performance rating of at least "fully successful" or equivalent; 2) Occupy (or have been separated from) a position in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; 3) Apply for a specific vacancy at or below the grade level you are being (or have been) separated from that does not have greater promotion potential than your last position; 4) Meet the application deadline; and 5) Be deemed as "qualified" by meeting all of the required qualification criteria.