Engineering Technician

Summary

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS), Office of Operations (OPS), Logistics, with vacancies in the locations listed. This position is also announced under vacancy number NWS-26-13056313-ST, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

Duties

• As an Engineering Technician, you will perform the following duties: Serve as a Facilities Engineering Technician to maintain National Weather Service (NWS) facilities, grounds and equipment (including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, generators, power systems, uninterruptible power supplies, grounding, surge suppression and lightning protection systems, building automation systems, and security systems) on a routine and emergency basis. Construct, repair, or renovate NWS facilities as needed. Serve as the NWS representative or inspector for facilities planning and construction projects. Review and interpret plans and specifications, and recommend and submit justifications to modify facilities. Prepare specifications, working plans, and written instructions to contract work. Develop preventative maintenance and modification schedules for all assigned facilities and equipment. Initiate action to accomplish maintenance and modifications. Periodically review work to ensure schedules are followed and work is completed within time and budget, utilizing a computerized maintenance management system. Develop project descriptions and cost estimates for facility maintenance, repair or replacement. NOTE: The duties are at the full performance level of the GS-11; the GS-10 is the developmental leading to such performance. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: Physical Demands: Work requires some physical exertion, such as periods of standing, recurring bending, crouching, stooping, working in cramped or confined areas. Must be able to lift and carry moderately heavy objects such as but not limited to handle and carry tools, equipment, and testing devices weighing at least 50 pounds a minimum distance of 20 feet without difficulty. Climbing is required (e.g. equipment ladders, towers, and fixed stairs). Must install equipment and cabling on towers, rooftops, in cramped spaces, or occasionally in areas inaccessible by vehicles. "High" work may be performed in hard to reach areas without benefit of ladders or safety enclosures. Work involves regular or recurring moderate risks that may require the use of special environmental, safety, and health precautions or devices. Works under potentially hazardous conditions including; high voltage, power generators, machinery, obstructed work areas, high noise levels, and inclement weather conditions. Operating motorized and specialized vehicles to perform site equipment. Must have a valid state driver's license. May be required to obtain and maintain contracting officer representative (COR) certification in order to manage and monitor facilities contracts. (Does not provide legal advice; no financial disclosure required) May be required to obtain and use a Government Purchase Card.(under micro-purchase threshold)

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ EDUCATION: There is no positive education requirement for this position. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies; knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. To qualify at the GS-10 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Assisting with property planning and construction projects; and Assisting with facilities maintenance functions for grounds, facilities, buildings and related fixtures and equipment. To qualify at the GS-11 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-10 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Conducting property planning and construction projects; and Conducting facilities maintenance functions for grounds, facilities, buildings and related fixtures and equipment.

Requirements

Key Requirements: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Additional Information. Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov) Qualification requirements must be met by closing date of the announcement. Additional Considerations: One year probationary period may be required. Payment of relocation expenses (PCS) is not authorized. This position requires Low Risk Security Clearance. Background investigation will be required. Continued employment is subject to applicant's successful completion of security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. *Note: A one year probationary period will be required unless you are a current Department of Commerce (including NOAA) employee and are in the same line of work and with no more than a 30 day break in service. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, for those required to serve a 1-year probationary period, we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: Your performance and conduct; Needs and interests of the agency; Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of then Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Education

Substitution of education for specialized experience is not applicable to this vacancy.

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 blue "Apply Online" button. If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile. As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application. Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. 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 at least 3 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. If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/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. 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.