MECHANICAL ENGINEER-DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY

Experience requirements are described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional and Scientific Positions. BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT: EDUCATION: Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor’s degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. OR Combination of education and experience — college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: 1. Professional registration or licensure — Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1 , or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board’s eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. 2. Written Test — Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. 3. Specified academic courses — Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. 4. Related curriculum — Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.) https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower broadband NH-2, equivalent to the next lower grade GS-11 or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience is experience in performing O&M engineering involving maintenance, repair, upgrade, and operation of mechanical equipment and systems to infrastructure facilities, including utility systems, at a military installation. Experience working on O&M plans and programs for mission essential mechanical systems throughout the installation. NOTE: You must submit a copy of official transcripts. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the NH-02 or GS-11 or above grade/level or equivalent in the federal service. NOTE: Due to the use of 120-day rosters, this period of experience may be completed within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Professional knowledge of mechanical engineering concepts, principles, and practices and familiarity with other engineering disciplines and architecture; a broad range of O&M engineering and construction standards, methods, practices, and techniques, materials, and equipment to ensure work is in compliance with regulations and standards; and the operations, products, services, needs, and goals of O&M programs and assigned organizations and related customers, functions, resources, and users. Knowledge of standard contracting regulations, practices, and procedures; and work classifications and the regulatory and statutory restrictions on the expenditures of appropriated and non-appropriated funds. Knowledge of health, safety, and environmental requirements as outlined in applicable standards, regulations, and/or technical orders. Knowledge of program planning and budgeting cycles, automated data processing concepts, financial control and budget systems, and management; and of environmental principles, practices, procedures, laws, regulations, and current legislative issues. Ability to plan, conduct, lead, and record site/facility surveys and inspections; research, analyze, interpret, and apply rules, regulations, and procedures to a variety of situations and to recommend timely and economical solutions; plan and organize work and coordinate with other engineering disciplines and architects. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing and maintain good working relations. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Click on “Learn more about this agency” button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a professional Mechanical Engineer performing operations and maintenance (O&M) engineering duties in support of a military installation.