Mechanical Engineer

To qualify for this GS-13 Mechanical Engineer position you must demonstrate: (1) the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) for the federal GS-0800 series — AND — (2) at least 52 weeks of Specialized Experience. (1) INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT (IOR) A. Degree in Engineering from a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET (see www.abet.org for information on engineering programs that have received accreditation) OR B. Degree in Engineering that includes 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: (1) statics, dynamics; (2) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (3) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (4) thermodynamics; (5) electrical fields and circuits; (6) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (7) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics or electronics (highlight those courses on your transcript to ensure they receive consideration) OR C. Combination of education and experience comprised of college-level education, training AND technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering AND (2) a theoretical and practical understanding of engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. This claim must be based on one of the following and supporting documents must be submitted: (1) Professional registration or licensure — current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT) or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, District of Columbia, Guam or Puerto Rico. (2) Written Test — evidence of successfully passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam or other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. (3) Specific academic courses — successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical and engineering sciences that included the courses specified in (2)(a)-(g) above. Courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program and must be highlighted on your transcript(s). (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 you have 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. ONLY APPLICANTS WHO DEMONSTRATE THIS IOR WILL BE EVALUATED. (2) SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE must have been gained in a federal position at or above GS-12 OR (if your position/experience is in another federal pay scale OR outside of federal service) by performing duties at a level of responsibility and difficulty equivalent to GS-12. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is work that primarily consists of planning, developing and conducting complex large-scale facilities planning and engineering projects and applying engineering theories, principles and practices to solve difficult and/or unique problems affecting large-scale facilities operations. If you have this experience, you must describe, in your own words, the specific duties you perform that demonstrate it. Since Specialized Experience also has a time component, it must be evident that the duties you describe are at the required level for at least 52 weeks. Reviewers cannot assume you perform duties you don’t describe. An affirmative response to the online questionnaire is not sufficient to demonstrate experience. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (IOR and Specialized Experience) must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Information on this job series can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf CONDITIONS OF POSITION The work in this position is mostly sedentary; however, some walking, bending and climbing is required to inspect buildings at various stages of construction. Will occasionally visit and investigate onsite operations, repair and improvement or construction activities and be subject to related construction hazards, in particular, those associated with high voltage and electrical switch gear. Some travel is required to conduct studies and meet with regional and other field facilities.
Serves as SSAs Mechanical Engineer responsible for planning, developing and conducting complex comprehensive agency-wide facilities planning and engineering. Provides coordination of stakeholders, planning and design consultation on sophisticated requirements for facilities with state-of-the-art technology, as well as electrical and mechanical equipment for commercial office buildings in spaces occupied by SSA personnel. See QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES for more information.