Mechanical Engineer (Hydropower)

Who May Apply: US Citizens This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. 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. GS-07 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes experience applying theories, concepts, principles, and methodologies of Mechanical Engineering sufficient to research, analyze, interpret, and carry out difficult but conventional assignments. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05). -OR -Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as Engineering related field. -OR -Superior Academic Achievement. In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above. Superior Academic Achievement is based on:(1) Class Standing – Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR(2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) – Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (“B” or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (“B+” or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR(3) Honor Society Membership – Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achsnatl.org/). -OR -Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages. GS-09 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes applying theories, concepts, principles, and methodologies of Mechanical Engineering sufficient to research, analyze, interpret, and carry out difficult but conventional assignments as related to hydropower. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07). -OR -Education: Master’s or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as Engineering related field. -OR -Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. GS-11 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes designing mechanical features of common power generating facilities, multipurpose dams or industrial facility such as a paper mill or petroleum refinery. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09). -OR -Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as Engineering related field. -OR -Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.
Performs professional mechanical engineering duties related to the concept and detailed design, application, selection, installation, failure analysis, uprating, replacement, rehabilitation and repair of mechanical systems, machinery and other mechanical equipment as utilized in a hydroelectric powerhouse and large pumping station applications (examples include piping systems, machine design, cranes, and related hydraulic equipment in turbines and other specialized mechanical equipment).