This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/579928200. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
This position is located in the Fire Research Laboratory (FRL) within the Office of Science and Technology (OST) in Beltsville, Maryland.
Serves as a technical expert practitioner concerning the evaluation of products, equipment and components having electrical or electronic functions and mechanical features with regard to failure modes resulting in fire causation.
Learn more about this agency09/25/2020 to 10/08/2020
$86,335 - $133,465 per year
GS 12 - 13
1 vacancy in the following location:
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - 5 days/nights per month
No
Permanent
Full-Time
Competitive
13
No
Yes
20-DEU-056-KRM
579928200
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Applications will be accepted from all U.S. citizens.
Duties for GS-12
Duties for GS-13
Please do not cut and paste the position description, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
The qualification requirements listed below must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
MOBILITY PLAN: New employees hired pursuant to this vacancy announcement must sign a mobility agreement. The purpose of ATF’s mobility policy is to enhance career development and progression, and achieve mission and business effectiveness. To accomplish these objectives, the mobility plan will facilitate the movement of employees through special short-term assignments or permanent reassignments throughout the Bureau. Applicants who decline to sign a mobility agreement, as required, will be removed from the hiring process.
Basic requirements for all grades:
Degree: professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; 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 professional 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. Additional info on basic requirements at: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 mandatory Basic Requirement requirements (above), applicants must also meet the specialized experience requirement.
To qualify for GS-12 candidates must also have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-11; Specialized experience is demonstrated experience, which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. Experience must be in the normal line of progression or must be related to the work of the position advertised and must be reflected in resume. Specialized experience includes: assessing and evaluating electrical and mechanical items for possible malfunction, failure, or modification, or for applicable code/standard compliance; interpreting and evaluating test data to form opinions and conclusions; conducting research and reviewing background materials to support reported findings and conclusions, preparing and reviewing detailed technical reports that are suitable for external analysis.
To qualify for GS-13 candidates must also have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-12; Specialized experience is demonstrated experience, which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. Experience must be in the normal line of progression or must be related to the work of the position advertised and must be reflected in resume. Specialized experience includes: assessing and evaluating electrical/mechanical items for possible malfunction, failure, or modification resulting in a fire; handling items of evidence and following established ‘chain of custody’ procedures; conducting research and reviewing background materials to support reported findings and conclusions; interpreting and evaluating test data to form opinions and conclusions; preparing and reviewing detailed technical reports (written/oral) suitable for external analysis and litigation; providing expert testimony on the basis of examinations and providing guidance on the appropriate approach in presenting scientific/technical testimony; operating on fire, explosion or other incident scenes, to include following established safety protocols and HAZMAT guidelines; development and delivery of training materials on electrical fire causation, electrical failure or related topics.
The GS-12 Step 1 salary range starts at $86,335 and GS-13 Step 1 salary range starts at $102,663.00. If you are a new federal (civil service) employee, your starting salary will be set at the Step 1 for this position and the grade level for which you are selected.
Note: Unofficial or official transcripts must be provided to verify degree awarded; and you must upload your transcripts with your application to be considered at either grade level
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here:http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Position requires an average or better dexterity and visual acuity to perform the type of work required for this position. Some assignments may require considerable strenuous physical exertion and lifting of object not exceeding 40 pounds.
Work consists of fieldwork, whether conducting testing or in support of criminal investigations at fire scenes, which may include moderate to high degree of risk including but not limited to exposure to fire gases and toxins, fall and collapse hazards, electricity and other unforeseen hazards. The work requires wearing full and half face respirators and requires the candidate to conduct themselves in a safe manner at all times.
Engineers that participate in National Response Team callouts must be HAZMAT certified.
Notice to Prospective Employees of Ethical Obligations from ATF’s Human Resources Operations Division. Please click on the following link to read important information. DOJ Notice to Prospective Employees of Ethical Obligations
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.
Periodic Reinvestigation: Subject to a 5-year periodic investigation
Travel and relocation expenses: are not authorized and will not be paid.
EEO Statement: The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, (including pregnancy, gender identify and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability (physical and mental), family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, retaliation, or other non-merit factor.
Reasonable Accommodation Statement: ATF provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the job application and hiring process, and you meet the eligibility requirements listed above, please notify the human resources specialist listed on the vacancy announcement, or contact the ATF’s Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at (202) 648-8760. The decision on granting a reasonable accommodation is handled on a case-by-case basis.
“Federal Regulations state no ATF employee, his/her spouse, or his/her minor child shall have, directly or indirectly, any financial interest, including compensated employment, stock, or proprietary interest in the alcohol, tobacco, firearms or explosives industries. You should be aware that you may be asked to relinquish any ownership of or interests in the alcohol, tobacco, firearms or explosives industries before a determination can be made whether access to ATF information, information technology systems, and/or facilities can be authorized.”
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your application will be evaluated and rated under ATF's Category Rating and Selection Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the online assessment questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. Your application will then be placed in one of three categories: Gold - applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a superior level of possession of all evaluation criteria, Silver - applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a satisfactory level of possession of the evaluation criteria or Bronze - applicants possessing the specialized experience. Names of all candidates in the best qualified category will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration. Candidates within the Gold category who are eligible for veterans preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans preference eligibles.
GS-12
The assessment questionnaire is designed to measure your ability in the following competencies:
GS-13
The assessment questionnaire is designed to measure your ability in the following competencies:
It is your responsibility to ensure all documents are received on time and the materials are legible. If applying on-line poses a hardship to any applicant, please contact us at the telephone number listed on this announcement. Applicants MUST CONTACT US PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE to speak to someone who can provide assistance for on-line submission. Requests for extensions will not be granted. Paper applications submitted without prior approval from the agency point of contact may be handled as incomplete. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: If your contact information changes after the closing date of this vacancy announcement, update your profile information in MYUSAJOBS as well as contact the Human Resources Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement to ensure you can be contacted throughout the selection process.
Prior to selection, the candidate may be required to provide an original copy of any supporting/ validating documentation as well as other documentation to verify eligibility. All required materials must be uploaded using the supporting documentation instructions described in the announcement.
Failure to provide the required documentation by the closing date of this announcement will result in elimination of further consideration for this position.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
This job is filled through a 3-step on-line application process.
STEP ONE - (Online Resume - USAJOBS) You must create a user account and at least one Federal resume at USAJOBS. Information you provide in USAJOBS is general information completed by all applicants. The information you provide and your Federal resume will become part of your application and will automatically be transferred to CareerConnector when you apply online. If you have an existing USAJOBS account, simply login and select the resume you wish to include with your application package for this announcement.
STEP TWO - (Vacancy Specific Questions USAJobs) In USAJobs, you will answer vacancy specific questions necessary to evaluate your qualifications for the job to which you are applying. When completed, the information you provided at USAJOBS and the answers to the USAJob questions will become your application package.
STEP THREE - (Supporting Documentation) You may upload supporting documentation in one of two ways:
(l) Once you finish answering the questions in the job announcement, you will be prompted to upload your document(s) to your application package. You will be given the choice to either upload the document as part of the application process, or you can select a document that you've already loaded on USAJOBS, or simply fax supporting documentation, which will provide you the necessary cover sheets for each of your documents so that they will be correctly submitted to the appropriate vacancy announcement. The fax number will be available on the cover sheet.
(2) You can upload a document to an existing application by logging into your USAJOBS account profile. Click on "My Applications" and search for the vacancy. Once you have located the vacancy, click on the vacancy and select "Apply Online". Move through your existing application to the Documents page and select "Upload" in order to add a document to your application. Be certain to review your complete application for confirmation that the document uploaded and click on "Finished" to be returned to USAJOBS. Your complete online application and any required supplemental documentation (e.g. DD-214, VA letter, transcripts, etc.) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
You can check the status of your application anytime by accessing the USAJOBS online application system at http://www.usajobs.gov. You will need to provide your USAJOBS User ID and Password to access the Track your Online Job Application feature. You may also click on the link provided to access additional information on USAJobs. All applicants will be notified at four (4) stages in the hiring process:
(1) upon receipt of your application;
(2) after your qualifications have been assessed;
(3) whether or not you've been referred to the Selecting Official; and
(4) whether or not you've been selected for the position.
If your name is sent to the hiring manager, you may be invited for an interview.
After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We expect to make a final job offer to selectee(s) upon favorable completion of the background.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/579928200. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is looking for energetic, innovative, solution-oriented professionals to help the ATF team succeed in our responsibilities to reduce violent crime and protect the public.