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Locomotive Mechanic/Operator

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in Golden Spike National Historic Site, in the Locomotive/Maintenance Division. Please visit find a park for additional park information.

This is a Career/Career-Conditional Full-Time appointment.

Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will be paid if the selectee lives outside of the local commuting area and is otherwise eligible for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open date: 06/12/2018
Closed date: 07/02/2018
Location
Work site options
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$24.35 - $28.41 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 10
Promotion potential
10
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-Time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position to attend training and meetings.
Appointment type
Permanent
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Service
Security clearance
Not Required
Announcement number
IM-1540-GOSP-18-10234576-ST
Control number
502030900

Duties

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If you have a love for historic trains, this position will interest you. The incumbent is the operator (engineer) of the park's vintage steam locomotive and is responsible for monitoring its operation and making decisions regarding the operation, care and maintenance. Major duties include:

  • Perform routine maintenance to locomotive such as adjustment of bearings, testing and calibration of gauges, and cleaning of boiler tubes.
  • Determine operation problems; traces and located defects and makes repairs.
  • Overhaul and rebuild major assemblies such as brake systems, driving linkages etc.
  • Test the water used in the locomotive boilers and provides necessary treatment and processing to assure quality standards.
  • Operate a milling machine, engine lathe, radial arm drill press, and assorted grinders to manufacture replacement parts and make repairs.
  • Operate an arc welder and an acetylene welder in repair and fabrication of parts and equipment.
  • Perform touch up work of original paint job on locomotives which requires the use of gold leaf and special lacquers, varnishes, stains, etc.
  • Operate a backhoe/loader, forklift and other motor vehicles.
  • Assist with repair and routine maintenance of the railroad track and appurtenances such as switches, frogs etc.
The incumbent will also be expected to perform custodial chores as part of their regular duties and keep work areas clean and orderly including maintenance of tools and machines in good working order. In addition, the incumbent is expected to provide information regarding the locomotives to park visitors and be involved in special events.

Physical Effort: Requires moderate physical effort with frequent moving and lifting of weights up to 40 pounds, occasionally must be able to lift 100 pounds with assistance. Incumbent often works in awkward or uncomfortable positions for extended periods while inside, on, and around the steam locomotives. Work requires frequent bending, reaching, stretching, climbing and crouching.

Working Conditions: When operating steam locomotives, temperatures may exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, and reach 0 degrees in the winter. Work is performed on platforms 10' above the ground or in pits in the engine house with exposure to slippery surfaces. Incumbent will also be subject to high levels of noise, vibration, smoke and fumes. Work also subjects incumbent to significant amounts of dirt, grease, oil, ash, soot and the soiling of clothing and skin surfaces.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
  • You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You may be required to weekends and holidays.
  • If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 5 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.
  • A respirator fit test will be required, and the incumbent must be "respirator-ready" throughout the non-operating season (typically mid-October through early May), or when otherwise required by operational need. This may mean that the incumbent is free of facial hair, or has no more or different facial hair than was present at the time of their respirator fit test.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors:

  1. Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision. (SCREEN OUT)
  2. Knowledge of equipment assembly, installation, repair, etc.
  3. Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic).
  4. Ability to interpret instructions, specifications, etc.
  5. Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment.
If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors.

Volunteer Experience: 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.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions.

Additional information

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. Click the following link for more information, https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Who may be considered:
1.) Current and former Federal employees with status, or who are reinstatement eligible; veterans eligible under the VEOA authority, or who are 30% or more disabled; applicants eligible under special appointing authorities such as individuals with targeted disabilities, certain military spouses, former Peace Corps and Vista Volunteers, etc. For more information, select the following link(s): 1) Merit Promotion, 2) Status Candidate, and/or 3) Veteran Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA).

2.) Current or former displaced Federal employee in the local commuting area eligible under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), and current Department of Interior (DOI) employees in the local commuting area eligible under the Career Transition Program (CTAP) For more information, select the following link(s): 1) Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP), or 2) Career Transition Program (CTAP).

3.) Current or former time-limited (temporary and term) employees of a land management agency eligible for permanent positions under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA). For more information, select the following link: Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA).

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Candidates who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are highly qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Candidates who apply under Noncompetitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

You will be evaluated on the following competencies and/or job elements:

  • Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (SCREEN OUT)
  • Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc. (includes blueprints reading)
  • Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation Repair, etc.
  • Technical Practices (theoretical precise, artistic)

National Park Service

Golden Spike National Historic Site commemorates the completion of the nation's first transcontinental railroad in 1869. Resources within the 2,735 acre site include 15.5 miles of historic Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroad grade, more than 700 archeological sites, and historic structures along the railroad grades. All park land is on the National Register of Historic Places. The site is located at Promontory Summit, approximately 32 miles west of Brigham City, Utah. Annual precipitation averages 812 inches, mostly in the form of snow. Daytime temperatures range from the 20s and 30s in winter to an occasional 100+ in summer. A variety of housing options are available in the surrounding communities approximately 30 miles from the site, as well as medical facilities, shopping, movie theaters, banks, churches, and elementary and high schools.
Government housing may be available.

Agency contact information

Shawn Lipinski
Phone
(307) 739-3442
Email
shawn_lipinski@nps.gov
Address
Golden Spike National Historic Site
P.O. Box 897
Brigham City, UT 84302
US

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