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Mechanical Engineer

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Reclamation
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Mechanical Engineer. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

Duty Location: Sacramento, California

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
05/17/2023 to 06/07/2023
Salary
$81,708 to - $132,719 per year

Salary is based on the Special Rate Table 0753

Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 12
Location
3 vacancies in the following location:
Sacramento, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Limited up to $15K
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
BOR-22-11948054-MP-OPM
Control number
725762700

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Duties

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  • Perform complex mechanical engineering design work relating to the modernization of the powerplants, dams, auxiliary equipment, and facilities.
  • Analyze test results and recommends or makes necessary adjustments or equipment modifications as necessary.
  • Perform or oversee tests and inspections of mechanical facilities and equipment.
  • Perform inspections of work in progress and prepares inspection/completion reports.
  • Specifies equipment and material requirements for installations, modifications, or replacements involving mechanical systems.
  • Develops original mechanical diagrams or modifies existing diagrams as required. Prepares mechanical installation procedures for use by area office mechanics or contractor installation personnel.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents).
You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents).
You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications).
You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education).
You must maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times will result in removal from the position.


Who May Apply:

  • 30% or More Disabled Veterans
  • Appointment of Certain Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612)
  • Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)
  • Current and Former Federal Employees (Competitive Reinstatement/Reassignment/Transfer)
  • Current and Former Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Reinstatement/Reassignment/Transfer)
  • Individuals with Disabilities (Schedule A)
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)
  • Interchange Agreement and Special Authorities
  • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA)
  • National Service (Peace Corps and VISTA)
  • Pathways Program - Conversion Eligible
  • Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority (PLC)
  • Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA)
  • Veterans Recruitment Authority (VRA)

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience. If qualifying based on education, a copy of your unofficial transcripts must be provided with your application.

Basic Education Requirement for Engineers: OPM's Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) is defined as: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:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level in which you are applying:


GS-09:
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing 2 of the following : 1) Assisting in the development of plans, programs and objectives to meet project needs and requirements for mechanical systems; 2) Facilitating studies and design for new mechanical equipment and systems, modification and upgrade of existing systems during design and construction phases; 3) Performing administrative duties such as monitor implementation of policies governing the program area. 4) Maintaining program records and prepare reports, and/or develop information papers and briefing.

OR

Have an appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). Professional engineering experience is defined as non routine engineering work that required and was characterized by (1) professional knowledge of engineering; (2) professional ability to apply such knowledge to engineering problems; and (3) positive and continuing development of professional knowledge and ability. Examples of specialized experience for the GS-09 are listed above

OR

Have 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree (coursework directly related to Mechanical Engineering)

OR

Have successful completed a 5-year program of study of at least 160 semester hours leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering and 1 year of appropriate professional experience.

OR

Have a combination of superior academic achievement and 1 year of appropriate professional experience.


GS-11:
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing 3 of the following: 1) Assisting in the development of project plans and objectives related to the design and evaluation of equipment and technology; 2) Preparing and correspondence, technical reports, presentations, or briefings required to complete project assignments; 3) Participating in the design and develop of new tools or modify existing general-purpose tools to enhance safety and productivity; 4) Coordinating with other professionals to ensure that all technical areas to ensure project objectives, budget, and schedules are met and completed.

OR

Have an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.). Professional engineering experience is defined as non routine engineering work that required and was characterized by (1) professional knowledge of engineering; (2) professional ability to apply such knowledge to engineering problems; and (3) positive and continuing development of professional knowledge and ability. Examples of specialized experience for the GS-11 are listed above

OR

Have 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (coursework directly related to Mechanical Engineering)

GS-12:
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing 3 of the following: 1) participating in final on-site inspection to ensure conformance to contract specifications and design requirements; 2) analyzing the design architect's working drawings for information on
building size, general layout and arrangement, and existing conditions; 3) reviewing mechanical design analysis, plans and specifications for contract documents to ensure compliance with agency and other federal, state and local agencies; 4) conducting investigations of equipment failures and malfunctions which interrupt/impair service and endanger personnel or equipment.

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-07 is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-09 level. One year at the GS-09 is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 level. One year at the GS-11 is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. (Must submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade. No award SF-50 will be accepted).

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

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.

You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies".

You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors if applicable

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience at the grade level(s) of this announcement.

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your 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.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

Additional information

You may be required to serve an initial probationary period.

Telework Eligible: Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and you may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives Approved: If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive.

SLRM Approved: If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a Student Loan Repayment Benefit (SLRB). The decision to offer an SLRB will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: SLRB Program.

Superior Qualifications: If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may request consideration for a Superior Qualifications Appointment. For information, visit: OPM Fact Sheet.

Creditable Service for Non-federal experience, etc.: Related non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630). For additional information, please visit: Creditable Service for Annual Leave

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/


Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary and performed in an office environment. Inspections and site visits require the physical ability to traverse uneven terrain and access facility equipment and areas, including spillways, penstocks, turbine and pump scroll cases, catwalks, etc.

Working Conditions: Work is primarily performed in an office setting. However, site visits involve some exposure to moving machinery, electrical voltages, confined spaces, heights, swiftly moving and cold water, high levels of noise, and construction sites. The use of safety procedures and appropriate safety equipment and gear (hard hat, hearing protection, goggles, boots) are required.


Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

If you are unable to apply online, please email SASBMAILBOX@OPM.GOV prior to the closing of the announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position.

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessments, including a Subject Matter Expert Resume Review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed below that are required to successfully perform the job.

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:

  • Design
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Project Management
  • Technical Competence


The application questionnaire can be previewed here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11948054

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies with the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s). Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. You may choose to opt in of having your information shared with other agencies when applying for this position. If an agency requests a copy of a certificate you are on, you will be notified.

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