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Electronics Engineer

Federal Communications Commission
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is in the Enforcement Bureau, Office of the Field Director, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) located in Los Angeles, CA and San Francisco, CA.

RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE PAID.  

THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS.

 

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/14/2023 to 08/25/2023
Salary
$66,134 to - $158,432 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 09 - 13
Locations
Los Angeles, CA
1 vacancy
San Francisco, CA
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
50% or less - Travel Required: 50% or less Description: Regularly travels to locations throughout the U.S. and its territories for training, investigations and inspections, and may include additional emergency ad hoc travel (including local travel) to respond to public safety investigations
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - This is a full-time position. Work schedules, including telework, are at the discretion of the supervisor, consistent with agency policy and reentry planning.
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13 - The full promotion potential of this position is GS-13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
DEU-EB-2023-0014
Control number
736547300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to all U.S. Citizens AND MERIT PROMOTION (MP) - STATUS CANDIDATES and NON-COMPETITIVE ELIGIBLES. MP candidates include Federal Employees, Agency Employees, competitive Reinstatement eligibles, VEOA, CTAP and ICTAP. Individuals eligible for non-competitive appointment under special appointing authorities may also apply for consideration (e.g. Individuals with Disabilities; Veterans [VRA, 30% Disabled]; former Peace Corps, AmeriCorps or Vista). Indicate how you wish to be considered.

Duties

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Summary:

Positions are in the following Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Enforcement Bureau, Office of the Field Director, Region 3, Field Offices: Cerritos, CA (Los Angeles Field Office) and Livermore, CA (San Francisco Field Office).

Duties:

The incumbent resolves Radio Frequency (RF) interference, educates users, and enforces regulations.  Investigates all services for violations of Title 47, U.S. Code, Section 301, unlicensed operations of radio transmitting equipment.

Performs and directs fieldwork in matters of importance to communications involving safety of life and property.  Serves as a point of contact for FCC licensees including the U.S. Government in matters of fixed and mobile radio direction-finding and interference resolution.  Participates in unique enforcement and engineering projects that have regional or national applications.

Operates and understands all technical equipment typically used in the Field including RF spectrum analyzers, field strength meters, RF field survey meters, and radio receivers.  Maintains contacts with and assists other Federal agencies, foreign counterparts, and local law enforcement organizations concerning interaction and utilization of the radio spectrum for both authorized and unauthorized activities. 

Initiates Official Notices of Violation, Warnings, Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, and other orders to radio operators and licensees, to bring unsatisfactory or violative conditions to their attention as a result of monitoring, investigations and inspections.  Independently initiates correspondence or other communications with complainants and radio users concerning the enforcement functions of the office and region.

Participates in regional emergency planning meetings, serves as the local expert in emergency communications restoration, participates in FEMA conducted training exercises and is able to serve on ESF-2 task force and deployments as necessary.  Participates and assists in planning of Bureau enforcement and compliance workshops for persons associated with the various industries and radio services the Commission regulates.

Operates a sport utility vehicle in conjunction with travel and routine field activities.  May be required to operate SUV under adverse weather conditions and during hours of darkness.

Field work may require lifting objects or equipment over 25 lbs.

TRAVEL REQUIRED

The incumbent must perform local travel (returning to their duty station the same day) several days per week.  The incumbent must also perform consecutive days of official overnight travel on average once a month.  However, there may be months where the incumbent may have to perform official overnight travel more often and on consecutive weeks.  The incumbent’s personal schedule can often be considered when scheduling overnight travel.   

The incumbent is expected to serve as the “as-requested” agent an average of 5 times per year over weekends and holidays to address public safety issues and emergency harmful radio interference.   When serving as the as-requested agent, the incumbent must be available while off duty and within a reasonable call‐back radius to be contacted via telephone number or electronic device and is expected to begin travel from their official duty station within 3 hours of being contacted

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
  • US Citizenship.
  • May serve a one year probationary period (if applicable)
  • Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation.
  • If selected, a financial disclosure statement may be required.
  • Current/former federal employees must provide SF-50 verifying grade/status
  • Current FCC employees must provide SF-50 verifying grade & status.
  • Drug Testing Required.
  • Security Clearance Required
  • Education-Transcripts Required

Please note your resume must thoroughly support your responses to the vacancy questions.  Your resume is an integral part of the process for determining if you meet the basic qualifications of the position and determining if you are to be among the best qualified.

ALL CURRENT/FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND CURRENT FCC EMPLOYEES MUST provide a legible Personnel Action, SF-50, that verifies your status and highest permanently held grade.  If an SF-50 is not submitted, the application will be rated as ineligible.

CURRENT FCC EMPLOYEES-To request a copy of your SF-50 please send an email to PersonnelRecordsRequest@fcc.gov

Qualifications

Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.  Current Federal employees asking to be considered under Merit Promotion procedures must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.  

Candidates must meet both the education and the specialized experience requirements outlined below in order to be deemed as qualified. 

A. Education

Degree Professional Engineering. To view qualifying educational requirements and/or combination of education and specialized experience click on the following link:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf

Please provide a copy of your college transcript. The transcript may be unofficial or photocopy at time of application, but MUST provide the original if selected.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order to receive credit towards qualifications. Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html

All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.

AND

B. Specialized Experience

GS-9 Specialized Experience:  Applicants must have a minimum of one-year specialized experience to at least the GS-7 in the Federal service.  For this position, specialized experience includes performing intermediate level engineering tasks such as performing tests, measurements, calculations and other similar work involved in radio frequency (RF) engineering, broadcast engineering, or telecommunications engineering.

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: Electrical/Electronic Engineering.

OR

Have a combination of education and experience.

GS-11 Specialized Experience:  Applicants must have a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 in the Federal service. For this position, specialized experience includes the following:  assisting in and conducting a broad range of technical radio frequency (RF) engineering studies and special projects; preparing written summaries and analyses of engineering facts and developing recommendations for resolution of problems; and analyzing and evaluating RF engineering and technical data.

OR

Education: Have 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

OR

Have a combination of education and experience.

GS-12 Specialized Experience: Applicants must have a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 in the Federal service. For this position, specialized experience includes the following:  interpreting and applying engineering rules, regulations, and policies; performing engineering analysis and studies concerning wireless communications issues; operating RF test, measurement and monitoring equipment used to locate and identify RF interference sources; interacting with individuals at all levels of authority; and drafting reports based on technical data gathered.

GS-13 Specialized Experience: Applicants must have a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 in the Federal service. For this position, specialized experience includes the following:  performing comprehensive investigations of unauthorized or unlawful radio operation and comprehensive inspections of all classes and types of installations employing RF energy; and fluent in antenna theory, propagation, wireless geolocation techniques, and signal characterization.

You will be evaluated for this position on the following Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other characteristics (KSAOs):

  • Knowledge of the concept, principles, and practices of electronic engineering.
  • Skill in comprehensive inspections and monitoring all classes and types of installations employing Radio Frequency energy and wireless communications.
  • Ability to interact with individuals at all levels of authority.
  • Skill in communicating in writing with a wide range of individuals on many organizational levels. YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A WRITING SAMPLE AT THE TIME OF AN INTERVIEW (if selected).
  • Ability to perform complex engineering analysis and studies.
  • Skill in enforcing regulations.


PART-TIME OR UNPAID 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

See educational qualification requirements outlined above.

Additional information

EEO Policy Statement

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement

Veterans Information

Legal and Regulatory Guidance

Other:
-  Before hiring, an agency will ask you to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.  The agency will also ask you to sign and certify the accuracy of all the information in your application.  If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be fined or jailed. If you are a male over age 18 who was born after December 31, 1959, you must have registered with the Selective Service System (or have an exemption) to be eligible for a Federal job.

-  If applicable, you will be required to serve a trial period of one year.

-  In order for you to be employed at the FCC, there are certain Commission and Federal laws governing the financial interests of you and members of your immediate family. If selected for the position, you must submit a financial disclosure statement upon assuming the position.

*NOTE-This position is in the bargaining unit.  The exclusive representative is NTEU Chapter 209.  

How you will be evaluated

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

As this position is being advertised under DEU and Merit Promotion hiring procedures, applicants will be rated on the extent and quality of experience and education relevant to the duties of the position using the hiring procedures outlined below.

How You Will Be Evaluated-DEU Hiring Procedures

The FCC determines the BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES based on the major job related competencies and evaluation of your knowledge, skills, and abilities reflected in your application and supporting documents using the CATEGORY RATING PROCESS. Time in grade restrictions do not apply to DEU hiring procedures.

All eligible applicants under Delegated Examining (DEU) will be placed in one of the following three categories:

1. Highly Qualified (Score 90-100) - the applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a superior level of major job related competencies and possession of all evaluation criteria;

2. Fully Qualified (Score 80-89) - the applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a satisfactory level of major job related competencies and possession of the evaluation criteria; and

3. Minimally Qualified (Score of 70-79)- the applicants possessing only the specialized experience described in the vacancy announcement. An automated score is administered based on the on-line application process used.

Eligible applicants will receive a numerical rating based on their responses to the job specific questions for this position. Application of Veterans Preference: The category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have compensable service-connected disability at least 10 percent MUST be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher.

A selecting official may make selection from the highest quality category ("HIGHLY QUALIFIED") provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in the same category. Qualified disabled veterans (30% disabled veterans and at least 10% disabled veterans) who meet the qualification criteria float to the top of the Highly Qualified category and by law must be referred over non-veterans. Non-veterans are strictly prohibited from being referred or selected over qualified disabled veterans.

There are several parts to the application process that affect the overall evaluation of your application including:

1. the core questions
2. the vacancy questions
3. supplemental documentation (e.g., DD-214, SF-50, SF-15, transcripts), if applicable; and
4. your resume.

Applicants will be rated ineligible, if they do not respond to job specific questions, provide supplemental documents and submit resume.  For more information, please click on Rating Process.

Merit Promotion Procedures

Applicants under Merit Promotion will be considered in accordance with the agency's merit promotion plan and union agreement. Time in grade restrictions apply.

Under Merit Promotion procedures, applicants must meet the qualifications criteria and receive a score of 90 or above in order to be deemed as BEST QUALIFIED.  Candidates who ask to be considered non-competitively only have to receive a score of 70.


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