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General Engineer/ Physical Scientist

Department of Energy
National Nuclear Security Administration
Pantex Field Office
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The General Engineers for PFO will serve as Facility Representatives. The incumbents will determine whether facility conditions and activities are in compliance with federal and state regulations and requirements by inspecting field conditions and evaluating the technical adequacy of reports, inspections, permits, and various safety-related programs. A Facility Representative's focus is ensuring the safe and efficient operation of NNSA non- reactor nuclear facilities.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
10/31/2024 to 11/21/2024
Salary
$86,962 to - $138,492 per year
Pay scale & grade
EN 3
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Amarillo, TX
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
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
4
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Q Access Authorization
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
25-XE-01276-12561024-EN-NAT
Control number
816909500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all United States Citizens

Duties

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As a General Engineer/ Physical Scientist, the incumbent:

  • Monitors integrated and complex systems involving: unique equipment, facility designs, operations and processes, a variety of human factors, and dangerous operations and processes.
  • Observes, appraises, and evaluates contractor performance through surveillance, field observations, and the evaluation of operational integration of production, environmental compliance, maintenance, utility operations, quality of performance, and industrial, radiological and/or nuclear safety.
  • Analyzes and evaluates contractor operational performance and supporting technical documentation, including: operating systems. processes, formality of operations, material flows, waste streams, instruments/alarms, control room practices, maintenance and construction, quality assurance, safety, health, and environmental activities.
  • Ensures contractor management control systems and procedures adhere to NNSA/DOE and national nuclear, radiological and/or industrial safety, and environmental compliance program requirements, policies and practices, and contractual obligations.
  • Conducts walk-through inspections of the facilities and/or operations for the purpose of identifying hazards, incidents of non- compliance with standards and guidelines, and potential problem areas. Assures that activities are performed within approved safe operating envelopes and in compliance with applicable orders, laws, and regulations.
  • Makes contractor and site management aware of issues and concerns and recommends potential
    solutions to regulatory, technical and/or programmatic issues and requirements.
  • Participates in hearings, meetings, conferences and special working groups with M&O contractor and other subject matter experts; Federal, state, and local regulators (e.g., EPA, NRC, etc.), and oversight entitles (e.g., Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board).
  • Serves as the primary interface between local NNSA/DOE management and the contractor, and maintains cognizance of all operational activities, both technical and administrative, in providing technical and policy guidance, direction and interpretation.
  • Makes contractor and site management aware of issues and concerns and recommends potential solutions to regulatory, technical and/or programmatic issues and requirements.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a United States Citizen.
  • This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
  • Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
  • Compliance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12) governing personal identity which will require that you provide two forms of identification.
  • A two- year probationary period may be required.
  • Subject to Random Drug Testing.
  • Must pass a pre-employment drug test.
  • Favorable suitability determination required.
  • Financial Disclosure is required.
  • Must be able to obtain/maintain a Q level Security Clearance.
  • Must be able to obtain certification in the DOE's Technical Qualification Program (TQP) within 18 months of start date. This position is covered by the Technical Qualification Program (TQP), which requires the incumbent to acquire and demonstrate competencies identified in the TQP Functional Area Qualification and Field Office specific standards and requires certification of the competencies by NNSA supervision and TQP qualifying officials. https://ntc.doe.gov/student/stp/techqualprogram.

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA Demonstration Project pay band or GS grade level in the Federal service, i.e., NQ/NN-02, EN-00 or GS 11. Specialized experience for this position is defined as:

- Experience performing technical evaluations of operational performance, including evaluations of supporting technical documentation, in a high- hazard facility (i.e., hazards with potential consequences affecting a large number of onsite or offsite personnel); and
- Experience performing safety evaluations or oversight of operations in nuclear facilities is preferred.

Examples of Specialized Experience:
Examples of applicant's experience must include evaluations in a combination of the following areas: operational activities, operating systems, processes, formality of operations, material flows, instruments/alarms, control room practices, and/or maintenance and construction activities. The applicant's experience may also delve into quality assurance, safety, health, and environmental activities, but these should not be the applicant's primary area of experience or expertise.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section. If you are eligible for career transition assistance plans such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the definition of "well qualified" which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.

Education

All applicants must meet the basic requirements of the General Engineer/Physical Science occupational series. Transcripts or other proof of required education MUST be included in your application package.

801 Basic Requirements:

A
. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; 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

B
. 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 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. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

1. Professional registration or licensure, 2. Written Test, 3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A, 4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance.

For more information, please refer to the OPM Qualification Standards at General Engineer Series 0801

1301 Basic Requirements: Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

OR
Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience, or additional education.

For more information, please refer to the OPM Qualification Standards at General Physical Science Series 1301

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

EDUCATION: Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. A written evaluation of any foreign education must be provided with your application in response to this vacancy announcement or be received by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to provide this evaluation will result in you being found unqualified for the position. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education, see the Department of Education website, and for a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, visit The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.

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.**If you are selected, official transcripts will be required.**FOREIGN EDUCATION: Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. A written evaluation of any foreign education must be provided with your application in response to this vacancy announcement or be received by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to provide this evaluation will result in you being found unqualified for the position. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education, see the Department of Education website, and for a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, visit The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. Please Note: If your foreign education has already been accepted by an accredited U.S. educational institution as part of a degree program with that institution, you do not need to provide an evaluation of foreign education but must submit a copy of the transcripts listing the degree from the U.S. accredited institution that accepted your foreign 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.

Additional information

  • The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
  • Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website.
  • If you believe that you are eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), please visit the OPM ICTAP/CTAP website for more information. In order to be considered under the ICTAP program, your application must score within the pre-established "well qualified" category as stated in the Qualifications section.
  • More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.
  • Some positions may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year.
  • Many positions require successful completion of a background investigation.
  • All males born after December 31,1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.
  • A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified applicant in accordance with Agency policy.
EEO Policy: Click HERE.
Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Click HERE.
Veterans Information: Click HERE.
Telework: Click HERE.
Selective Service Registration: Click HERE.

Information about the NNSA Demonstration project can be found by clicking HERE.

How you will be evaluated

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

The Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate the responses you provide in the applicant assessment questionnaire to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications necessary for this position. Then, the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to determine if your qualifications meet the criteria for referral to the selecting official.

Your application will be rated by our application system using the Category Rating procedure. A quality review will then be conducted by the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME). Your application is rated based on the extent and quality of your experience, education (if applicable to the job), and training described in your online resume/questionnaire as related to the duties of this position. The quality categories are usually defined as "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified" and "Qualified". Veterans Preference eligible candidates will be listed at the top of whichever category your score places you in. CP/CPS veterans are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except professional and scientific positions at GS-9 and higher.

Your application and resume shall demonstrate that you possess the following Competencies. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your application how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the Competencies identified below. Cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. DO NOT write "see resume" in your application.

  • Oral Communication
  • Safety Engineering
  • Technical Competence
  • Writing


You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date ( 11/21/2024) of this announcement.

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified'.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the link below.
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12561024

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