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General Engineer/ Physical Scientist

Department of Energy
National Nuclear Security Administration
Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs (NA-10)

Summary

A successful candidate will serve as a General Engineer or Physical Scientist in the NNSA's Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs responsible for professional Program Management and Technical duties that accomplish the NNSA mission for the Nuclear Security Enterprise.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/06/2026 to 02/13/2026
Salary
$90,479 to - $144,095 per year
Pay scale & grade
EN 3
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Albuquerque, NM
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
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
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Q Access Authorization
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
26-NA-10-XA-00216-NNSA
Control number
856759900

Duties

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As a General Engineer/ Physical Scientist you will:

  • Devise, customize, operate, oversee, and/or evaluate NNSA mission specialized systems, processes, and applications and deliver design, end products, or services. Conduct systems studies to advise, assess, develop, and recommend technological requirements and timing for activities.
  • Conduct research and analyze nuclear test data, nuclear science history, and computer simulations. Develop science-based capabilities to assess weapons-related concerns.
  • Direct and/or oversee nuclear plant operations involving rigorous acceptance tests or changes to the plant system in support of modifications or overhaul work projects Ensure safe operations by evaluating and verifying requests to perform authorized maintenance and repair work on components. Ensure operations are performed in accordance with approved procedures. Evaluate expected operation responses by instrumentation or watch standers.
  • Oversee in-house and contracted construction projects and/or program segments; prepare cost estimates, evaluate and advise on contractual proposals, and participate in negotiations with contractors. Investigate problems arising during construction, recommend solutions, and resolve problems. Conduct surveys to verify fulfillment of contractor's construction estimates used to determine monthly progress payments to the contractor. Ensure contracted construction work complies with contract specifications, safety standards and programs, and requirements for documentation of records and drawings. Analyze, evaluate, confer on, and coordinate engineering, design, and construction work performed by other engineers, architects, and contractors.
  • Provide technical oversight and direction, act as a principal contributor, or organize and accomplish program segments and/or team projects. Evaluate designs, cost estimates, and associated documentation and advise other engineers. Prepare reports, contractual change orders, fact sheets, and correspondence. Anticipate, investigate, evaluate, and resolve problems and conditions affecting quality, scheduling, budgeting, or progress. Plan, evaluate, and advise on activities, design, layout, construction, and installation within government buildings.
  • Track progress and status of projects and/or program segments, contractual change orders using various reporting mechanisms. Negotiate cost of minor changes with contractor representatives. Anticipate, evaluate, and resolve contracted project and/or program segment quality, scheduling, budgeting, or progress issues.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Subject to Random Drug Testing
  • Must pass a pre-employment drug test.
  • Favorable suitability determination required.
  • Must be able to obtain/maintain a Q level Security Clearance.
  • 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 (2) year trial period may be required. Employees serving on a trial period may be terminated at any time during the trial period for performance, conduct, or business-related reasons in the interest of Federal service.
  • More than one position may be filled from this vacancy announcement.
  • Please limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. If more than two pages are submitted, only the first two pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility and qualifications. Your full resume will be made available to the hiring manager if you are referred.
Trial periods are required for all excepted service employees. Trial periods served in the same position and agency with no break in service will satisfy the requirement.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience:A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA pay band level or GS grade level (EN-00 or GS-11) in the Federal Service.


Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience conducting at least 3 of the following activities:

  1. Providing advice and guidance on resolving issues, conditions and problems.
  2. Evaluating contractual proposals and preparing cost estimates.
  3. Overseeing contracted construction projects and/or programs.
  4. Providing oversight and support on team-based projects.
  5. Coordinating engineering and scientific aspects of operations related projects and/or program segments
Your application and resume should 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!

  • Building and Construction
  • Contracting/Procurement
  • Project Management
  • Research
  • Safety Engineering
  • Technical Competence


"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.

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

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 application package.

0801 - Degree: professional engineering. The curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology 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. There are alternate methods to meeting the engineering educational requirement (e.g., holding current professional engineering registration, having passed the EIT examination, or having completed specified academic courses or a related degree). Please refer to the OPM Qualification Standards at Professional Engineering Positions.

1301- 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. Please refer to the OPM Qualification Standards at Physical Science Positions.

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

  • 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.
  • More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.
  • All 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 the Agency policy and applicable regulations.
  • In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to the four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answers to these questions are not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration.

EEO Policy: Click HERE.
Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Click HERE.
Veterans Information: Click HERE.
Telework: Click HERE.
Selective Service Registration: Click HERE

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application will be rated by our application system using the Self-Assessment Rating procedure.

THE APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS WILL BE IN TWO STAGES:

Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Office will review the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications.

Structured Resume Review: The Human Resources Office will review the first two pages of your resume to determine your technical qualifications.

Additional documentation (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) may not be considered.

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.

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/12871081

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