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Lead Engineering Technician

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
Office of Research Facilities (ORF)

Summary

Do you have experience installing, repairing, and operating facilities control systems? If so, please consider joining the Office of the Research Facilities, Division of Facilities, Operations, and Maintenance, Research Triangle Park Facilities Management Branch! As a Lead Engineering Technician you will oversee the management, operation, and maintenance of equipment and systems related to the operations, construction and repair of buildings, structures and installed systems at NIH facilities.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/26/2026 to 03/31/2026
Salary
$77,983 to - $101,383 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Durham County, NC
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
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
NIH-ORF-IMP-26-12913109
Control number
862473200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

You must be currently employed by the National Institutes of Health, serving on a permanent appointment in the competitive service.

Duties

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  • Independently develop, test, and implement methods for evaluating, analyzing, and correcting facilities control systems malfunctions to return the system to automatic operation and energy efficiency.
  • Inspect contractor installed projects for automated controls systems, fire systems, physical access systems, air handlers and pumps, etc.
  • Develop and implement service and maintenance schedules and procedures for the systems and associated components based on a comprehensive knowledge of operating principles, trade practice, and manufacturer's recommendations.
  • Instruct and follow established rules and regulations and maintain a safe, clean, and secure work environment.
  • Serve as the technical expert in the field of Automated Equipment Controls, Fire Alarm and Security Systems, HVAC/Pneumatic Controls, Electronics, and Building Management Computers and related equipment, providing guidance to staff and contractors.
  • Coordinate maintenance and repair activities with customers assuring work is completed.
  • Perform typical team leader functions, including: distributing and balancing the workload among employees in accordance with established work flow or job specialization, and assuring timely accomplishment of the assigned workload.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
  • Employment is subject to the successful completion of the pre-appointment process (i.e., background investigation, verification of qualifications and job requirements, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, etc.)
  • The selectee must possess and maintain a valid state motor vehicle license.
  • You must be able to lift and move heavy items weighing up to 100 pounds with or without a reasonable accommodation.
  • You must be able to stand for prolonged periods on concrete floors and walk over rough and uneven terrain with or without a reasonable accommodation.
  • The selectee must be able to bend, stoop, walk, stand, and climb, and work in cramped positions with or without a reasonable accommodation.
  • You may work in hazardous environments or handle hazardous substances.
  • This position has on-call or call-back requirements.
  • This position may require nights, weekends and/or holiday hours, due to call back requirements.
  • This position is an Emergency Essential position. Please see Additional Information section.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
  • Applicants must meet all qualifications requirements within thirty (30) calendar days of the closing date of this announcement, including time in grade.

Qualifications

To quality at the GS-11 level, you must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-10 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: Providing technical guidance, direction, and subject-matter expertise on Building Automation System (BAS) electronic control systems to other staff technicians; Developing and implementing structured troubleshooting methodologies to analyze malfunctions and failures within electronic control systems; Evaluating system trends, alarms, and performance data to identify root causes and implement corrective solutions that minimize BAS downtime and improve overall system reliability; and Ensuring BAS repairs are completed in accordance with manufacturer specifications, engineering standards, and facility operational requirements.

You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Ensure you support your self-ratings with the information you provide in your application. We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer.

Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12913109

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

  • This position is designated as an "emergency essential" position and the selected candidate will be considered an "emergency essential" employee and will be required to be available, ready, willing, and able to report for duty under all circumstances (e.g., inclement weather, government closings and holidays, lapses in appropriations, non-emergency and emergency situations) for operation 24 hours a day and 365 days per year coverage.
  • This position has on-call or call-back requirements.
  • This position may requires nights, weekends and/or holiday hours, due to call back requirements.
  • At the supervisor's discretion, this position may offer work schedule flexibilities: telework, compressed schedules, flexible schedules.
  • Based on your appointment, a one or two-year trial/probationary period may be required. A decision regarding your continued employment with NIH will be made as you near the end of this period.
  • We may make additional selections for similar positions across the National Institutes of Health within the local commuting area(s) identified in this vacancy announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s) at NIH. Clearance of CTAP will be applied for similar positions across NIH.
  • The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
  • The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.
  • Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Visit Help Applying for helpful information on the application process.
  • If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire.
  • Veterans' Preference only applies to Schedule A (disability appointment), HHS Reemployment Priority List (RPL) Eligibles, HHS Priority Reemployment List (PRL) Eligibles, and Veterans Recruitment Appointments (if applicable).

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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your job-related qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and your score on the required assessments. This vacancy will use the following assessment(s): USA Hire Assessment.

You will be assessed on the following competencies:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork


Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications by scoring at least an 80 on the assessment and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.

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