This is the position of an Engineering Technician (Mechanical), for the Sub-millimeter Array Project (SMA). This position is to provide expert mechanical technician support for developing and reviewing maintenance and repair standards of complex mechanical systems at the observatory and Hilo facility. This position will be responsible for the vehicle fleet program at the SMA.
Summary
This is the position of an Engineering Technician (Mechanical), for the Sub-millimeter Array Project (SMA). This position is to provide expert mechanical technician support for developing and reviewing maintenance and repair standards of complex mechanical systems at the observatory and Hilo facility. This position will be responsible for the vehicle fleet program at the SMA.
This Merit Promotion position is open to Current Federal Employees and Former Federal Employees with permanent status or reinstatement eligibility. Individuals who are eligible for a special appointing authority may also apply such as Individuals with Disabilities (Schedule A), former Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and Vista volunteers; certain Military Spouses, or individuals eligible under various programs for Veterans (VRA, VEOA, 30% disabled).
1. Provides technical assistance in developing maintenance and/or repair of precision mechanical assemblies at the observatory, including antenna’s, antenna transporter and infrastructure. These assemblies encompass a diverse range of mechanical areas including precision mechanical mounts, motors and gearboxes, cryogenic systems, hydraulic systems, precision servo systems and optical subsystems. These systems greatly vary in complexity and mass, thereby requiring excellent skills understanding design drawings, procedures and Bill of Materials.
2. Read existing designs to complete packages, installation checklists, machine parts lists and specifications of instrumentation equipment. Assemble modified or new mechanical components for equipment and industrial and scientific machinery. Submit test results to technicians and engineers and recommend adjustments in test methods, designs, or materials. Analyze and calculate corrections for equipment installation practices to maximize efficiency, enhance installation schedules and reduce costs, report data to engineering staff for approval.
3. Manage SMA’s day-to-day operations of the fleet center; overseeing a diverse fleet including four wheel drive vehicles. Develop tools for fleet data management; including preventative and corrective maintenance repairs using SI standard fleet requirements and SMA administrative purchasing processes. Determines and coordinates the decommissioning and sale of surplus vehicles from the fleet. Develop and maintain a vehicle rotation program and documentation to track vehicle usage and efficiency.
4. Perform precise mechanical measurements, installations, alignments and testing on mechanical systems. With specialized equipment, setup and run tests to verify alignments are within specification. Develop procedures and/or use standard operating procedures during routine and non-routine maintenance periods. Troubleshoot and repair mechanical assemblies. Conducts testing and analyzes test results to troubleshoot and repair equipment.
5. Organize and perform projects to construct and/or modify mechanical systems. Plans and layouts projects from inception to completion on site or with outside vendors.
6. Operate specialized bridge cranes, hoists and forklift trucks used in the assembly and maintenance of large antenna components. Additionally the incumbent will work with the antenna transporter, which is used to move the antennas.
Pre- and post-appointment background
investigation
May be required to serve a one-year probationary
period.
Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
Must have a valid State driver's license
Incumbent must successfully pass a high altitude physical.
U.S. Citizenship is required.
Must have a valid State driver's license. You may be required to provide a copy of your driver's license if contacted for an interview.
Physical Conditions: Incumbent must be able to move in limited spaces, climb ladders, lift fifty pounds, and potentially work in varied weather conditions.
Incumbent must successfully pass a high altitude physical.
Working Conditions: Work is performed partially in a heated assembly hall, though sometimes outside repair and assembly is required. The incumbent will be exposed to various work conditions, and protective devices such as hard hats and safety shoes are required to minimize risks. The work will take place in a high altitude and at the SMA office/laboratories in Hilo.
Position requires work to be performed at the 13,200 ft. Maunakea site
Qualifications
Qualifying experience for GS-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-8 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience includes activities such as practical knowledge of mechanical assemblies used in large instruments and/or industrial equipment, and knowledge of machining operations on metals and plastics.
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.
Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.
Education
This position does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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 evaluated first for the basic qualifications described above. The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:
Knowledge in applying mechanical engineering principles, techniques and concepts that are applicable to precision mechanical assemblies used in specialized instruments and/or equipment.
Knowledge and skills in applying standard fleet requirements; preventative and corrective maintenance repairs and administrative purchasing processes for a diverse fleet of vehicles.
Ability to read and understand mechanical drawings, plans, and specifications in order to make informed decisions on problems and issues and to identify and correct deficiencies, develop improved designs and/or manufacturing procedures.
BASIS OF RATING: Once the announcement closes, your application will be automatically evaluated and rated by the system and a Human Resources Specialist. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your application and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. The numeric rating you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. The score is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of this position. If, after the Human Resources Specialist reviews your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that the score you have received is not a true reflection of your qualifications and/or experience, your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect the information you provided that support your abilities. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Your resume should provide detailed information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed. Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): If you are applying for a VEOA appointment, you must be a veteran and must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed 3 or more years of active service. ("Active Service" under this law means active duty in a uniformed service and includes full-time training duty, annual training duty, full-time National Guard duty, and attendance, while in the active service, at a school designated as a service school by law or by the Secretary concerned.) A veteran who is released under honorable conditions shortly before completing a 3-year tour is also eligible. Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: The following links contain information on the eligibility requirements to be considered under a noncompetitive appointing authority:
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Your application package should include the following documents:
Resume - Your resume can be uploaded and attached to your application or created using the USA Jobs on-line resume builder. Ensure your resume contains the job title (including the occupational series and grade if it is Federal), job-related qualifications, starting and ending dates (month and year), and hours worked per week, for each employment period. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is submitted. Failure to include this information may result in disqualification for the position. Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. For assistance with creating a resume, please click USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job?
Proof of Veteran's Preference - DD214 (Member 4 Copy), if you are a veteran. Additionally, applicants claiming 10-point preference must complete Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, as well as additional documentation required by the SF-15, such as a VA letter.
A copy of your most recent SF-50 which shows your position title, series, grade, step, salary, position occupied, and tenure to verify Time-in-Grade/competitive status. If you have previously held a higher grade and are applying based on that grade you must provide a copy of the SF-50 showing you held the higher grade and/or have promotion potential to the grade being advertised. Do NOT submit award SF-50s.
Unofficial school transcripts, if the position has an education requirement or if you are using education to qualify. If selected for the position, you must provide an official transcript before appointment.
Proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable.
A recent performance evaluation, if currently employed as a federal employee
Proof of Veteran's Preference - DD214 (Member 4 Copy) if you are requesting a special appointment authority, such as VRA or VEOA
Proof of severe disability if you are requesting special placement consideration.
Proof of eligibility for a military spouse appointment, such as a permanent change station military order.
Proof of eligibility for any other special appointing authority not specifically mentioned here.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page.
Please Note:
You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button and submit required supplemental documents (if they are relevant to you).
Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages.
You may submit required documents by uploading them online during the application process; OR You may manually fax required documents. Faxes are received by an automated system, not a physical fax machine. Documents that are faxed as part of the application process must be sent with the system generated cover sheet by the closing date. Documents faxed without the system generated coversheet are not retrievable and cannot be considered as part of the application package.
The complete application package, including any required documents, is due in the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
If you are unable to apply online, paper applications may be accepted with prior approval of the Contact Person listed below.
SMITHSONIAN
60 Garden Street, MS 17
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
United States
Next steps
At the end of the application process you will be able to create and save a PDF file that contains your responses to the assessment questions. You may save this file as initial receipt of your application. After the job announcement closes, you will receive an email from the Smithsonian with confirmation of receipt. The Smithsonian receives many applications for each job. Each application is reviewed carefully which may take a few weeks. We will send you an e-mail to update you as we go through phases of the application review process. You may also check your application status by logging into www.usajobs.gov and selecting the tab "My USAJOBS;" e-mailing vacancy.info@si.edu; or by contacting the Office of Human Resources Representative listed.
Additional Information:
The Smithsonian does not pay relocation expenses but recruitment incentives may be authorized.
The Smithsonian Institution is an equal opportunity employer. Additional information can be found on our website at (www.si.edu/oeesd).
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Your application package should include the following documents:
Resume - Your resume can be uploaded and attached to your application or created using the USA Jobs on-line resume builder. Ensure your resume contains the job title (including the occupational series and grade if it is Federal), job-related qualifications, starting and ending dates (month and year), and hours worked per week, for each employment period. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is submitted. Failure to include this information may result in disqualification for the position. Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. For assistance with creating a resume, please click USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job?
Proof of Veteran's Preference - DD214 (Member 4 Copy), if you are a veteran. Additionally, applicants claiming 10-point preference must complete Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, as well as additional documentation required by the SF-15, such as a VA letter.
A copy of your most recent SF-50 which shows your position title, series, grade, step, salary, position occupied, and tenure to verify Time-in-Grade/competitive status. If you have previously held a higher grade and are applying based on that grade you must provide a copy of the SF-50 showing you held the higher grade and/or have promotion potential to the grade being advertised. Do NOT submit award SF-50s.
Unofficial school transcripts, if the position has an education requirement or if you are using education to qualify. If selected for the position, you must provide an official transcript before appointment.
Proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable.
A recent performance evaluation, if currently employed as a federal employee
Proof of Veteran's Preference - DD214 (Member 4 Copy) if you are requesting a special appointment authority, such as VRA or VEOA
Proof of severe disability if you are requesting special placement consideration.
Proof of eligibility for a military spouse appointment, such as a permanent change station military order.
Proof of eligibility for any other special appointing authority not specifically mentioned here.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page.
Please Note:
You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button and submit required supplemental documents (if they are relevant to you).
Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages.
You may submit required documents by uploading them online during the application process; OR You may manually fax required documents. Faxes are received by an automated system, not a physical fax machine. Documents that are faxed as part of the application process must be sent with the system generated cover sheet by the closing date. Documents faxed without the system generated coversheet are not retrievable and cannot be considered as part of the application package.
The complete application package, including any required documents, is due in the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
If you are unable to apply online, paper applications may be accepted with prior approval of the Contact Person listed below.
SMITHSONIAN
60 Garden Street, MS 17
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
United States
Next steps
At the end of the application process you will be able to create and save a PDF file that contains your responses to the assessment questions. You may save this file as initial receipt of your application. After the job announcement closes, you will receive an email from the Smithsonian with confirmation of receipt. The Smithsonian receives many applications for each job. Each application is reviewed carefully which may take a few weeks. We will send you an e-mail to update you as we go through phases of the application review process. You may also check your application status by logging into www.usajobs.gov and selecting the tab "My USAJOBS;" e-mailing vacancy.info@si.edu; or by contacting the Office of Human Resources Representative listed.
Additional Information:
The Smithsonian does not pay relocation expenses but recruitment incentives may be authorized.
The Smithsonian Institution is an equal opportunity employer. Additional information can be found on our website at (www.si.edu/oeesd).
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
