Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is open to current permanent VA Nationwide employees, CTAP/ICTAP eligibles, and other Status Eligible Applicants-see Hiring Paths for more information.

Videos

• Performs design, installation, maintenance, and administrative duties on installed electronic systems, including Nurse Call, overhead paging, Fire Alarm, Security Alarm, Access Control, Security Cameras, Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS), Commercial Guest Wireless Internet and the Engineering Network providing patient safety, physical security and quality of life for both Veterans and staff at all VHSO facilities.
• Works in all areas of the medical center, supporting both patient care and ancillary services. The person is capable of planning and performing scheduled and unscheduled (emergency) maintenance on systems to ensure that they are operating properly, calibrated, and in compliance with applicable codes and standards.
• Seeks ways to reduce failures, eliminate safety hazards, and enhance accuracy and reliability. The incumbent recommends whether systems should be removed from service, allowed to remain in service, or be restored to service.
• Responsible for design, installation, programming and maintenance of network equipment, including routers, firewalls and switches in a multi-campus computer network. Performs routine testing and verification to ensure proper network operation.
• Drafts and submits packages for the acquisition of materials and/or utilizing contracts, the package includes a Performance Work Statement (PWS)/Statement of Work (SOW); Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) and a market Research Report.
• Maintains current certification as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR).
• Manages the operation and maintenance of the facility fire alarm system by monitoring both the computer monitoring system and the fire alarm control panels ensuring the system operating within code.
• Creates, updates and reviews technical drawings, including blueprints, wiring diagrams and circuit schematics to ensure greater accuracy and compliance with applicable codes & regulations.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday7:00am-3:30pm Subject to change based on the needs of the Facility.
Position Description/PD#: Electronics Technician/PD03361A
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• A physical may be required for this position.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/07/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-10. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Individual Occupational Requirements: Applicants who meet the Individual Occupational Requirements described below are fully qualified for the specified entry grade and must also meet the specialized experience.

Specialized Experience (for positions at the GS-4 or equivalent and above):Specialized Experience includes:

• Work as a technician, instructor, inspector, or mechanic (civilian or military) that showed progression in theoretical and practical knowledge of electronic theory, and of the characteristics, function, operation, and capabilities of a variety of types of electronic equipment. This experience must have included the use of schematic diagrams, a variety of test equipment, and the application of appropriate electronic formulas involved in such duties as testing, troubleshooting, modifying, designing, calibrating, installing, maintaining, repairing, constructing, developing, and instructing on electronic equipment, or similar functions.
• Experience in developing policies, standards, and procedures for maintenance, installation, or similar functions, provided the work clearly shows that the applicant applied a specialized knowledge of the theories and principles of a variety of electronic systems or equipment.

In addition to meeting the above Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) AND Time-In-Grade, applicants must also meet the experience directly related to this position.

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-10 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.
Specialized Experience:

• Experience in the theories, techniques, and applications of electronics, basic electricity, and occasional engineering mechanics and correction of malfunctioning equipment and systems.
• Experience working with complex equipment, electronics theories, electronic operating procedures and characteristics of equipment.
• Experience with troubleshooting the electronic equipment and solving technical problems.
• Skilled in the techniques, theories, practical applications, and operational characteristics of electronic equipment, electronics and electricity in conjunction with hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical functions.
• Experience with a range of computer based electronic equipment systems conversant to capabilities, limitations, operations, design characteristics and functional use of a variety of systems and measurement instruments.

Driver's License Requirement: Must possess a valid state issued driver's license to operate a motor vehicle. (Please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. You will be required to show your valid driver's license at the time of your interview.)

Physical Requirements: The person handles objects weighing up to twenty (20) pounds routinely and occasionally handles objects of up to fifty (50) pounds. Frequently, work will be performed in cramped and awkward positions. The work also requires prolonged periods of standing and walking. Technical, academic, and mental demands are considerable. The work performed is of a precise nature, requiring prolonged concentration. The person often works under conditions of stress caused by the nature of the work and the necessity to meet deadlines. Person is required to frequently travel to perform work at remote sites. Emergencies at these locations will require immediate response and potentially afterhours response allowing very limited time for notice and preparation.

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; religions; 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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

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

Electronics Engineering
Planning and Evaluating
Problem Solving

Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
1st Area of Consideration - current permanent Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) employees including satellites and CTAP eligibles;
2nd Area of Consideration - current permanent Veterans Healthcare Administration employees;
3rd Area of Consideration - current permanent VA Nationwide employees;
4th Area of Consideration - All Other Status Applicants.

Note: Veteran's preference is not applicable to VA employees or employees of other Federal Agencies.

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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; religions; 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.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.