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Project Engineer

Department of the Army
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Buffalo District, Engineering and Construction Division

Summary

About the Position: Provides project engineering and engineering technical lead (ETL) services and project management of Architectural/Engineer (A/E) or in-house designed projects for construction, maintenance, alteration, repair, and for special projects or studies. Advises on complex project management problems involving difficult or unusual planning, scheduling, negotiation and coordination.

Overview

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Open & closing dates
05/21/2026 to 06/04/2026
Salary
$78,091 - $121,680 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Buffalo, NY
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational telework only as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position up to 10% of the time.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CEDB-26-12960252-MP
Control number
870123200

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Duties

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  • Project Engineer and Engineering Technical Lead (ETL) coordinating the overall development of plans, specifications, design documentation, real estate requirements, relocation matters, cost estimates, and budgetary matters for the completed project.
  • Coordinates the development of all design documentation through other segments of the district or architect/engineer (A/E) firms.
  • Takes active part in overseeing construction period, follows through on Engineering and Construction Division functions involving submittal review, change orders, and any special engineering problems.
  • Coordinates project development through project proponent with other Federal and state, and local agencies and acts as liaison among other District elements.
  • Establishes requirements for project features with other technical personnel involved in related design work, such as hydraulic engineers who set hydraulic guidelines, soils engineers designing embankment features and foundations.
  • Reviews submittals and change order requests based on design considerations. Makes necessary field inspections during construction to insure compatibility with original design intent.
  • Serves as Engineering and Construction Division coordinator for review of plans and specifications prepared by A/Es working for other agencies.
  • As assigned project engineer and ETL for District projects, responsible for serving as a technical authority and for performing/directing a wide variety of technical and coordinative tasks.
  • Assists in the execution and management of the A/E Contracting Program.
  • Manages funding for all assigned projects and distributes funding to and coordinates assignments with other technical elements.
  • Serves as Engineering and Construction Division Point of Contact for Quality Control/Quality Assurance issues and is responsible for developing, policies and procedures to ensure quality technical products.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
  • This position requires a Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA) License if qualifying at the GS-12 level. You MUST submit proof with your application package, or you will be rated ineligible.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.

  • Current Civilian Employees of the Command
  • Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
  • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act
  • Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible
  • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998


In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Requirement for Engineer:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf

Basic Requirement for Architect:

A. Degree:
Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in architecture or in a related field that included 60 semester hours of course work in architecture or related disciplines of which at least (1) 30 semester hours were in architectural design, and (2) 6 semester hours were in each of the following: structural technology, properties of materials and methods of construction, and environmental control systems.

OR

B. Combination of Education and Experience: College-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the arts and sciences underlying professional architecture, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the architectural principles, methods, and techniques and their applications to the design and construction or improvement of buildings. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by at least one of the following: (1) Related Curriculum - Degree in architectural engineering provided the completed course work in architectural engineering provided knowledge, skills, and abilities substantially equivalent to those provided in the courses specified in statement A above, or (2) Experience: 1 year of experience in an architect's office or in architectural work for each year short of graduation from a program of study in architecture. In the absence of any college courses, 5 years of such experience is required. This experience must have demonstrated that you have acquired a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and theories of professional architecture.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement for Engineer or Architect, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Qualification Requirements for GS-11:

Specialized Experience:One year of specialized experience which includes assisting in project management activities such as tracking project schedules, preparing cost estimates, or reviewing technical documents; applying basic engineering or architectural concepts to support the design or construction process; and communicating technical information to project team members and contractors. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09).

OR

Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: engineering or architecture.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Qualification Requirements for GS-12:
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes applying engineering or architectural principles to manage projects, including developing project plans, cost estimates, and schedules; coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to ensure project objectives are met; and assisting in the administration of Architect/Engineer (A/E) contracts by preparing work statements or reviewing technical submittals for compliance with quality standards. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).

A Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA) License is required for the GS-12 Level.

You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:
  • Contracting/Procurement
  • Oral Communication
  • Project Management
  • Quality Management


Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-09/11).

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

  • Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
  • You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
  • This position requires a 1-year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
  • Direct deposit of pay is required.
  • Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
  • If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
  • This is a(n) CP18 Career Field position.
  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
  • Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
  • When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ for more information.
  • Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest.
  • Relocation and Recruitment Incentives may be authorized with a signed service agreement.

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.

As part of the assessment process, your resume will be evaluated using a competency-based method. This structured evaluation measures your qualifications, experience, and skills against the core competencies required for the position. Final scores will determine whether you are referred to the Hiring Manager for further consideration.

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position.

You may claim Military Spouse preference.

Military Spouse Preference (MSP) applicants will receive preference consideration and will be placed (if selected) at the highest grade for which they have applied and are determined best qualified, up to and including the full performance level.

You may claim Priority Placement Program (PPP) preference.

DoD Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicants will receive preference consideration at the full-performance grade level only.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position. To receive selection priority, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria (2) be rated well-qualified for the position and; (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a score of 90 or above. Additional information about the program is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Looking for a great place to work? The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is one of the best! In 2020, USACE ranked #2 of government large-agency subcomponent! USACE is one of the world's premier public engineering, design, and construction management agencies. We serve the American people, striving to provide the most effective engineering and environmental science solutions to the nation's complex problems affecting national security, the economy and the environment in which we live.

USACE offers a team-inspiring and collaborative work environment; providing challenging and rewarding careers across a variety of disciplines. We rely on leaders with vision, creativity, and programmatic and technical expertise to lead us into the future. Align your talents with your passion and find out why the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers is a great place to work!

Agency contact information

Army Applicant Help Desk
Website
https://portal.chra.army.mil/hr_public?id=app_inq
Address
RE-W2SM05 US ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT-BUFFALO
DO NOT MAIL
Buffalo, NY 14207
US

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https://www.usace.army.mil/Careers/

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