Summary
This position is located in the Channel Design & Deployment Section, Program Delivery Division, National Library Service Blind/Print Disabled, Library Collections and Services Group.
This is an interdisciplinary position (0854 Engineer (Computers), 0855 Engineer (Electronics)). The person selected for this position will be placed on the position description that corresponds with their qualifications.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Anyone may apply - By law, employment at most U.S. Government agencies, including the Library of Congress, is limited to U.S. citizens. However, non-citizens may be hired, provided that other legal requirements are met and the Library determines there are no qualified U.S. citizens available for the position.
Duties
The position serves as a member of the Channel Design and Deployment (CDD) section of the Program Delivery Division (PDD) of the National Library Service for Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) and works under the technical and administrative supervision of the Head of the CDD section. The position provides engineering support for current National Library Services for Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) braille and talking book
programs. The position also provides engineering analysis for special projects, future projects, and planning of new systems and capabilities to support delivery of the braille and talking book programs.
Participates in inter-disciplinary product engineering design, development, and integration activities in a broad scope of technologies. Integrates prototype and proof-of-concept products with other NLS program systems in a development environment for analysis of the performance and impact on existing system. Analyzes requirements, develops strategies, and implements actions involving highly complex technical problems. Designs development of software, APIs, and computer systems in support of products used for delivery of the NLS braille and audio book programs. Creates systems diagrams, and writes, modifies and debugs source code for applications software/computer products. Applies the latest technology available to the Library to create products for reading, searching, and browsing the NLS collection of audio and braille books. Follows project guidelines and strategies that require innovation and leading-edge technology. Document unknown conditions, resolves critical problems, or develops new algorithms. Provides technical, administrative, and project management leadership in research and development activities in the specialized area of accessible technology and systems for delivery of the NLS braille and talking book programs. Serves as the SME in product design, which incorporates state of the art technologies, components, and techniques for embedded systems, mobile computing systems, and other consumer electronic systems capable of digital media playback, search and discovery, storage, and streaming via the internet.
Provides guidance and technical advice to program stakeholders, specialists within NLS, and partners throughout the cooperating network of libraries in the use and operation of products for delivery of the braille and talking book programs to patrons. Resolves technical difficulties that can be overcome by changes in development methodology criteria, or requirements in areas such as software design, API integration or business analysis. Maintains technical insight into the cause and solution when damaged, failed, or otherwise nonconforming products, services, or systems are encountered. Develops requirements, technical evaluations, and recommendations to management for engineering change orders to improve NLS products and services. Serves as an engineering technical specialist in the test, verification, and validation of software that may be utilized in embedded systems or computer equipment.
Implements the product development project strategy. Performs product design and development. Serves on project teams. Consults with other Library of Congress organizations for compatibility with existing systems and policies. Serves as product engineer and technical SME. Ensures that all essential actions for successful product development are identified, planned and accomplished. Recognized as an authority in product engineering for development of integrated computer systems involving commercially available mobile platforms, embedded systems, edge-computing systems, and cloud-based systems. Works with and participates in meetings with other functional managers and SMEs to identify requirements, write and review specifications, creates systems diagrams and identify costs for product development. Develops, modifies, monitors and evaluates project plans. Contributes to the overall engineering efforts of product development teams. Performs Product Owner and Product Engineer roles as a product moves through the life cycle.
Provides expert technical advice and direction to contractor professionals on product development issues and requirements. Directs contractors in development of software, APIs, and computer systems in support of products used for delivery of the NLS braille and audio book programs. Participates as necessary in the evaluation and selection process of proposals submitted in response to contract solicitations.
Performs other duties as assigned.
The position description numbers for this position are 446912 and 446914.
The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.
The incumbent of this position will work a flextime work schedule.
This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.
Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Library of Congress employees are prohibited from using illegal drugs, including marijuana. The Library is part of the Federal Government and abides by federal law, so regardless of individual state or District of Columbia laws, marijuana use is illegal, considered criminal activity, and can affect your employment at the Library. In addition, past or current drug use and activities (e.g., selling or distributing) may deem you ineligible for employment.
Qualifications
Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.
Ability to perform product development project planning work. **
Ability to perform product development project management work. **
Knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of electronics/computer engineering. **
Knowledge of product prototype and proof-of-concept development.
Ability to provide management and contractor oversight for product development projects.
Ability to interact collaboratively with others.
Benefits
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.
Review our 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.
The Library of Congress evaluates applicants through an applicant questionnaire and a structured interview. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through licensing, certification, and/or education requirements, a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary telephone interview. The knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are marked with a double asterisk (**) in the vacancy announcement and the applicant questionnaire are considered the most critical for a position. To be considered for final selection, applicants must demonstrate fully acceptable experience in these designated KSAs in the narrative/application review, preliminary telephone and/or full structured interview. The various assessment tools listed above are designed to verify or explore applicants' experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for selection.
For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library of Congress Merit Selection Plan, Section 8.5, at: Merit Selection Plan You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Required Documents
Current or former federal employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent).
Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant’s college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. The program does not accept certification from health care providers. For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
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.
How to Apply
Please carefully follow all instructions under the How to Apply tab to ensure you are considered for the position.
You are required to apply online for this announcement. We are unable to accept mailed or emailed documents. You must complete the entire application process, including submission of all documents BEFORE this announcement closes. To do so, complete the following steps.
Step 1: If you do not already have one, create a resume on USAJOBS. Although you must enter your Social Security Number for USAJOBS, this information will not be provided to the Library of Congress.
Step 2: Review the Job Announcement. We recommend you go to the end of the Qualification and Evaluation section of the job announcement to preview the online questions that you will answer in Step 4. You may wish to customize your USAJOBS resume to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions.
Step 3: Click on the "APPLY ONLINE" button to the right of this announcement. Follow USAJOBS' instructions to access your account and submit your resume. You will be redirected to the Hiring Management website to complete the application process. If this is your first time in Hiring Management, you will be asked to answer questions related to your eligibility for Federal employment. You will be able to update this information and save it to our account for future announcements.
Step 4: Once you have completed the eligibility questions, you will be taken directly to the vacancy application questions. Answer all questions honestly and thoroughly.
Step 5: Hiring Management offers three options that will electronically attach your documentation to your online application once you finish answering the questions in the job announcement.
(1) You may select a document that you have already uploaded to USAJOBS for a previous announcement.
(2) You may electronically upload a document directly from your computer to your application. Be certain to review your complete application for confirmation of the document uploaded and click on "Finished" to be returned to USAJOBS.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have multiple documents of the same kind, e.g. 2 undergraduate transcripts from different schools or 2 SF-50s, etc., be sure that they are all in the same file on your computer or in your USAJOBS profile before uploading them. If you try uploading them individually, only the last one sent will be visible in our system. If you have any questions about this information, please contact the person on this announcement BEFORE the closing date.
Step 6: Click on "Finish" after you have completed your application. Once you have submitted your application, you can check your status online through your Hiring Management or MY USAJOBS account. Your complete online application and any required supplemental documentation (e.g., SF-50, etc.) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of the announcement. It is your responsibility to ensure that all documents are received on time and that the materials are readable. Failure to do so will result in your application being excluded from consideration for this announcement.
If you are experiencing any technical difficulty with the online process, you MUST CONTACT THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE. For all technical issues please contact jobhelp@loc.gov , no later than 4:30pm EST of the Closing Date. REQUESTS FOR EXTENSIONS WILL NOT BE GRANTED.
Next steps
Please review our evaluation process under Evaluation. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS "My USAJOBS" tab and clicking on "My Applications." You will receive final notification via e-mail when the vacancy has been filled.
|