Electronics Technician Job in Hilo, HI

Vacancy No. 25-44 Department Smithsonian Institution
Salary $92,520.00 to $120,282.00 Grade 12 to 12
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 5/15/2025 Close Date 6/13/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Hilo, HI


Summary

The employee is responsible for providing specialized electronics technical support and assistance to the SMA in the testing, troubleshooting, and documentation of electronic, electrical, and electromechanical systems, with emphasis on present and future microwave and digital systems.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals. Note: Federal employees with permanent status or individuals eligible for special appointing authorities may also apply to Job Announcement #25-43

Duties

Duties:

  1. Maintain and repair the SMA microwave transmission systems and digital spectrometer electronics.
  2. Fabricate complex electronic and mechanical assemblies consisting of chassis, cables, connectors (MS, D, IDC, SMA, N, and other styles), power supplies, junction boxes, terminal strips, and multi-layer circuit boards from schematics and developed design specifications.
  1. Perform test procedures to calibrate, measure, and document RF and digital control systems performance. Adapts software to assess analog and digital subsystems stability and sensitivity.
  1. Operate antennas and subsystems for engineering tests and for scientific observations when necessary, including assisting operators in priming and operating the SMA.
  1. Oversee IF/LO laboratory in Hilo. Tracks and ensures spare analog and digital modules, associated equipment are operational. Ensures routine laboratory supplies are ordered as needed.

          Perform other related duties as assigned. Participate in meetings as required.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • May be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
  • Pre- and post-appointment background investigation
  • U.S. citizenship
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
  • Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
  • Must possess a valid state driver's license
  • Must pass a high altitude physical examination prior to employment

Other Requirements:    

Occasional travel may be required to attend scientific, technical, or administrative meetings or other functions at SAO or other institutions.  

Qualifications

One year of full-time experience at the GS-11 level that is close or similar to the work of this job. The experience includes activities such as  technical support for state of the art analog and digital systems, operating high-speed digital oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers, and good hands-on Radio Frequency (RF) and digital electronics skills to isolate and repair faults in high frequency transmission systems and multi-layered boards with a wide range of ICs such as FPGAs, ASICs, and DSPs.

Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management web site:  http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/electronics-technical-series-0856/

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. 

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.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Important Note: Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience. Your resume should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.

Note: 

The Smithsonian does not pay relocation expenses but recruitment incentives may be authorized.

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.

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 of  the  theory,  design  characteristics,  operation,  and  functions  of  electronic  and microwave instruments, components, and subsystems.

Practical experience with high frequency superheterodyne receivers (200 GHz and above).

Skill in applying methods and principles of electronic and electrical technician work to adapt existing precedents and/or techniques to current and future IFLO and spectrometer packages.

Ability to design, build, modify, and repair complex electronic devices from specific layouts or schematic diagrams.

Knowledge of computer software and the ability to develop and modify application programs in real time operating systems.

Practical experience with repair surface mount electronics.

                                   

Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:

  • Best Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most of the job related competencies above.
  • Better Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and satisfies most of the job related competencies above.
  • Good Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements, but does not satisfy most of the job related competencies above to a substantive degree.

This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three", but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

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..
  • 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.
  • 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.

How to Apply

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).
  • 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.

Agency contact information

Mary Hebert
Phone
617 496 7816
Fax
617 496-7263
Email
mhebert@cfa.harvard.edu
Address
SMITHSONIAN
Office of Human Resources
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


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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