Engineering Technician (Mechanical) Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. CPP-2024-210 Department Architect of the Capitol
Salary $68,405.00 to $128,956.00 Grade 09 to 12
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/23/2024 Close Date 11/11/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

This developmental engineer position is located in the Architect of the Capitol, Office of the Chief of Operations, Capitol Power Plant (CPP), Utility Distribution Branch. The incumbent serves as an Engineering Technician (Mechanical). The position's purpose is to monitor the operational status of steam generation equipment and oversee the performance of contractor-performed work in maintaining such equipment.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all U.S. Citizens. Please be advised that federal retired annuitant candidates may only be considered as a temporary employee if the role can be filled in that capacity.

Duties

The duties listed below are at a GS-12 level.

The incumbent serves as an Engineering Technician (Mechanical). The purpose of the position is to monitor the operational status of steam generation equipment and oversee the performance of contractor-performed work in the maintenance of such equipment.

Tunnel Distribution Engineering Technician Assistance 60%

Inspects tunnel steam and chilled water distribution system to collect and present necessary data for technical projects. 

Considers the engineering specification limits of materials and systems used in projects. 

Performs investigations and cost benefit analysis and assesses weight distribution, space, access, and other technical considerations necessary to determine arrangements.

Performs inspections, maintenance, and repair duties to assure the continuing operation of the utility services and programs at the CPP. 

Conducts mechanical engineering technician analysis of utility systems; assists in developing long range repair and maintenance plans for steam and condensate, chilled water, and distribution systems. 

Maintains and Repairs Tunnel Distribution and Equipment Systems 25%

Performs hazardous duties, such as being continuously exposed to adverse conditions when performing installation, maintenance, and repair duties on complex equipment and machinery. 

Plans, lays out, fabricates, maintains, and repairs a variety of metal parts and other items requiring some familiarity to oversee the use of acetylene and electric welding techniques and equipment on such materials as structural steel ladders, gratings, and platforms. 

Inspects, installs, modifies, and repairs high pressure piping systems and steam and refrigeration plant equipment, such as condensers, chilled water pumps, compressors, high pressure steam and temperature water lines and fittings, steam generating plant equipment, and plumbing and heating equipment.

Plans and lays out the routing, placement, pitch, elevation, pressure reduction, expansion, and operation of the piping systems. 

Constructs hangers, brackets, risers, flexible branches, expansion joints, pumps, gauges, pressure regulators, and other supporting fixtures as needed.

Performs or oversees welding repairs on construction equipment, such as blades, buckets, front-end loaders, track mobiles, bobcats, forklifts, snowplows, and other vehicles.

Mechanical Engineering Technical Support 10%

Develops and prepares original working sketches and alternative layouts to determine optimum final arrangement and design configurations for machinery installations, support systems, and related equipment with specifications that cannot be obtained from traditional sources.  

Performs or directs surveys and investigations to establish baseline data necessary to initiate design. 

Evaluates baseline data and incorporates salient factors into design considerations and solutions.  Reviews and interprets appropriate standards and guidance relating to activities and programs.  

Studies new development in professional designs, prepares preliminary plans for implementation and applicability.  

Contractor Oversight Assistance for Mechanical Engineering Projects 5%

Serves as a Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR), guiding and evaluating contractor efforts and assessing technical progress in relation to the established schedule and resources allotted.

Provides engineering technician support services to contractors involved in the operation, maintenance, design, redesign, problem diagnosis, modification, modernization, repair, or safety analysis of a variety of process systems, subsystems, equipment, and/or controls.

Confers with the contractors and design engineers to resolve problems or latent conditions that arise. 

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • A citizen of the United States;
  • A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B);
  • A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible;
  • A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408); or
  • You must be able to pass a drug test and background check.
  • Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs.
  • You must meet the definition of specialized experience. 

Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position.  You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement.  Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions.  It is available for your review on the OPM website at OPM qualification standards
 
Specialized experience: is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.  To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

Candidates for the GS-9 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower GS-8 grade level in the Federal service. 

Specialized experience is defined as having up to two years of experience: 

(1) Knowledge of range of concepts, practices, regulations, policies, and precedents and analytical and diagnostic techniques sufficient to identify, evaluate, and recommend appropriate solutions to resolve complex interrelated mechanical problems and issues,

(2) Knowledge of the design of components, layout, and operation of steam and chilled water distribution systems.

(3) Demonstrates knowledge of the design, operation and maintenance, inspection and testing, and analysis of central heating and cooling plants and the distribution systems.

(4) Demonstrates basic knowledge of utilities systems operations, particularly a Heating / Cooling Plant utility system.

(5) Demonstrates entry level competencies of project management to deliver high-quality projects on time and within budget.

Candidates for the GS-10 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower GS-9 grade level in the Federal service. 

Specialized experience is defined as having two to three years of experience: 

(1) Working knowledge of range of concepts, practices, regulations, policies, and precedents and analytical and diagnostic techniques sufficient to identify, evaluate, and recommend appropriate solutions to resolve complex interrelated mechanical problems and issues,

(2) Working knowledge of the design of components, layout, and operation of steam and chilled water distribution systems.

(3) Knowledge of the design, operation and maintenance, inspection and testing, and analysis of central heating and cooling plants and the distribution systems.

(4) Working knowledge of utilities systems operations, particularly a Heating / Cooling Plant utility system.

(5) Demonstrates entry level competencies of project management to deliver high-quality projects on time and within budget.

Candidates for the GS-11 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower GS-10 grade level in the Federal service. 

Specialized experience is defined as having three to five years of experience: 

(1) Working knowledge of range of concepts, practices, regulations, policies, and precedents and analytical and diagnostic techniques sufficient to identify, evaluate, and recommend appropriate solutions to resolve complex interrelated mechanical problems and issues,

(2) Working knowledge of the design of components, layout, and operation of steam and chilled water distribution systems.

(3) Knowledge of the design, operation and maintenance, inspection and testing, and analysis of central heating and cooling plants and the distribution systems.

(4) Working knowledge of utilities systems operations, particularly a Heating / Cooling Plant utility system.

(5) Demonstrates entry level competencies of project management to deliver high-quality projects on time and within budget.

Candidates for the GS-12 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. 

Specialized experience is defined as having five and ten years of experience: 

(1) Ability to perform a range of concepts, practices, regulations, policies, and precedents and analytical and diagnostic techniques sufficient to identify, evaluate, and recommend appropriate solutions to resolve complex interrelated mechanical problems and issues,

(2) Skilled in designing components, layout, and operation of steam and chilled water distribution systems.

(3) Skilled in designing, operation and maintenance, inspection and testing, and analysis of central heating and cooling plants and the distribution systems.

(4) Ability to perform utilities systems operations, particularly a Heating / Cooling Plant utility system.

(5) Demonstrates advanced level competencies of project management to deliver high-quality projects on time and within budget.

Education

This position requires a Bachelor’s Degree in professional engineering (Mechanical preferred) from a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum.

OR

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a related field, such as mechanical/thermal science, architecture, physics, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, provided the applicant has at least one year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision or guidance.

Transcripts must be provided if selected.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: 

Education completed outside of the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment.

Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part of foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree.

You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing if selected.

Additional information

Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement. If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable. For more information, please visit OPM vet guide

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System.  If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC’s suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide and cover the cost for the drug test.
 
The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol.
 
The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1185221678150.shtm

The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or disability.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
 
Moving expenses are not authorized.
 
Relocation expenses are not authorized.
 
Probationary Period - A newly appointed selectee is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol.

All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.

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.

A variety of health insurance plans; retirement system with investment options; paid holidays; paid sick and annual (vacation) leave; life insurance; incentive systems; subsidized transportation; training and development opportunities, etc.

Selected applicant(s) may be eligible to earn a higher annual leave accrual rate credit towards annual leave accrual based on prior non-Federal or uniformed service work experience. The amount of service credit will be based on specialized experience or qualifying experience that is provided on the applicant profile submitted. As such, if you are a new employee to the Federal Government or a rehire, it is important that you provide a work history that lists all directly related positions held, and it must include the dates of employment (month/day/year).

The Architect of the Capitol offers eligible employees opportunity to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program.

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.

Review your resume and responses carefully. Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions.

Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) for this position, possession of any specialized experience, and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement.  The self-assessment questions relate to the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies: 

- Engineering knowledge

- Contractor Oversight

- Technical Practices

- Communication

Your responses to the self-assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions.  Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter. Your resume must support your answers to the self-assessment questions.  Falsifying your background, education and/or experience is cause for non-selection or disqualification from further consideration. 

Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the “Required Documents” section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

The Architect of the Capitol's job application process is designed to ensure that we only ask you for the information that is absolutely needed to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility for the position.

To apply for this position, you only need to submit online the following: a) your resume and 2) answer the online vacancy assessment questionnaire. The online questionnaire contains eligibility and screening questions and other relevant supplemental information. No additional documentation or attachment is required at the time of application.

We ask that you prepare and submit a resume that best describes fully your background experience, skills, abilities, education, training and other relevant credentials. The resume should include dates of employment.

Nothing further is required until it is requested by the staff of the Human Capital Management Division. If additional documentation is required for a position, you will be asked to provide it during the selection process or upon selection. At that point, we may ask you to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume.

For example, we may ask you to provide documents such as college transcripts, copy of diploma or proof of Federal employment status. If the position requires a license or certification, we will ask candidate(s) to provide proof at the time of selection.

If you are claiming veterans' preference, we may ask you to submit proof of Veterans preference (DD-214, and, if claiming 10-point preference, the SF-15 plus proof required by that form).

If you fail to provide the required documents, we will withdraw a tentative job offer made and/or remove you from further consideration.

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

You MUST apply online. FORMS RECEIVED BY FAX, EMAIL OR U.S. POSTAL SERVICE DELIVERY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

If you are a new user to the USAJOBS Site and have never registered for an account; you will first need to create an account profile with your basic contact information and a resume to begin applying. You must be a registered USAJOBS user AND you must be signed-in to your account in order to apply for this position. For help with setting up an account or for general assistance in using USAJOBS, go to USAJOBS Help Page.

NEED HELP?
If you experience any difficulties with the application site, help is available! If you have problems completing your on-line application, contact the Monster Hiring Management Help Desk at 1-866-656-6831 or by e-mail at MGSHELP@monster.com. The help desk is available Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You may call and leave a voice mail message at all other times.

All required supporting documents will be collected electronically via the USAJOBS “Saved Documents” feature.

If you are unable to apply on-line, you may visit our Employment Center for technical assistance in entering your application. The Employment Center is located at 441 Second & D Streets S.W., Washington, D.C., Room H2-178, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You may call 202.226.7000 for directions.

Agency contact information

Nyika Humphries
Address
Architect of the Capitol
2nd and D Street, S.W.
Washington, District of Columbia 20515
United States
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

You will receive a notice generated by the USAJOBS System when you have successfully submitted your application. We will review your application and transcript(s) (if you are qualifying based on education) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements.

You can check the status of your application by logging into http://www.usajobs.gov. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application has changed by logging into your USAJOBS Account, editing your profile and changing the ‘Notification Settings’ to indicate that you want to be notified by email when the status changes. Information regarding the status of your application should be updated in the system within two (2) weeks after the closing date of this job announcement.


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


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