Fire Protection Engineer Job in Washington DC, DC

Vacancy No. SOB-2025-170 Department Architect of the Capitol
Salary $57,164.00 to $109,975.00 Grade 07 to 11
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 2/28/2025 Close Date 6/30/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington DC, DC


Summary

This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol, Senate Office Buildings, Facilities Support Division. The selectee serves in a developmental capacity as a Fire Protection Engineer with responsibility for performing professional engineering work to protect life and property from destructive fire. The selectee will perform a variety of more difficult assignments to develop experience.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

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

This position is emergency essential. Depending on the type of emergency the employee may be required to report to work during emergency situations. 

Fire Protection Engineering

In a developmental capacity, learns theories, principles, practical concepts, processes, and methods of fire prevention and fire phenomena related to fire protection engineering science, engineering design, and the traditional engineering science disciplines.

Evaluates the designs of integrated systems involving suppression, detection, and electrical and electronic alarm systems.

Designs standards and codes for fire protection engineering techniques and practices; Applies physical science disciplines, advanced mathematics, and/or economics to perform a critical inquiry, analytical reasoning, and scientific methodology.

Conducts performance-based modeling and calculations for fire growth and egress and human responses to emergency situations.

Oversees fire tests and measurements; and system concepts of fire safety and methods of analysis and evaluation

Fire Prevention Program Management

Prevents, identifies, and mitigates fire hazards. Reviews construction work plans and issues system impairment notices and hot work permits as needed.

Identifies fire hazards and their risks, the cost of protection, and fire safety designs.

Develops, interprets, and promotes fire safety standards.

Use quantitative methods to assess aspects of fire and fire safety; Determine and apply scientific principles and theories to fire phenomena.

Examines the nature and characteristics of fire phenomena and the associated products of combustion; Determines how fires originate, spread, and are detected, controlled, and/or extinguished.

Conducts studies to anticipate and predict fire behavior on materials, structures, machines, and apparatus to protect life and property.

Conducts investigations into post fire incidents; Provides specifications for building construction, exit and egress means, and fire protection systems.

Conducts activity hazard analyses and surveys corresponding operating activities to assure the proper application of appropriate safeguards and controls; Evaluates new, unique and evolving activities to develop or formulate controls.

Serves as Fire Protection advisor to the Fire Electronics Branch and Plumbing Branch.

Develops or reviews scopes of work for contracts; Assures contracts that relate to specific Fire Protection related issues are properly written and/or revised; Prepares Government cost estimates; Specifies qualifications of contractor Fire Alarm personnel; Develops incentives and assures inclusion in appropriate contracts and/or partnerships; Reviews, evaluates, and documents contractor performance.

The incumbent is responsible for utilizing a thorough knowledge of and compliance with applicable AOC and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety rules and regulations to ensure that work progresses in a safe manner and to initiate or take corrective action on unsafe conditions in managed areas.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be able to pass a drug test
  • You must meet education requirements for Engineers.
  • You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
  • Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs.

To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet one of the categories below:

  • 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
  • A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States.

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 web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

For Engineers:

http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/general-engineering-series-0801/ 

For the GS-07:

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-07 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-05) grade level in the Federal service.  

Specialized experience for this position is defined as having experience in at least 3 of the following:

1.) Accomplishing developmental assignments utilizing basic techniques, procedures, and methods;
2.) Understanding and completing limited engineering designs and projects;
3.) Carrying out, interpreting, and explaining basic computations and calculations;
4.) Performing routine and regular reoccurring work related to fire engineering;
5.) Participating in assignments in relation to fire safety.

-OR-

1 year of graduate-level education. Graduate Education: Completion of graduate level education in addition to meeting the basic requirements, is qualifying for positions at grade GS-07, if it provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

An academic year of graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement or the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 academic year of full-time study.

-OR- 

Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) at the baccalaureate level in an engineering program is qualifying for the GS-07, in addition to meeting the basic educational requirements.

S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.

  1. Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
  2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.)-- Applicants must have a grade-point average of:
    1. 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or
    2. 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum

      3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society listed by the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of successfully completed education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%.

For the GS-09:

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-09 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-07) grade level in the Federal service. 

Specialized experience is defined as having experience in at least 4 of the following: 

1.) Accomplishing developmental assignments utilizing basic techniques, procedures, and methods;

2.) Understanding and completing limited engineering designs and projects;

3.) Carrying out, interpreting, and explaining basic computations and calculations;

4.) Performing routine and regular reoccurring work related to fire engineering;

5.) Participating in assignments in relation to fire safety.

6.) Assessing fire protection and fire safety designs of various systems, structures and buildings.

- OR -

Graduate Education - 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree.

- OR -

Combination of Graduate Education and Specialized Experience - Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience.

For GS-11

Candidates for the GS-011 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-09) grade level in the Federal service. 

Specialized experience is defined as having experience in all of the following: 

1.) Accomplishing developmental assignments utilizing basic techniques, procedures, and methods;

2.) Understanding and completing limited engineering designs and projects;

3.) Carrying out, interpreting, and explaining basic computations and calculations;

4.) Performing routine and regular reoccurring work related to fire engineering;

5.) Participating in assignments in relation to fire safety.

6.) Serves as Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) on assigned projects.

-OR- 

3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree

-OR-

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR A combination of experience and graduate education as described above that equates to one year of experience

Education

All Grades: In addition to meeting the specialized experience and/or education requirements for this position, applicants must possess the following:

Basic Requirements for Engineers:

The Ideal candidate has a Fire Protection Engineering degree. 

1. Bachelor's degree in professional engineering: To be creditable, the curriculum must: (1) be in 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 (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: -- statics, dynamics; -- strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); -- fluid mechanics, hydraulics; -- thermodynamics; -- electrical fields and circuits; -- nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and -- any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

--OR--

2. Combination of education and experience:College-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished: (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: (a) current registration as a professional engineer by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico; (b) evidence of having successfully passed the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) examination or the written test required for professional registration; (c) successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences that are fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of a professional engineering curriculum; or (d) successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate scientific field.

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 http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp#6.

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 AOC.

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.

Note:  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.

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.

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

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).

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:

Design: Knowledge in designing, customizing, overseeing and evaluating complex fire protection delivery systems.

Fire Management: knowledge of and understanding fire protection engineering concepts, principles, and practices.

Project Management: Knowledge in applying professional interpretations, policies, principles, new methods and techniques and novel applications to a variety of life safety and fire issues to meet statutory and regulatory laws.

Communication: Knowledge in developing and applying procedures, methods, designs, plans, and specifications for fire prevention and fire protection.

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 (AOC) job application process is designed to ensure you only provide information necessary to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility for the position vacancy.

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

Your resume should list your education, training and work experience including job titles, employment dates (MM/DD/YR), duties and accomplishments.

Nothing further is required until it is requested by AOC’s Human Capital Management Division. If additional documentation is required for the position, you will be asked to provide it during the interview or selection process. At that time, you may be asked to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume.

For example, you may be asked to provide a copy of your diploma, college transcripts, or proof of Federal employment status. If the position requires licensure or certification, you will be asked to provide proof at the time of selection.

If Veterans’ preference is claimed, you will be asked to submit proof (DD-214, and, if claiming a 10-point preference, a SF-15 and the proof required by that form).

Failure to provide the required documents will end further consideration and/or result in the withdrawal of any tentative job offers.

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

Charmain Thomas
Phone
202.615.4198
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
Charmain.Thomas@aoc.gov
Address
Architect of the Capitol
2nd and D Street, S.W.
Washington, District of Columbia 20515
United States

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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