First Assistant Engineer Hopper Dredge Dual Rate Job in Portland, OR

Vacancy No. CEDE-26-12821507-DHA Department U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Salary $45.69 to $53.30 Grade 11 to 11
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/23/2025 Close Date 11/6/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Portland, OR


Summary

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

About the Position: This position is aboard a dredging vessel, travel on the vessel is required (during dredging season). Schedules generally run 15 days on and 13 days off, with 1 rotation of 8 days on and 6 days off in January each year.

Duties

  • At prescribed intervals make routine inspection of all engineer spaces and equipment including dredge pumps, bow thruster, steering gear and emergency areas.
  • Starts, stops and adjusts engine room equipment as necessary.
  • Observe pressure and temperature gauges and alarms and listen for sounds which indicate abnormal operating conditions.
  • Make regular periodic inspection of all operating machinery to ensure proper functioning.
  • Supervise and/or perform the operation, routine repair and maintenance of all engine room equipment and assists Chief Engineer and Assistant Engineer with Major repairs.
  • Install, maintain, test and repair AC and DC electrical system, equipment, components, converters, safety devices, wiring and controls, switchboards and make repairs.
  • Inspect and service pilot house and engine room controls, gyrocompass and steering, fire detection, ventilation, refrigeration, lighting, emergency and communication systems.
  • Ensure that all tests and analyses are conducted in connection with the operation of the Engine Department.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
  • This position requires the completion of a pre-employment Physical Examination and an annual examination thereafter to ensure the continued, required level of physical health and ability or fitness to perform the duties of the position.
  • This position has a requirement to lift up to 45 lbs. in the regular performance of duties.
  • This position is subject to a one year probationary period unless the appointee has previously met the requirements as described in 5 CFR Part 315. While probationary the incumbent can be terminated with limited appeal rights.
  • This position is supervisory a one year probation to assess your ability to perform supervisory duties is required unless previously completed.
  • You must possess a current United States Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) First Assistant Engineer 2250 Horse Power, (Yaquina) or higher and a current Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC) OR
  • You must possess a current United States Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) First Assistant Engineer Unlimited Horse Power (Essayons) and a current Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC).
  • This position has a Temporary Duty (TDY) or business travel requirement of 95% of the time.
  • This position is subject to a pre-employment screening, and random testing thereafter, to include testing based on reasonable suspicion and testing due to direct involvement with an on-duty accident.

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.



In order to qualify, you must meet the 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.

Minimum Qualifications (Screen Out Element): for First Assistant Engineer Hopper Dredge Dual Rate you must possess a current United States Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) First Assistant Engineer 2250 horsepower, (Yaquina) or higher and a current Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC) OR You must possess a current United States Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) First Assistant Engineer Unlimited Horse Power (Essayons) and a current Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC). - You MUST UPLOAD your USCG Credentials or you will be rated ineligible.- Failure to meet this Screen Out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:
  • Ability To Do The Work Of The position Without More Than Normal Supervision


WORKING CONDITIONS Incumbent is exposed to abnormal heat, dirty and greasy equipment, and moving machinery. Is subject to burns by hot pipes or escaping steam. There is the constant hazard of boat traffic and, in the event of a collision, there is the danger of being thrown against moving equipment, and the danger of drowning if the vessel takes in water. Incumbent works regularly in areas where noise exceeds 80 decibels. Incumbent is exposed to the effects of paints, acids and solvents. Exposed to extremes of weather conditions and noise. There is danger of slippery decks and drowning. Must wear appropriate safety gear and protective clothing as required, and comply with sound safety practices.

PHYSICAL EFFORT Incumbent is required to exert moderate to heavy physical effort in handling engine room equipment. Incumbent must possess color perception in order to perform troubleshooting and repair work on the full range of equipment, and be able to see in low visibility conditions. Lifts and carries equipment and supplies normally up to 45 lbs. and occasionally over 45 lbs. Work requires prolonged standing, walking and climbing, all of which can cause exertion of the lower back. The employee must maintain good lower back physical condition. IAW NPPR 690-1-530 this position is dual-rated to the position of Chief Engineer, Hopper Dredge, WJ-4742-15(HE A30). If qualified and possesses appropriate U.S. Coast Guard License/Certification, incumbent may be assigned to perform these duties on an intermittent, dual-rated capacity. While working in capacity the FLSA status will be exempt.

IAW NPPR 690-1-530 this position is dual-rated to the position of Chief Engineer, WJ-4742-15 position description-A-30. If qualified and possesses appropriate U.S. Coast Guard License/Certification, incumbent may be assigned to perform these duties on an intermittent, dual-rated capacity. PLEASE NOTE: While working in this capacity the FLSA status will be exempt.

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.
  • One year trial/probationary period may be required.
  • 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) Installation Management Career Field position.
  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
  • Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
  • Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.
  • You MUST UPLOAD your USCG Credentials or you may be rated ineligible.
  • The following incentives may be authorized to a highly qualified candidate: Recruitment, Relocation, Advance in Hire, Student Loan Repayment, and/or Advanced Leave Accrual.

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.

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.

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.


Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates.?

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.

Required Documents

The documents you are required to submit vary based on whether or not you are eligible for preference in federal employment. A complete description of preference categories and the associated required documents is in the Applicant Checklist for Public Announcements.

As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

1. Your resume:

  • Your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.
  • For each relevant work experience, make sure you include the employer's name, job title, start and end dates (include month and year), for qualifications purposes, the number of hours worked per week, and a brief description that show you can perform the tasks at the required level listed in the job announcement. If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you may not receive consideration for this position.
  • Use plain language. Avoid using acronyms and terms that are not easily understood. The hiring agency will not make assumptions about what's in your resume.
  • If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations, and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
  • For additional information, to include formatting tips, see: What to include in your resume.
2. Other supporting documents:
  • Cover Letter, optional
  • Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
  • This position does not have an individual occupational requirement and/or allows for substitution of education for experience. If you meet this requirement based on education you MUST submit a copy of your transcript with your application package or you will be rated ineligible. See: Transcripts and Licenses
  • This position requires a job-related license or certification. You MUST submit a copy of your license or certification with your application package or you will be rated ineligible. See: Transcripts and Licenses
NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.

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

To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 11/06/2025 to receive consideration

  • To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12821507).
  • F
  • Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. As a reminder, your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. For additional information, refer to the 'Required Documents' section.
  • You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
  • You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. Your resume selected in USAJOBS will be included, but you must re-select other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application may be incomplete.
  • It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
  • Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/applicant/profile/dashboard/), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.

Agency contact information

Army Applicant Help Desk
Address
RH-W2SJ01 USARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT-PORTLAND
DO NOT MAIL
Portland, OR 97208
US

Next steps

If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application. Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking (as applicable) for this position. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration.


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


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