Requirements
Conditions of Employment
PRE-HIRING REQUIREMENTS:
CITIZENSHIP: You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You must pass a background investigation.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT: If you are selected for this position, you will be required to file this report prior to entry on duty in accordance with the Ethics of Government Act of 1978.
TRIAL PERIOD: You must complete a two-year trial period.
SELECTIVE SERVICE: If you are a male born after December 31,1959, you must be registered with the Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register.
E-VERIFY: New employees will be required to pass the employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
This is an Excepted Service position. If you are selected, you would have to compete with other applicants in open competition to meet requirements for a Federal position in the competitive service, unless you meet the requirements for reinstatement. Applicants who voluntarily convert from the competitive service, Senior Executive Service, or other pay systems to a permanent appointment under this excepted service authority do not have guaranteed placement back to the pay system assigned prior to conversion.
Qualifications
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: Your online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade/pay band in the Federal service. For this position, experience must be at least equivalent to the EJ/EK-II or GS-9 / GS-11 level. Specialized experience for this position is defined as:
- Prior experience or education as an engineer in an industrial or nuclear facility. Experience or eductation in providing planning, design, procurement, implementation, maintenance, and operational oversight of structures, systems, and components to ensure the work associated with facilities can be accomplished safely and efficiently. Experience or education on mechanical and electrical equipment; mining systems; or management systems/administrative controls associated with industrial or nuclear facilities.
"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service Programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.
Required Competencies/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Your application and resume should show that you possess the following competencies or knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). Be sure to show how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the Competencies/KSAs identified below:
- Mastery of, and skill in applying, expertise in advanced professional theories, principles, concepts, standards, and methods practiced in two or more fields of engineering (i.e., environmental, mechanical, civil, nuclear) sufficient to apply experimental theories and/or develop new applications to extend or modify theories, concepts, and assumptions; resolve unique or novel problems, conditions, or issues; or significantly alter standard engineering practices, equipment, devices, processes, and known techniques, This includes providing expert advice to senior colleagues and/or DOE officials responsible for broad program operations; providing significant and innovative recommendations for advancing programs and/or methods; and executing significant projects affecting the welfare of the public and/or the sustainability of energy resources and the environment.
- Knowledge of the laws, regulations, policies and practices of the organization and programs/projects to which assigned sufficient to assure that technical recommendations are consistent with the overarching governance and management framework of the efforts supported.
- Knowledge of project management principles, methods, and practices to effectively manage or lead engineering projects of significant size, scope, and complexity.
- Skill in both oral and written communication to develop and present complex engineering information to audiences comprised of technical experts and non-technical persons.
Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified", which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.
You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
801 - Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; 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: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
-OR
Combination of education and experience - college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying 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: 1) Professional registration or licensure; 2) Written Test; 3) Specified academic course; 4) Related curriculum. For more information on the alternative methods, please refer to the OPM Qualifications Standards. https://www.opm.gov/policydataoversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualificationstandards/0800/files/all-professional-engineeringpositions-0800.pdf
You must provide a copy of your unofficial transcript(s). Be sure to include those transcripts directly applicable for meeting the education requirements. Failure to provide proof of education will result in non-consideration for this position. Official transcripts will be required prior to entrance-on-duty for individuals selected.
Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see Department of Education.
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 Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate your applicant assessment answers to place you into an initial quality category via OPM's Category Rating Procedures.
The HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to ensure that you have been placed into the appropriate quality category.
Your application is rated based on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training as described in your resume and applicant assessment. Your credentials are measured against the established duties of the position. The quality categories are:
- Best Qualified" (applicants who possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements of the position),
- "Well Qualified" (applicants who possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements of the position). and
- "Qualified" (applicants who meet the minimum requirements of the position).
If you are a Veteran Preference eligible candidate, you will be placed at the top of whichever quality category your rating places you.
If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated "ineligible", "not qualified", or your score may be adjusted accordingly.
Selecting official may check references on those applicants referred for consideration. References will be checked on the selectee prior to an employment offer.
To preview the announcement questionnaire, please click here:
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12635208.
Required Documents
Thoroughly review the following list to determine the documentation you need to submit. If you fail to submit required documentation before the announcement closes, you will be rated "ineligible." Some documents may not apply to all applicants.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package:
All Applicants: You must submit a resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire.
- Your resume should list all work experience (paid and unpaid); you must list the full name and address of the each employer.
- For all types of work experience, indicate the start and end dates (include month, day, and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that you worked.
- For paid work experience, indicate your starting grade/salary for each position and the highest grade/salary you earned (if different).
- Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
- For more information about what to include in your resume, view this USAJOBS Resume Tutorial video on YouTube.
Most DOE offices will allow you to submit a resume in the format of your choice (as an attached document or as a USAJOBS Resume Builder format). However, some offices may require one specific format. You will be notified at the time you click 'Apply Online' which type of resume is acceptable. It is important that you are complete and thorough in your resume. If any of the above information is not included in your resume, we may not be able to fully credit you for your experience.
Current and former Federal employees: Most recent SF-50 (Standard Form 50 - Notice of Personnel Action). To properly verify status eligibility, your SF-50 must show the following: 1) Full position title; 2) appointment type; 3) occupational series; 4) pay plan, grade, and step; 5) tenure code; 6) service computation date (SCD).
All Applicants: If specific educational requirements are indicated for this vacancy: Documentation verifying your educational claims which can include unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned and final grade. Please see the Education section for more information.
Displaced Federal employees who qualify for Career Transition Programs (I/CTAP): If you are a former Federal employee who was displaced due to a Reduction-in-Force (RIF) or surplused by some other means, please submit a copy of the separation letter or RIF notice from your agency. To be selected under I/CTAP, you must still be found well-qualified for this position. Please see the
OPM Guide to Career Transition for more information.
Veterans: Veteran eligibility documentation (DD-214, VA letter, SF-15 as applicable). Please note, if you are a veteran who has not yet been discharged, you may provide a statement of intent to discharge from your agency which will allow you to apply under the (Veterans Opportunity to Work)
VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011.
Persons with Disabilities: Individuals with intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities may apply for appointment through Schedule A hiring authority.
Certified verification of a disability from a licensed medical professional; a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist or any Federal, state or District of Columbia agency or US territory that issues or provides disability benefits will be required.
If you are selected for this position, you may be asked to provide additional documentation to verify your responses.
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 read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted online by 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration. We will not accept faxed or e-mailed applications or resumes. Extension requests for extensions will not be granted, unless required by law.
All statements made in this application are subject to investigation and any false or dishonest answer to any question may be grounds for disqualification and loss of consideration. If your resume does not support the responses in your application questionnaire, or if you fail to submit required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible' or 'not qualified'.
The application process is as follows:
- You must have a login.gov account to sign into USAJOBS: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/.
- To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.
- You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.
You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account, select Update Application:
https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; 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://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center:
https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/
If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible, to aid technical support.
Next steps
After each step in the recruitment process, your status will be updated in our application tracking system. Once this happens, if you have elected to receive e-mail updates, you will be notified through your USAJOBS registered e-mail address. If you have not elected for e-mail updates, you can review your current application status in USAJOBS at any time. Please check that your USAJOBS profile contact information is current and correct each time you apply to a job--this will ensure we are able to contact you as quickly as possible. In addition to changing your status online, we will send you e-mail notifications at each major step in the process, to include: application received, eligible or not eligible, referred or not referred, selected or not selected.