This job is open to
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Clarification from the agency
You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. Foreign nationals or legal permanent residents are not eligible for consideration.
Duties
As a General Engineer, you will:
- Lead planning and design work for substantial multi-phase new construction, renovation, and improvement projects for a variety of real property facilities.
- Lead site investigations and evaluate data obtained to determine feasibility, topography, and site configuration or condition of structure and essential data prior to initiating design.
- Direct the preparation of detailed fee estimates and the pertinent correspondence, plans, reports and A/E contract criteria necessary for project completion.
- Monitor project reviews, readjusting money, schedules and work required to complete assigned projects.
- Perform final acceptance inspections and complete all administrative actions required to close out assigned projects.
- Use information management, project tracking and computer aided design and drafting (CADD) programs to solve engineering problems and facilitate work.
- Ensure construction contractors are meeting local, state and federal health and safety requirements.
For Division of Design and Construction Management (DDCM): The DDCM leads and manages the NIH research facilities program for engineering, architecture, and construction from planning through contract closeout. DDCM supports the NIH biomedical research mission by providing unique and innovative facility solutions to support intramural research and related functions at the nearly 300-acre Bethesda, MD campus. DDCM engineering positions are unique within the NIH, and provide the opportunity to work in the field of biomedical research planning, design, and construction. DDCM provides a diverse operating environment including working with all NIH Institutes to deliver construction projects. DDCM projects provide engineers the ability to work in a variety of engineering roles and be involved in building cutting edge research facilities that are truly one of a kind. DDCM engineers partner with researchers and develop solutions to support research facility needs.
For the Division of Facilities Operations and Maintenance (DFOM): The DFOM oversees the operations, maintenance, repair, and renovation of all NIH owned/leased facilities and utility systems. DFOM is also responsible for the comprehensive facility management program, operational technology system ownership, and assuring continued accreditation and certification of major programs through technical, engineering, and project support. DFOM engineers are responsible for monitoring project reviews and adjusting project funding and schedules. DFOM performs final inspections and supports incident response investigations, meetings, and programs regarding maintaining facility operations. DFOM develops and manages operational technology systems and facilities accreditation programs.
For Division of Facilities Stewardship (DFS): The DFS performs portfolio assessments and develops and promotes plans, programs, projects, and policies to improve facilities' condition, performance, and energy and water use. DFS is responsible for the alignment of building mechanical systems, campus-wide electrical systems, and Clinical Center facilities systems with long term NIH master plans. The Energy Management Branch (EMB) of DFS is seeking engineers with experience in the development, implementation, and management of energy/water conservation projects. The EMB oversees the operation and maintenance of utility metering hardware, software, and data systems for steam, chilled water, and domestic water. EMB develops utility metrics for budget planning, new construction, reporting, or end use inquiries regarding expenses and analyzes data from energy/water consumption and associated costs. The EMB also manages steam trap testing and repair contracts, assesses and assists operations regarding controls and equipment efficiency, and assists maintenance staff in effecting repairs. The EMB reports on agency goals to include renewable energy generation and procurement.
For Division of Technical Resources (DTR): The DTR provides technical expertise and consultation, comprehensive design reviews, quality assurance, and oversight for design and construction documents for NIH intramural and extramural biomedical research facilities, animal research facilities, aseptic production facilities, healthcare facilities, data centers at the NIH Central Utilities Plant (CUP), and Cogeneration (COGEN) Plant. DTR performs these functions through an established and systematic design review process that ensures that NIH facility design and construction conforms to applicable regulations, codes and standards, policies, and guidelines. DTR also develops and maintains ORF policies and national and international standards for NIH facilities' design, construction, commissioning, biocontainment certification and operations, and maintenance programs for new, renovated, and leased facilities in the intramural and extramural design and construction program as well as for select grantees.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
- Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
- Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
- Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
- Position requires Education. Please submit transcripts (See "Qualifications" section of this announcement).
- Position requires financial disclosure, OGE-450 required.
- Position is a Tier 2, Non-Emergency, Teleworker.
Qualifications
In order to meet the Basic Qualification Requirements of a General Engineer, GS-0801 position, you must have:
A. a degree in professional engineering from a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; OR
B. a degree in professional engineering that includes differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced that first-year physics and chemistry) in 5 of the following 7 areas of engineering science or physics: (1) statics, dynamics; (2) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (3) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (4) thermodynamics; (5) electrical fields and circuits; (6) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (7) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics; OR
C. be registered as a professional engineer by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico; OR
D. be currently registered as an Engineering Intern (EI) or an Engineer in Training (EIT); OR
E. successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.; OR
F. successfully completed at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of a professional engineering curriculum as described above; OR
G. successfully completed a curriculum that led to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology OR in an appropriate professional field, e.g., physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology AND have at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance.
In addition to the Basic Qualifications above, to qualify for a General Engineer, GS-0801 position at the GS-11 level, you must have:
A. 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree that is directly related to the duties of this position, OR I have completed the requirements for such a degree in an appropriate field of engineering; OR
B. 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: assisting in evaluating design and construction objectives and preparing preliminary designs; investigating project sites to determine the condition of a facility or property; preparing fee estimates; and making detailed reports listing omissions and defects and assure the correction of all omissions and defects listed; OR
C. a combination of post graduate education and experience that is directly related to the duties of this position that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.
In addition to the Basic Qualifications above, to qualify for a General Engineer, GS-0801 position at the GS-12 level, you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: conferring with customers regarding design and construction requirements, material needs, building limitations and functional use of space; investigating project sites to determine the condition of a facility or property; preparing specifications and detailed cost estimates for use in bid evaluations and change order requests; and making final inspections, checking all phases of contract compliance with specifications and drawings.
In addition to the Basic Qualifications above, to qualify for a General Engineer, GS-0801 position at the GS-13 level, you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: evaluating design and construction objectives and identifying the most economical and efficient procedures for building renovation, design and construction; preparing detailed fee estimates and A/E contract criteria necessary for project completion; conducting studies and developing plans, specifications, and construction requirements such as schedules, costs, labor and materials; coordinating construction projects and resolving problems or conflicts that impede the progress and timely completion of construction projects; and interpreting building codes, regulations, construction standards and guidelines.
You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay.
Do not copy and paste the duties or specialized experience from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer.
Preview application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12941315
Education
This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts (or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades). Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Click here for information on Foreign Education.
Additional information
- This position is designated as a "non-emergency/teleworker" position and the selected candidate will be considered a "non-emergency/teleworker" employee. In the event of a closure, you must be available to telework or request leave.
- Based on your appointment, a one or two-year trial/probationary period may be required. A decision regarding your continued employment with NIH will be made as you near the end of this period.
- At the supervisor's discretion, this position may offer work schedule flexibilities: telework (work from home on a regular basis or ad hoc basis but reports to the office at least once a week/two days a pay period), compressed schedules, flexible schedules.
- PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps should also apply online to this announcement in order to receive consideration.
- The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
- The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.
- Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Visit our Help Applying page for helpful information on the application process.
- If selected, you may be eligible to receive a salary above the minimum based on superior qualifications and/or a special need of the Government for your services. This applies to employees paid under the General Schedule (GS) and Federal Wage System (FWS) pay systems and is at the discretion of the hiring manager. A salary above the minimum must be approved before the appointment.
- NIH may repay certain outstanding Federally insured student loans to facilitate the recruitment and retention of highly qualified people. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.
- A newly appointed or reappointed employee may receive service credit for prior work experience or active-duty uniformed service that otherwise would not be creditable for the purpose of determining his or her annual leave accrual rate. All creditable service must be directly related to the duties of the position being filled and decisions to allow for such credit must be finalized prior to the selectee's entrance on duty. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.
- A newly appointed or reappointed individual may receive a recruitment incentive. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.
- If selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE Form 450 to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest and your prospective position with the agency. This information is required annually. For information, visit the NIH Ethics website: https://ethics.od.nih.gov/fd.
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.
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 position(s) advertised in this announcement are covered by a direct hire authority and the agency's Reemployment Priority List (RPL). RPL candidates will be rated with a resume review, placed into one of the quality categories below, and referred to the hiring office before direct-hire candidates, once veterans' preference is applied.
- Qualified
- Well Qualified
- Best Qualified
Traditional rating and ranking of applicants, including category rating, does not apply to this vacancy. You will be initially evaluated against the basic qualifications only. Qualified applicants will be referred for consideration in accordance with the
Office of Personnel Management direct hire guidelines.
To be considered well qualified for the
Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.
Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.
Required Documents
REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS
RESUME:
Your resume must clearly demonstrate, in two pages or less, how your skills and experiences align with the "Qualifications" section and support your questionnaire responses. While cover letters provided with your application will be shared with hiring officials, they will not be used for initial qualification determinations. We cannot assume required experience based on your work or academic history. If your resume exceeds two pages, only the first two will be reviewed. Use a legible font such as Lato, Calibri, Helvetica, or Arial, with 0.5-inch margins. Suggested formatting: 14-point for titles and 10-point for body text. You may use the USAJOBS Resume Builder or upload your own resume. If uploading, ensure it includes all required information and is organized so we can match the following to each position:
- Job title
- Employer name
- Employment dates (MM/DD/YYYY)
- Hours worked per week (full-time assumed; part-time prorated)
- Detailed duties, accomplishments, skills, responsibilities, and supervisory details (if applicable)
- Series and grade or equivalent (for federal positions)
If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you must list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study. If the position requires a certain number of credit hours, you are strongly encouraged to list the relevant courses in your resume.
Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter.
We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications.
For resume writing guidance, please visit the following resources:
NIH Help Applying, USAJOBS Resource Center, and the
USAJOBS Resume Guidance. If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you need to list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study.
APPLICATION QUESTIONNAIRE:
You must submit a completed application questionnaire.
Unless otherwise stated, we will only use the information above to determine your qualifications. Not providing the required information may result in a determination that you do not meet minimum requirements for the position (e.g., an ineligible rating) or a lower rating.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION FOR CAREER TRANSITION CLAIMS
Visit our websites to claim selection priority through the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP):
If you do not provide the required information, we will assume you are not eligible or you do not wish to be considered for any preference or eligibility.
Please do not submit any other supplementary documentation that is not requested of you. To protect your personal information, we will only send your resume and cover letter to the selecting official or hiring manager.
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, please read and follow all instructions in this announcement, complete the online application, and submit the documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on 05/01/2026 to receive consideration.
- To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply.
- Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. See the "Required Documents" section for any additional forms and/or supplemental materials required.
- Read all Eligibility questions and respond accordingly to any Eligibility you wish to claim. You will only be considered for those Eligibility questions (Status Applicant, Reinstatement, Schedule A, etc.) you respond in the affirmative to, regardless of what documentation you submit. We cannot assume you intended to respond differently to a question based on other information in your application package.
- Complete the application questionnaire. Applicants are asked all questions regardless of their consideration preferences. We will only consider you for the grades, series, locations, specialties, and other considerations that you self-identify as being qualified for or interested in. Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12941315
- Verify all required documentation is included in your application package, review your responses to the assessment questionnaire for accuracy, and then submit your application.
In addition to the required documents, we encourage you to submit a cover letter, copy of your transcripts, and any applicable certifications or licenses. Even though this information is not required at the time of application, we may request this information later.
We cannot assume responsibility or grant extensions for personal issues (e.g., troubles navigating the application process, loss of internet, not understanding a question) when applying to our announcements. For technical difficulties, contact HR Systems Support between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM ET Monday through Friday at
hrss@nih.gov.
If you need any other accommodation or assistance with applying, please contact Global Jobs at globaljobs@mail.nih.gov. Requests for reasonable accommodations must be made before the announcement closing date.
Visit our site for information on NIH's EEO program, Reasonable accommodation procedures, laws, policy statements, and the operation of the EEO complaint process.
Next steps
Once you submit your application package, you will receive an acknowledgement email. You will be notified of the status of your applications via email. In addition, you can track the progress of your application package through your USAJOBS account.
At the discretion of the agency, you may be contacted via phone or email for an interview or to provide additional information up to several months from the closing date of the announcement. Please ensure you have provided accurate contact information. To remain in consideration, you must respond in a timely manner to our correspondence and requests for documentation or information throughout the hiring process.