General Engineer Physical Scientist Job in Albuquerque, NM

Vacancy No. 26-NA-SN-XE-01019-NNSAL Department National Nuclear Security Administration
Salary $127,141.00 to $194,417.00 Grade 4 to 4
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/8/2026 Close Date 9/14/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Albuquerque, NM


General Engineer Physical Scientist

Department of Energy
National Nuclear Security Administration
Sandia Field Office (SFO)

Summary

A successful candidate in this position will serve as a senior General Engineer within the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Sandia Field Office (SFO), Complex Management Team (CMT) in Albuquerque, NM. Serving as a technical authority at the state-of-the-art John A. Gordon Albuquerque Complex (JAGAC), the incumbent does far more than traditional facility management; they operate in a highly visible, hands-on customer-service role.

This job is open to

Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.

Clarification from the agency

Current NNSA Federal employees with competitive status, located in Albuquerque, NM. NNSA employees with CTAP or RPL eligibility.

Duties

As a General Engineer Physical Scientist, you will:

  • Serve as technical point of contact, Project Manager, and Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) for facility operations, maintenance, repair, and construction contracts ranging from tens of thousands to multi-million dollars. Develop SOWs, PWSs, and IGEs; review technical submittals and project documentation; monitor contractor performance, progress, and invoices; and coordinates technical issues with contractors and Contracting Officers. Must hold or obtain Level II COR certification within 18 months of hire.
  • Serve as engineering liaison to more than 20 tenant organizations, coordinating with leadership, technical staff, and multi-agency stakeholders to assess operational, infrastructure, space, and logistical requirements. Integrate mission, engineering, security, cybersecurity, and contracting requirements to resolve complex customer needs and provide effective facility solutions.
  • Oversee facility operations, utilities, preventive maintenance, and complex building systems within a 333,324-square-foot facility. Troubleshoot HVAC, electrical, utility, and Building Automation Systems (BAS); evaluate risks and technical alternatives; and coordinates maintenance and modifications to minimize mission disruption. Serve as BAS system owner and engineering liaison for cybersecurity and physical security, ensuring compliance with ATO and ICD 705 requirements and project budget and schedule.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • Subject to Random Drug Testing
  • Must pass a pre-employment drug test.
  • Favorable suitability determination required.
  • Financial Disclosure is required.
  • Must be able to obtain/maintain a Q level Security Clearance.
  • You must be a United States Citizen.
  • This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
  • Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
  • Compliance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12) governing personal identity which will require that you provide two forms of identification.
  • May be required to successfully complete a one (1) year probationary
  • Please limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. If more than two pages are submitted, you will be disqualified.

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA pay band or GS grade level in the Federal service i.e., NQ-03, NN-03 level (GS-13) Specialized experience for this position is defined as:
Qualified applicants must possess at least 3 of the 4 examples below:

  1. Evaluate, troubleshoot, and manage integrated facility systems (e.g., HVAC, building automation, and electrical systems); using AutoCAD/Revit to assess or modify drawings; evaluating contractor engineering solutions; and providing on-site technical support to diverse tenants.
  2. Manage high-value O&M contracts and multi-million-dollar facility projects, including serving as a Project Manager or COR; developing SOWs/PWSs and IGEs; and reviewing engineering studies, designs, specifications, and contractor deliverables.
  3. Manage security, cybersecurity, and utility infrastructure projects, including using AutoCAD/Revit; applying ICD 705 to SCIF/VTR projects; and coordinating with IT/cybersecurity teams to maintain BAS network authorization/ATO.
  4. Manage stakeholder coordination and facility project planning for diverse, multi-agency tenants, including resolving conflicting requirements; preventing contract scope creep; and diplomatically addressing competing mission priorities and timelines.


"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.

CTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section. If you are eligible for career transition assistance plans such as CTAP, you must meet the definition of "well qualified" which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

You must meet the basic education requirements for at least one of the occupational series (0801 or 1301) identified below. You are required to submit unofficial college transcripts as outlined in the Required Documents section of this announcement. Failure to submit transcripts will result in disqualification for this position.


To qualify for the 0801 General Engineering series, you must possess:
A. Degree: Engineering. Successful completion of a bachelor's or higher engineering degree from an accredited college or university. 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. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.-or-
B. 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 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:
(I) Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions; or
(II) Written Test -- Evidence of having 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
(III) Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A; or
(IV) Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all inclusive.)

To qualify for the 1301 Physical Science series, you must possess:
A. Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics; OR
B. Combination of education and experience: education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

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 Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education.

Additional information

  • Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website.
  • More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.
  • All positions require successful completion of a background investigation.
  • All males born after December 31,1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.
  • In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to the four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answers to these questions are not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration.
EEO Policy: Click HERE.
Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Click HERE.
Veterans Information: Click HERE.
Telework: Click HERE.
Selective Service Registration: Click HERE.

Information about the NNSA Demonstration project can be found by clicking HERE.

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.

Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Office will review the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications. Additional documentation (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) may not be considered.

Your application and resume shall demonstrate that you possess the following Competencies. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your application how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the Competencies identified below. Cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. DO NOT write "see resume" in your application.

  • Civil Engineering
  • Contracting/Procurement
  • Customer Service


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'.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the link below.
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13049232

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes:

ALL APPLICANTS: You must submit a resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire.

  • Your two (2) page RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
  • Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume may not be considered.
  • Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement. Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements. If selected, it is mandatory that you provide official transcripts.
  • For more information about what to include in your resume, please view this here.
NNSA will accept a resume in the format of your choice (as an attached document or as a USAJOBS Resume Builder 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.

Submit one or more of the following to support your eligibility(s) to apply to this job announcement:

SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" (current NNSA federal employees):
To properly verify status eligibility, your SF-50 must show the following. If you do not submit an appropriate SF-50, we cannot verify your status eligibility! Full position title; appointment type; occupational series; pay plan, grade, and step; tenure code; and service computation date (SCD).

If your current position SF50 does not indicate you have competitive service status or does not reflect the pay plan and grade of the highest position you have held in the competitive service, in addition to your current SF50, you must provide your previous SF-50s that provide the proof of competitive status and highest grade held on a permanent basis.

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.

For Professional, Scientific and Engineering Positions: If qualifying on the basis of an alternate method, i.e., professional license, you must submit official documentation to support your claim with your application package. If selected for the position you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to onboarding.

Performance Appraisals: Submit your two (2) most recent performance appraisals. Your performance appraisals and incentive awards will be given due consideration in the selection process based on their relation to the duties of the position and the consistency with which they may be considered in evaluating you against other applicants. If the performance appraisals are not available, please provide a written statement of explanation and upload as a separate document.

Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

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 by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration.

The application process is as follows:

  1. You must have a login.gov account to sign into USAJOBS: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/.
  2. To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button.
  3. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.
  4. 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/
Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Agency Contact listed on this vacancy announcement.

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.

Agency contact information

Cathy Lee-Amos
Email
Cathy.lee-amos@nnsa.doe.gov
Address
NNSA - Sandia Field Office
24600 20th St SE
Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5507
US

Next steps

Thank you for your interest in employment with DOE. We will notify you of your results once your application is reviewed. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. The status of your application will be updated in USAJOBS as it is evaluated. You can check the status by logging into USAJOBS. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application changes by logging into your USAJobs Account and editing the Notification Settings. You will be contacted directly if an interview is required.

National Nuclear Security Administration

This position requires a polished, politically sensitive approach to daily collaboration, as the incumbent directly interfaces with diverse, high-priority tenant leadership teams to coordinate fast-moving, high-consequence facility and infrastructure requirements. This comprehensive operational scope spans facility operations, infrastructure maintenance and repairs, safeguards and security, emergency management, safety, and logistics.

Beyond daily tactical operations, the incumbent serves as the long-term planner and strategist for the JAGAC, anticipating and forecasting future facility capital improvements, physical security configurations, safety systems, and evolving mission-driven tenant needs. In this capacity, the incumbent develops and maintains optimal, secure, and resilient working conditions that enable over 20 diverse tenant organizations to seamlessly execute their highly technical national security portfolios. Key duties include leading multidisciplinary engineering analyses and teams, managing complex Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) tasks as well as standalone, larger-scale, multimillion dollar repair and minor construction projects, and directly performing as the Project Manager and/or Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) for various contracts, while balancing sensitive tenant demands to minimize mission and operational disruptions.

Agency contact information

Cathy Lee-Amos
Email
Cathy.lee-amos@nnsa.doe.gov
Address
NNSA - Sandia Field Office
24600 20th St SE
Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5507
US