Duties
The Department of Energy is seeking motivated and highly-qualified candidates for exciting positions available in multiple locations throughout the United States.
The mission of the Energy Department is to ensure America's security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.
This series covers interdisciplinary 0801/1301 General Engineer/Physical Scientist positions which are managing, supervising, leading, and/or performing professional engineering work or work in the physical sciences and may include work in a combination of physical science fields.
As an interdisciplinary General Engineer/Physical Scientist, at minimum you will perform one or more of the following:
- Use sound technical judgment and initiative to resolve the challenges of changing conditions and other problems relative to the assigned projects and programs.
- Use physics or mechanical, nuclear, electrical, chemical, civil, or industrial engineering theories, principles, and practices.
- Analyze situations, identify problems, probe causes, and recommends courses of action or solutions.
- Work closely with a team, perform assessments, clearly and concisely document assessment results, and present findings orally and in writing to the approval authority.
- Coordinate with related engineering and physical science fields adequate to effectively discuss technical points and to recommend acceptable engineering solutions to problems.
- Perform and interpret calculations, analyses, and computations for unknown factors or relationships primarily in the matters of factual nature of involving well understood mechanisms.
- Provide scientific advice and guidance to officials, managers, scientists, and engineer.
- Serve as an expert for a significant segment of a specific area in one or more of the following: advanced scientific computing research; basic energy sciences; biological and environmental research; fusion energy sciences; high energy physics; nuclear physics; and workforce development.
- Provide technical guidance on proposed research projects and programs of interest.
- Coordinate, implement, and evaluate segments of research programs in the assigned area of responsibility.
- Assemble essential information on topics of assigned segments of research through various source materials.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
- If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.
- If selected, your appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
- If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
- Positions are located agency-wide and may be filled as permanent, term, or temporary with a full-time or part-time work schedule. Pay will vary by geographic location.
- Appointments made with this authority may be processed as a new appointment into the Civil Service.
- The vacancies filled through these appointments have varying levels of background investigative requirements, up to a Top Secret - DOE "Q" clearance.
- Positions may be covered by a bargaining unit. Bargaining unit will vary by departmental element, grade, and/or location.
- Positions may be included in the DOE’s Technical Qualifications Program (TQP). Selectees for included positions are required to complete the TQP requirements within 18 months of entering the program or 12 months if previously qualified.
- Positions may require submittal of a Financial Disclosure Statement, OGE-450, Executive Branch Personnel Confidential Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of entering the position and annually.
- Positions may be a Testing Designated Position (TDP) subject to applicant testing and random drug testing thereafter. Failure to test or a positive result on random drug tests conducted after appointment may result in removal from Federal employment.
- This position does not support 100% remote work. You will be required to report physically to the official reporting worksite as specified by the supervisor, but no less than 2 days per pay period.
Qualifications
You must meet both the Basic Requirement and the Specialized Experience to qualify for this series as described below. See the Education section for the Basic Requirement.
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 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for these positions are defined as:
GS-11: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-09). Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting at least 2 of 4 of the following:
- Utilizing basic engineering or scientific techniques, procedures, and methods to provide support in the planning, development or implementation for components of assigned programs/projects;
- Carrying out, interpreting, and explaining basic studies, computations, or calculations to evaluate program or project performance;
- Preparing parts of reports or written evaluations to explain and convey findings related to engineering or scientific programs, projects, or processes;
- Assisting in identifying and resolving engineering or scientific issues which could have an impact on the program/project.
OR
Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. For this position, this is defined as a degree in physical science, engineering, mathematics or a similarly related major.
OR
Combination of education and experience as described above. Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first two years of full-time study may be credited).
GS-12: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-11). Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting at least 2 of 4 of the following:
- Applying engineering or scientific practices to research, analyze, interpret, and evaluate results of programs, projects, or processes;
- Planning and conducting engineering or scientific studies to evaluate and recommend ways to improve program or process efficiency;
- Performing and interpreting calculations, analyses, and computations to develop recommendations for coordinating projects or programs in an efficient and cost-effective manner;
- Drafting reports or written evaluations to explain and convey findings related to engineering or scientific programs, projects, or processes.
GS-13: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-12). Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting at least 2 of 4 of the following:
- Applying advanced engineering or scientific practices to research, analyze, interpret, and evaluate results of programs, projects, or processes;
- Planning and conducting complex engineering or scientific studies that included determining the relevancy and use of aesthetic, factual, economic/financial, engineering, or scientific information, in order to evaluate and recommend ways to improve program or process efficiency;
- Performing and interpreting calculations, analyses, and computations that involved unknown factors or relationships to develop recommendations for coordinating projects or programs in an efficient and cost-effective manner;
- Reviewing engineering or scientific reports or written evaluations to ensure quality and accuracy.
GS-14: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-13). Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting at least 2 of 4 of the following:
- Analyzing the application of experimental engineering or scientific theories and/or new applications and developments for research and development;
- Devising, customizing, overseeing, and/or evaluating specialized engineering or scientific systems, processes, and applications related to the energy industry;
- Developing requirements, long term goals, objectives, and schedules for the accomplishment of applied research and development, and deployment of technologies or methodologies;
- Preparing, presenting, and evaluating engineering or scientific plans, designs, reports, presentations, and briefings to convey the status of research projects or programs.
GS-15: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-14). Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting at least 2 of 4 of the following:
- Developing and documenting engineering or scientific research plans that involved applying experimental theories or new applications or developments;
- Managing and successfully executing significant projects impacting an important segment of the company or agency's mission;
- Providing expert engineering or scientific advice to senior colleagues or company or agency officials responsible for broad program operations in order to advance programs or methods;
- Evaluating complex technical issues and research results associated with the integration of technologies or methodologies to recommend future program research needs.
NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12 through GS-15 levels.
"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.
OPM Qualification Standards for the GS-0801 series can be found at the following website: OPM Qualification Standards for the GS-0801 series.
OPM Qualification Standards for the GS-1301 series can be found at the following website: OPM Qualification Standards for the GS-1301 series.
CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.
This public notice will be used to fill multiple positions as needed, therefore referral lists may be issued daily. Applications must be submitted and qualification requirements met by 11:59 p.m. ET each day in order to be referred on any certificates issued the following day.
Education
BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR 0801 SERIES:
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) 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:
- Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, 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.
- Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 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.
- 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.
- 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.)
BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR 1301 SERIES
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.
This vacancy has a positive education requirement. In order to be rated as qualified, you must provide copies of your college transcripts. Failure to provide copies of your college transcripts may result in a rating of "Ineligible".
If substituting education for specialized experience you must submit proof of your qualifying education. Failure to provide college transcripts may result in a rating of 'Ineligible'.
Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization 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 the Department of Education website.
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.
This position is announced under a government-wide Direct Hire Authority (DHA) for General Engineering positions in the GS-0801 series and Physical Science positions in the GS-1301 series. Under this Direct-Hire authority, applicants are required to meet minimum qualification requirements at the grade level(s) of interest. Veteran's Preference, Schedule A, Category Rating, and other methods of consideration DO NOT APPLY under Direct-Hire Authority regulations.
Appointments made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the Civil Service. Current Civil Service employees would, therefore, be given new appointments to the Civil Service. Current Federal employees may be required to serve a new probationary period (5 CFR 315.802(b).
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.
You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (03/31/2025) of this announcement.
To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12545277.
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:
- Click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.
- Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on 03/31/2025.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. 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
Once you submit your online application, you will receive a confirmation notification by email that your submission was successful. Upon request of a certificate of eligibles, we will refer your name to the hiring official, if your self-assessment responses place you as an eligible candidate for referral, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. We will notify you of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.
If you are interested in being added to our Schedule A or 30% or more Disabled Veterans repository, please submit your information by using the below links.
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/789178500 - 30 Percent or More Disabled Veteran Repository 2024 for Department of Energy
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/789179000 - Schedule A Repository 2024 for Department of Energy