Pathways Recent Graduate (Electronics Engineer) Job in District of Columbia, DC

Vacancy No. PATHWAYS-OET-2024-002 Department Federal Communications Commission
Salary $45,146.00 to $107,590.00 Grade 05 to 11
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/4/2024 Close Date 11/29/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
District of Columbia, DC


Summary

This is a Recent Graduates position in the Pathways Program which is located in the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET), Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington, DC.

Position may be rotated and reassigned throughout the agency.

THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS.

We are considering applicants that will be graduating May of 2024.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Recent Graduates-Individuals who have graduated from an accredited educational institute within the last 2 years or 6 years for veterans. We are considering current students who have not yet graduated from an accredited college and are scheduled to graduate in December of 2024. At the time of selection, the transcript confirming the date that the degree was conferred must be provided. You must have graduated by December of 2024 to be eligible for selection.

Duties

The incumbent of this position will receive on-the-job-training, will be a bargaining unit employee and be a part of the Federal Communications Commission's Office of Engineering and Technology. The incumbent will receive training on the agency's policy and rule-making processes and other administrative processes for government agencies. The incumbent will receive technical training covering a wide variety of telecommunications services and technologies. The incumbent will receive training on engineering and policy principles relevant to the fast paced telecommunications industry. In this position, the incumbent may conduct and analyze basic engineering studies, telecommunication system proposals and/or telecommunications technology proposals in order to authorize new and innovative services. The incumbent will assist more senior staff in the analysis of petitions, requests for proposals before the FCC to determine viability and the need for FCC action. The incumbent may conduct studies and perform summaries and/or communicate findings with senior staff. The incumbent may prepare written material, including summaries, memorandum letters, E-mail correspondence and other written documents to individuals within and outside the agency.

The incumbent will be trained and may be tasked with performing propagation analysis of terrestrial, satellite and/or airborne systems or evaluating the emission characteristics of various transmitters to validate the co-existence with neighboring systems. Projects may also involve various computer software engineering and scientific applications. The incumbent will be required to effectively communicate with individuals within and outside the agency on a variety of topics related to the FCC and engineering principles. The incumbent will be required to assist and work with other FCC staff.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Education-Transcripts Required
  • US Citizenship.
  • Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation.
  • Serve a probationary period of one year, if applicable.
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
  • Non-Veterans must have received qualifying degree within 2 years
  • Veterans must have received qualifying degree within 6 years
  • Financial disclosure statement may be required upon assuming the position.

Recent Graduates who obtained a qualifying associate, bachelors, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution, within the previous 2 years.  (In support of Veterans Recruitment efforts, some exceptions to the 2-year window apply to veterans whose military service obligation precluded application during any portion of the 2-year application window.)

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must within the previous 2 years, have completed a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution. 

Preference eligible veterans who were precluded from applying due to their military service obligation begin their 2-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty. Eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed 6 years from the date on which they completed their degree or certification.

College Transcripts (For Positive Education Required positions and if qualifying based on education and or experience and education.), if applicable.

Please note your resume must thoroughly support your qualifications for this position.  Your resume is an integral part of the process for determining if you meet the basic qualifications of the position and determining if you are to be among the best qualified.

Preference eligible veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree due to military service obligation may apply up to six years after degree or certification.

This is a Recent Graduates position in the Pathways Program. This program provides an entry-level developmental experience with the potential to lead to a career in the Federal Government after successfully completing the Program. Upon completion of the developmental program, Recent Graduate appointees may be non-competitively converted to a term or permanent position without further competition.

ALL CURRENT/FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND CURRENT FCC EMPLOYEES MUST provide a legible Personnel Action, SF-50, that verifies your status and highest permanently held grade.  If an SF-50 is not submitted, the application will be rated as ineligible.

CURRENT FCC EMPLOYEES-To request a copy of your SF-50 please send an email to PersonnelRecordsRequest@fcc.gov

More information about the Recent Graduates Program can be found here: http://www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.  Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.  

In order to be deemed as qualified, candidates must meet the BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS as outlined in SUBPART A below in addition to the REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS CRITERIA outlined in SUBPART B.

Specialized experience is experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.  

Candidates who apply for this position MUST upload a copy of their transcripts to verify that educational qualification requirements are met.  If transcripts are not submitted, YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE RATED AS INELIGIBLE.

SUBPART A-BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

All applicants must meet the basic requirements described in the individual occupational requirements to fully qualify for the specified entry grade GS-5 click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order to receive credit towards qualifications.  Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website:  http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html

All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.  If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.

Students who have graduated from an accredited college must submit unofficial or official transcripts at the time of application.  The transcript must demonstrate the date that the degree was conferred.  You must have graduated by December of 2024 to be eligible for selection.

AND

SUBPART B-REQUIRED QUALIFICATION CRITERIA

GS-5

To be deemed as qualified candidates must meet the basic educational requirements per the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf

GS-7

To be deemed as qualified you must meet one of the following (A, B or C) in addition to meeting the specialized experience requirements as outlined below:


A. One full academic year of graduate education in an appropriate field. An academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered an academic year of graduate study. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.

OR

B. Completion of all requirements for a bachelor's degree that is fully qualifying for the position which meets the eligibility requirements under the Superior Academic Achievement provision. Superior Academic Achievement is based on: (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. 1. Class Standing: A standing in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision based on completed courses. 2. Grade-point average: a. A grade-point average of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on four years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum; b. a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field of study or the required courses in the major field completed during the final two years of the curriculum. 3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society (other than freshman societies) that meet the requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies.

OR

C. Specialized Experience

In order to be deemed as qualified, candidates must demonstrate one year of specialized experience which is equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in the Federal service.  Specialized experience is defined as experience:

1. Assisting more experienced engineers
2. Conducting and analyzing basic engineering studies; and
3. Performing computer based projects using various software applications.

GS-9

To be deemed as qualified you must also meet one of the following (A or B) in addition to meeting the specialized experience requirements as outlined below.
A. 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree

OR

B. Specialized Experience

In order to be deemed as qualified, candidates must demonstrate one year of specialized experience which is equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service.  Specialized experience is defined as experience:

1. Assisting more experienced engineers
2. Conducting, analyzing and writing basic engineering studies; and
3. Performing computer based projects using various software applications.

GS-11

To be deemed as qualified you must also meet one of the following (A or B) in addition to meeting the specialized experience requirements as outlined below.

A. 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

OR

B. Specialized Experience

In order to be deemed as qualified, candidates must demonstrate one year of specialized experience which is equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service.  Specialized experience is defined as experience:

1. Assisting more experienced engineers
2. Independently conducting, analyzing and writing basic engineering studies; and
3. Performing computer based projects using various software applications.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

You will be evaluated for this position on the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  • Knowledge of specific fields of Electronics Engineering
  • Ability to conduct, analyze and/or write engineering studies

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: 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). 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.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: To receive credit for education outside the U.S., you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs.

Education

Refer to "Qualifications" section of the announcement.

Additional information

Pathways Program - U.S. CITIZEN OR NON-U.S.CITIZEN EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS:
There is no U. S. citizenship requirement to participate in the Pathways Programs. HOWEVER, U. S. citizenship is a requirement for conversion to the competitive service via a term or permanent appointment.
**Non-U.S. citizens may apply to the Pathways Internship Program as current students or recent graduates and be employed; however, the student must have been lawfully admitted into the United States as a permanent resident or otherwise authorized to be employed in the Pathways Internship Program.
NOTE: A non-citizen student may not be converted to career-conditional employment in the competitive service unless they are U.S. citizens at the time of conversion. Additionally, applicants must be a U.S. citizen for positions that require security clearances.

EEO Policy Statement

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement

Veterans Information

Legal and Regulatory Guidance

Other:
-  Before hiring, an agency will ask you to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.  The agency will also ask you to sign and certify the accuracy of all the information in your application.  If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be fined or jailed. If you are a male over age 18 who was born after December 31, 1959, you must have registered with the Selective Service System (or have an exemption) to be eligible for a Federal job.

-  If applicable, you will be required to serve a trial period of one year.

-  In order for you to be employed at the FCC, there are certain Commission and Federal laws governing the financial interests of you and members of your immediate family. If selected for the position, you must submit a financial disclosure statement upon assuming the position.

*NOTE-This position is in the bargaining unit.  The exclusive representative is NTEU Chapter 209.  

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.

The FCC offers a wide range of employee benefits, including:

Health Insurance
Life Insurance
Dental & Vision Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Long-Term Care Insurance
Holidays and Leave
Retirement
Thrift Savings Plan
Transit Benefit
Alternative Work Schedule
Telecommuting

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.

Veterans preference applies.  Preference eligible veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree due to military service obligation may apply up to six years after degree or certification.

This is a Recent Graduate position in the Pathways Program. This program provides an entry-level developmental experience with the potential to lead to a career in the Federal Government after successfully completing the Program. Upon completion of the developmental program, Recent Graduate appointees may be non-competitively converted to a term or permanent position without further competition.

More information about the Recent Graduates Program can be found here: http://www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads.

A selecting official may make a selection from any candidates which are referred provided no preference eligible (veteran) is passed over to select a non-preference eligible (non-veteran) in the same category.

There are several parts to the application process that affect the overall evaluation of your application including:

1.  the core questions
3.  supplemental documentation (e.g., DD-214, SF-50, SF-15, transcripts), if applicable; and
4.  your resume.

Applicants will be rated ineligible, if they do not respond to job specific questions, provide supplemental documents and submit resume.  For more information, please click on Rating Process.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

Your resume must clearly document how you meet the specialized experience in order to meet the minimum qualification requirements for this vacancy. Some positions require supplemental document(s). All required supporting documents MUST be received by midnight U.S. Eastern Time of the closing date of the announcement, as specified in this announcement. If you do not submit a required document (e.g. transcripts, etc.) your application will be considered incomplete and you will not receive further consideration. Additionally, you may not receive the special consideration, e.g. Vet's Preference, for which you may be eligible without the appropriate supporting documentation.

Once you apply to this vacancy you will be prompted by the system to upload the documents. If you are unable to upload the required documentation, contact the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement prior to 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement. 

Electronic Supplemental Documents Required:

1. Current Federal employees, including those eligible for noncompetitive transfer or reassignment, must provide an electronic copy of Personnel Action, SF-50, that verifies your status and highest permanently held grade along with your most recent annual performance appraisal.

ALL CURRENT/FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND CURRENT FCC EMPLOYEES MUST provide a legible Personnel Action, SF-50, that verifies your status and highest permanently held grade.  If an SF-50 is not submitted, the application will be rated as ineligible.

CURRENT FCC EMPLOYEES-To request a copy of your SF-50 please send an email to PersonnelRecordsRequest@fcc.gov

2. Veterans MUST upload and submit a Member 4 DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty" or a "Statement of Active Service". The type of discharge must be annotated. Disabled veterans MUST upload and submit the VA letter and/or Schedule A letter which demonstrates the overall percentage of disability. Any/all documentation verifying or confirming veterans preference or non-competitive eligibility as a veteran must be uploaded and submitted electronically at the time of application. If veterans preference is claimed but the appropriate documentation is not provided to substantiate the veterans preference claim, the veterans status will be adjusted to reflect "non-veteran".

3. College Transcripts (For Positive Education Required positions and if qualifying based on education and or experience and education.), if applicable. For positions which require education as a qualifying factor, transcripts MUST BE SUBMITTED.  If the transcript is not submitted, the application will be rated as ineligible.

4. Required Documentation for CTAP and ICTAP eligibles:

1. An SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, or other official documentation, which shows that you were declared displaced or surplus while serving as a career or career conditional competitive service employee, in tenure group 1 or 2, OR are a current or former Executive Branch agency employee in the excepted service serving on an appointment without time limit, at grade levels GS-15 or equivalent and below, and who has been conferred noncompetitive appointment eligibility and special selection priority by statute for positions in the competitive service.

2. An SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, or other official documentation which shows the position you may be or are being separated from has the same or higher promotion potential as that of the vacancy.

3. CTAP eligibles:

  • A copy of your Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice; a notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function outside the local commuting area
  • A Certificate of Expected Separation
  • Your agency's certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice)

4. ICTAP eligibles:

  • A copy of your RIF separation notice; a notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function outside the local commuting area
  • An OPM notice that your disability annuity has been (or will be) terminated
  • Certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury or Certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for a disability retirement and will receive the special OPM annuity.
  • A copy of a current (or last) performance rating of record of at least fully successful or equivalent (not required if you are an ICTAP eligible due to compensable injury or disability retirement).

For more information on CTAP and ICTAP download a copy of The Employee's Guide to Career Transition at http://archive.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.pdf

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 to this announcement go to the website: https://fcc.usajobs.gov/

Your application, including resume, all supplemental documents, registration information and answers to job specific questions must be received no later than midnight U.S. Eastern time of the closing date. For more information on applying federal jobs, please check this webpage https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Main_Page.

If applying online poses a hardship, you may contact either the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement or you may contact the Monster Government Solutions help desk (prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement) via e-mail at mgshelp@monster.com or you may reach them directly at 866-656-6831. The Monster Help Desk is available Monday-Friday 7:00 am to 7:00 pm EST.

Qualified applicants may be further reviewed and rated by Subject Matter Experts to determine the validity of on-line questions.

The Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) are programs designed to afford selection priority to well-qualified Federal employees who meet the definition of a “surplus” or “displaced” employee.

To be eligible for consideration under CTAP you must meet all of the following criteria:

1) Be a current FCC employee who has received an official notice stating that your position is no longer needed, or that you will be separated by reduction in force (RIF);

2) Have a current performance rating of at least "fully successful" or equivalent as substantiated by the submitted/uploaded performance appraisal.  This must be submitted with your application package;

3) Occupy a position in the same local commuting area of the vacancy;

4) Apply for a specific vacancy at or below your current grade level with no greater promotion potential than your current position;

5) Meet the application deadline in the announcement; and

6) Be deemed as "qualified" by meeting all of the required qualification criteria.

To be eligible for consideration under ICTAP, you must be a displaced Federal employee and have a current duty station within the local commuting area of this vacancy.  You must submit a copy of the appropriate documentation such as a RIF separation notice, a letter from OPM or your agency documenting your priority consideration status with your application package. The following categories of candidates are considered displaced Employees:

Current or former career or career-conditional (tenure group I or II) competitive service employees who:

  1. Received a specific RIF separation notice; or
  2. Separated because of a compensable injury, whose compensation has been terminated, and whose former agency certifies that it is unable to place; or
  3. Retired with a disability and whose disability annuity has been or is being terminated; or
  4. Upon receipt of a RIF separation notice retired on the effective date of the RIF and submits a Standard Form 50 that indicates "Retirement in lieu of RIF", or
  5. Retired under the discontinued service retirement option, or
  6. Separated because he/she declined a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area.

The additional following types of candidates are considered displaced Employees:

Military/National Guard Technician--you were a Military Reserve or National Guard Technician and now receive a special OPM disability retirement annuity.

To be eligible for consideration under ICTAP you must:

1) Have a current performance rating of at least "fully successful" or equivalent;

2) Occupy (or have been separated from) a position in the same local commuting area of the vacancy;

3) Apply for a specific vacancy at or below the grade level you are being (or have been) separated from that does not have greater promotion potential than your last position;

4) Meet the application deadline; and

5) Be deemed as "qualified" by meeting all of the required qualification criteria.

To apply to this announcement go to the website: https://fcc.usajobs.gov

NOTE: To be considered for an announced vacancy in the area of consideration within which the employee is eligible to compete, the employee must apply online using the Commission’s automated recruitment system. Employees must submit all necessary application materials identified in the announcement by the specified closing date.

Agency contact information

Kristin Young
Address
Federal Communications Commission
45 L Street NE
Washington, District of Columbia 20554
United States
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications to determine your ranking.  The best-qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview.  You will be notified of the outcome.


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


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