Duties
Incumbent installs, tests, maintains, and services a wide variety of highly complex radio telecommunications electronic equipment, systems, components, and devices. This includes a wide variety of technologies, with a focus on Land-Mobile-Radio (LMR) systems and Radio-over-IP (RolP) systems. Typical LMR systems include conventional narrowband analog, P25 conventional FDMA and P25 TDMA, mobile and hand-held radios, stand-alone base radios and repeaters, and complex simulcast repeater systems connected via IP based network, MF, HF, VHF, UHF, 700/800 MHz radio systems or equipment, IP based dispatch consoles or digital microwave transceiver systems. Knowledge of backup power systems, local area network (LAN) infrastructure, wide area network (WAN) infrastructure, computers, peripherals, in-band and cross-band repeaters, antenna systems, and physical infrastructure, such as equipment shelters and radio towers. The incumbent routinely uses varied and complex test equipment and testing methodologies to calibrate, align, and adjust equipment and systems to meet prescribed standards and tolerances. Includes installation and maintenance of lightning protection, surge suppression, grounding, environmental controls, alarm and remote monitoring solutions, and back-up power systems. Recommends suitable locations for radio system components and equipment.
Incumbent monitors evaluates and records equipment and system performances and implement maintenance strategies and overall planning efforts as directed by the regional radio program manager. Executes a scheduled preventative maintenance program on radio systems and makes timely replacements and/or repairs needed to minimize outages. Keeps abreast of developments in radio telecommunications technologies and implements improved methods and techniques in the design, modification, operation, and maintenance of telecommunications systems. The work involves routine travel from assigned duty station upwards of 14 days a month or more. Use of tools, power equipment and climbing of radio towers or structures. Prepares technical reports, trip reports, cost estimates, fact sheets, and status reports, as necessary. Provides training and assistance to park radio coordinators.
Work requires some physical exertion, mostly during field surveys and service calls to remote sites. Physical labor typically includes walking and hiking while carrying medium to light loads. More strenuous activities such as off-trail hiking, portaging, shoveling, digging, and carrying of heavy loads over a short distance may occasionally be required. Service to remote sites may occasionally require carrying heavy loads of up to 60 pounds or more across uneven terrain.
Physical Demands: The work requires some physical exertion, mostly during field surveys and service calls to remote sites. Physical labor typically includes walking and hiking while carrying medium to light loads. More strenuous activities such as off-trail hiking, portaging, shoveling, digging, and carrying of heavy loads over a short distance may occasionally be required. Service to remote sites may occasionally require carrying heavy loads of up to 60 pounds across uneven terrain.
Working Conditions: While most work will take place within climate-controlled facilities, the position involves field work, which is subject to a wide variety of environments, ranging from mild to dangerous. Outdoor field station environments include a wide range of weather conditions, such as violent storms with lightning, heavy rain, high winds, tornadic activity, and extreme temperatures. Temperatures can range from -20 Deg. F to above 100 Deg. F. Transport to and from remote sites may be via car, ATV, snowmobile, watercraft (ship, boat, or canoe) and aircraft (fixed wing or helicopter). Water transport can encounter high winds and heavy seas (Lake Superior). Ground transportation in winter can encounter freezing rain, hail, or heavy, sustained snowfall and blizzard conditions with sub-zero temperatures. Foot transportation may involve hiking over steep, rocky terrain, or through wet woodland swamps, or through deep-drifted snow. Trails may be paved and improved, or nonexistent. Other work will require working in unimproved attic and basement utility areas and climbing ladders to service rooftop antennas, repeaters, solar panels, and other radio equipment.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship required.
- Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
- Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
- Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required.
- Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
- Any individual who is currently holding, or has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service); with few exceptions as outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal civilian employees applying for reinstatement who have had a break in service of less than one year, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointments. Time-in-grade does not apply to new excepted service appointments. Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
- You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly, you may be required to submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license.
- If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
- Ability to lift 60 pounds.
Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-12/02/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.
For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.
To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: : maintaining radio telecommunication system performance through use of established tools and instructions; installing, management and testing new, standardized radio telecommunications equipment; and monitoring and alerting telecommunication managers regarding deterioration in system performance. Additional experiences evaluating, analyzing, developing, managing, or improving radio communications systems, procedures, and requirements that demonstrated knowledge of current developments and trends in communications concepts and technology, specifically with radio telecommunications technologies. You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least a Ph.D. degree or equivalent Doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. Major study -- electrical or electronic engineering, mathematics, physics, public utilities, statistics, computer science, telecommunications management, information systems management, business administration, industrial management, or other fields related to the position. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.For example, I have six months of the specialized experience described above (50% of the experience requirement), and 45 semester hours or 68 quarter hours of directly related graduate level education in an accredited educational institution (50% of the qualifying education). The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts.
Volunteer 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.
Education
To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
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.
A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.
Candidates who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are highly qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.
Candidates who apply under Noncompetitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link:
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process.
If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments, and required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. You must provide documentation to support your claim for each eligibility selected. Please review the required documentation listed in the eligibilities language to ensure you submit the appropriate information. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation. The application process is as follows:
- Click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12604422
- Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
- If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
- Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
- Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
- Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
- Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.
For more general information, system requirements, reasonable accommodation information, and to request assistance regarding the USA Hire Assessments, review the following resources:
https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=USA_Hire_Assessments.
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 view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this:
https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.
Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.
Next steps
Once the Occupational Questionnaire is received you will receive acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.