MECHANICAL ENGINEER

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions. BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT: 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: 1.

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. 2.

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. 3. 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. 4.

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.) NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-11, or equivalent in other pay systems.

Examples of specialized experience includes professional experience of mechanical engineering concepts, principles, and practices applicable to a broad range of engineering, construction management, life cycle management, etc. and related assignments; Experience of design and construction practices and techniques in establishing design parameters and preparing project justifications and specifications; Experience of drafting techniques and conventions and drafting skills sufficient to convey design concepts and ideas and formulate working drawings.

NOTE: You must submit a copy of your resume with your application. FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks.

NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: 1.

Professional knowledge of mechanical engineering concepts, principles, and practices and familiarity with architectural and other engineering disciplines. 2.

Knowledge of a broad range of engineering and construction standards, methods, practices, and techniques, materials, and equipment to determine compliance with federal, state, and local codes and regulations; of standard contracting regulations, practices, and procedures as it relates to facilities engineering; knowledge of health, safety, and environmental requirements as outlined in applicable standards, regulations, and/or technical orders; of environmental principles, practices, procedures, laws, regulations, and current legislative issues; of work classifications and the regulatory and statutory restrictions on the expenditures of appropriated and non-appropriated funds.

1. Knowledge of automated data processing concepts, systems capabilities, and economic usage to effectively accomplish assigned functions; and knowledge of program planning and budgeting cycles, financial control and budget systems and management. 4.

Knowledge of aesthetic and functional design techniques and skill in preparing project documentation, to include preliminary drawings, sketches, and construction drawings; and technique / skill in drafting sufficient to convey design concepts and ideas and formulate working drawings. 5. Ability to plan, conduct and record site/facilities surveys and inspection; to analyze, interpret, and apply results, rules, regulations, and procedures in a variety of situations and recommend timely and economical solutions. 6.

Ability to plan and organize work and coordinate with other engineering disciplines and architects; and communicate effectively both orally and in writing and maintain good working relationships.

Performs O&M engineering involving design and construction that encompasses the maintenance, repair, upgrade, and operation of infrastructure facilities, including utility systems, utilizing professional knowledge of mechanical engineering. Plans, programs, budgets, and executes required projects in support of assigned programs.

Performs planning and design work for substantial sustainment, modernization, repair, improvement, renovations and construction projects for real property facilities, including utility systems, utilizing a professional knowledge of mechanical engineering.

Manages projects for new construction, renovations, and improvements to real property facilities and maintains surveillance over in-house labor or construction contractors utilizing a professional knowledge of mechanical engineering and knowledge of other engineering disciplines to ensure overall compliance with project requirements. Provides consulting services and project coordination.

Collects data and evaluates factors which affect the application of concepts, principles, theories, and methods required to observe, examine, measure, analyze, map, and describe physical and technical features and phenomena. Complies with health, safety, and environmental rules and procedures and performs work in a manner that enhances the safety of the work environment.