Environmental Engineer

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all specialized experience and/or time in grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement, 11/18/2026. This position has a basic education requirement that must be meet to be considered: Basic Requirements: A. 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 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: 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.) Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If your most recent non-award SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement.

In this instance, you must provide an additional non-award SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade. Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Must have the ability to type at least 40 words per minute. Must possess and maintain a REAL ID compliant valid state driver's license.

You may qualify based on your experience, as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-13 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:performing environmental engineering work involving environmental compliance and regulatory review; administering or overseeing NEPA compliance programs; reviewing environmental assessments and impact statements; developing environmental policies, procedures, and technical requirements; advising management on environmental regulations and compliance issues; and coordinating environmental requirements associated with construction, infrastructure, land management, or similar projects.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: General Engineering Technical Competence Project Management Architecture Communication Planning and Evaluating Influencing/Negotiating 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

01Physical Requirements

Work is generally performed in an office environment. However, Field work will require physical exertion such as extended periods of standing, walking over rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces; recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, climbing ladders, reaching, or similar activities. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

As an Environmental Engineer, you will serve as the agency's senior environmental compliance expert, providing technical leadership and guidance for construction, expansion, and land development projects that support the Department of Veterans Affairs' mission. You will work with leadership, project teams, and regulatory partners to ensure projects comply with environmental laws and regulations while protecting natural and cultural resources.

Major duties include: Leading the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of environmental engineering programs, policies, and procedures that support nationwide construction, infrastructure, and land development projects.

Serving as the technical authority on environmental compliance and providing expert guidance on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and related environmental regulations.

Reviewing and evaluating Environmental Assessments (EAs), Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), historic preservation documentation, and other environmental compliance documents to ensure regulatory requirements are met. Conducting complex environmental analyses and assessments to identify potential environmental impacts, evaluate compliance risks, and develop effective mitigation strategies and solutions.

Developing environmental requirements, scopes of work, technical specifications, guidance documents, and program standards that support project planning, design, and construction activities. Monitoring and evaluating environmental programs and projects to identify compliance issues, recommend corrective actions, and promote effective environmental stewardship.

Advising senior leaders, project managers, engineers, and other stakeholders on environmental regulations, compliance obligations, project impacts, and risk management strategies. Coordinating with Federal, state, tribal, and local agencies; regulatory officials; and historic preservation partners to support environmental reviews, consultations, and project approvals.

Leading environmental compliance efforts for complex construction, facility development, infrastructure, and land-use projects involving multiple stakeholders and competing regulatory requirements. Developing and delivering training, briefings, and technical assistance on environmental compliance, historic preservation, and related program requirements.

Representing the organization in meetings, audits, inspections, working groups, and engagements with oversight agencies and external stakeholders on environmental program matters. Work schedule: Required to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm; or after-hours when necessary to meet the needs of the agency. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available Telework: Ad-hoc, Position Description Title/PD#: Environmental Engineer/PD1745192.

The full performance level of this position is GS - 14 Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required If interested in applying for this position you ay preview the online application: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13109900