ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN with Security Clearance

Duties * You will use advanced manual and craft skills and design-related engineering tasks required by the instrumentation research and development activities of the U.S. Naval Observatory. * You will fabricate, modify, and test complex equipment used at the Naval Observatory. * You will obtain, provide, and give basic recommendations on manufacturing processes, materials and how each part interrelates with the other components of the system. * You will carry out maintenance of the astronomical instruments located throughout the observatory grounds. * You will create CAD drawings and work from rough sketches and verbal instructions, and must have enough familiarity with the work of the particular department involved as to be able to converse effectively with the scientists or engineers in charge. * You will program the computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines through use of programming tools to create G Code and edit G Code in the CNC controller as required. * You will repair instruments by fabricating replacement parts if not available, aligning and fitting those parts, finishing the surface, and testing the assembly. * You will communicate with astronomers, physicists, or engineers within the agency, outside the work unit, and at various organizational levels necessary to coordinate work efforts and solve technical problems and improve performance goals. Requirements Conditions of Employment * Must be a US Citizen. * Must be determined suitable for federal employment. * Must participate in the direct deposit pay program. * New employees to the Department of the Navy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov * Within the Department of Defense (DoD), the appointment of retired military members within 180 days immediately following retirement date to a civilian position is subject to the provisions of 5 United States Code 3326. * Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. * This is a bargaining unit position. * You will be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final Secret security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal. * You will be required to wear personal protective equipment such as helmets, gloves, coveralls, glasses, goggles, respirators and safety shoes continuously for the duration of the work shift. * This position may require travel from normal duty station to CONUS and OCONUS and may include remote or isolated sites. You must be able to travel on military and commercial aircraft for extended periods of time. * You will be required to obtain and maintain a U.S. Passport. Qualifications Your resume must also demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-09 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: * Experience applying a comprehensive, intensive, practical knowledge of the methods and practices of the engineering discipline to support design, fabrication, and maintenance of new instrumentation and related procedures and techniques for the observatory. * Experience applying a required in-depth knowledge of a broad area of instrumentation, including their design, manufacturing, testing, and operations, which may cross engineering and scientific disciplines. * Experience reading CAD drawings and programs, blueprints and mechanical sketches. * Experience working as an experimental machinist, model maker, tool and die maker or instrument maker for a minimum of six years is required to demonstrate unusual expertise in instrumentation due to the unique nature of the work; working as an instrument maker for a minimum of three years is specifically required. Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Group-Standards IOR: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/engineering-technical-series-0802/ Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (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. Education Basic Requirements for Specialized Experience: Examples of qualifying specialized experience include technical work in: drafting, surveying construction estimating, physical science, mathematics, aerospace, architecture, chemicals, electrical or mechanical systems, mining, petroleum, or nuclear systems. Experience in a trade or craft may be credited as specialized experience when the work provided intensive knowledge of engineering principles, techniques, methods, and precedents. Examples are trade positions with substantial developmental, test, or design responsibilities such as: * Planner and estimator who analyzed designs for production purposes. * Instrument maker or model maker who performed design or development work on devices fabricated. Certification: Engineering technicians may be certified by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies, an organization sponsored by the National Society of Professional Engineers. Certification by the Institute will be helpful as a measure of the technician's quality of experience. Additional information This announcement uses the Certain Personnel of the DoD direct hire authority to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. The work requires physical skills and training, long periods of standing, and some dexterity, agility, strength, or stamina to accomplish tasks, avoid injury, or reduce adverse effects of moderate physical stress or exertions. The work environment regularly requires constant alertness, knowledge of special safety precautions, occupational and procedural training, and protective clothing or gear to prevent, control, eliminate, or reduce the effects of moderate risks, discomforts or adverse environmental conditions such as work where moving parts and machines pose limited and moderate danger. Work in unheated buildings may on occasion be required at temperatures from below freezing to over 100 degrees. On rare occasions, maintenance work on telescopes may involve climbing to the ceiling of telescope buildings. Position may require occasional CONUS travel a few times a year and OCONUS travel no more than once per year. This position is covered by the Department of Defense Priority Placement Program. Several vacancies may be filled. A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments. Federal annuitant information: The selection of an annuitant is subject to the Department of Defense and Department of the Navy policy on the employment of annuitants. Policy information may be found at: http://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhr/Documents/CivilianJobs/FedCivAnnuitants.pdf . Veteran's preference does not apply when selecting individuals under this specific hiring authority. However, if you claim veteran's preference, you will be required to submit supporting documentation with your application as described in the Required Documents section below. * Benefits Help 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 window Learn 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. In order to qualify for this position, your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are being considered. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. As vacancies occur, the Human Resources Office will review your resume to ensure you meet the hiring eligibility and qualification requirements listed in this flyer. You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume, along with your supporting documentation. If selected, you may be required to provide additional supporting documentation. If after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be found ineligible/not qualified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. All qualification requirements must be met before being considered for any vacancies. * Benefits Help 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 window Learn more about federal benefits . Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of po