General Engineer

Summary The Office is responsible for planning and implementing motor vehicle crash avoidance safety standards, policy and decisions for motor vehicles used on the Nation’s highways. Assignments involve technical engineering programs concerning the analysis of vehicle safety issues, performance evaluation, and the promulgation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). Responsibilities The General Engineer: Provides a focal point for the development of motor vehicle safety performance improvements and promulgation of any resulting Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, regulations and/or guideline dealing with crash avoidance characteristics of motor vehicle lighting, visibility systems, advanced driver assistance systems, vehicle displays and controls, impaired driving, pediatric vehicular heatstroke, keyless ignition systems, hybrid and electric vehicles, braking, brake fluids, brake hoses, antilock brake systems, electronic stability control systems, steering systems, tires, tire pressure monitoring systems, and rims. Prepares and presents NHTSA rulemaking status reports, prepares and presents technical and informational papers and presentations in meetings of other national and international technical societies, industry associations, and other motor vehicle and highway safety organizations. Requires a thorough knowledge of mechanical engineering concepts, principles and practices applicable to mechanical engineering and structural design, strength of materials, dynamics, vibrations, mechanics, mathematical modeling and computer simulation. Serves as the primary manager for assigned program activities including: Defining specific program tasks; scheduling and obtaining commitments from various NHTSA organizational units, including Vehicle Safety Research, Planning Evaluation and Budget, Enforcement, and the Office of Chief Counsel to accomplish tasks; provide data on assigned program budgets in cooperation with responsible NHTSA organizational units and obtaining approval from agency management team regarding program changes. The ideal candidate is self-motivated, has demonstrated knowledge and expertise involving vehicle safety, technical standards, and possesses sound engineering judgement. The ideal candidate has strong analytical and communication skills. The ideal candidate can manage projects and work cooperatively with stakeholders to improve vehicle safety. PLEASE NOTE: This announcement establishes an open continuous (3 month) vacancy announcement. Given our continuing need for top professionals in this field, we will review applications after the first 14 days of the vacancy opening for early consideration. Then after, applications will be reviewed on an as needed basis. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. citizen & meet specialized experience to qualify Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date Required documents must be submitted by the closing date. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service. GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only. PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: The applicant selected is required to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter. REMOTE WORK: This position may be eligible for remote work, which does not require reporting to the agency worksite location on a regular basis. If selected for a remote work location, you will be required to sign a remote work agreement detailing agency remote work policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position. Qualifications To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet the experience qualifications. To qualify for the GS-14, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-13, it must include: Experience applying technical standards to activities associated with motor vehicles, motor vehicle equipment, or the safety of other engineering systems. Experience applying engineering methods and principles to evaluate the safety performance of engineering systems, motor vehicles, or other technical equipment. Experience planning and implementing technical engineering initiatives, including the specification of research activities, assessment of test procedures, or identification of performance requirements to support regulatory initiatives. 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: Demonstrated knowledge of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards with emphasis on 100 series crash avoidance standards and the process to establish safety standards and 100 series crash avoidance standards. Demonstrated quality in communications, including preparing and presenting technical information to wide range of stakeholders. Demonstrated knowledge and experience applying engineering methods and principles to evaluate the safety performance of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment, including advanced crash avoidance technologies and driver assistance systems. Demonstrate d ability to lead the planning and execution of high visibility motor vehicle safety initiatives considering scope, budget, time constraints, and technical quality, including the specification of necessary research activities to support research and rulemaking initiatives. 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. For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: pm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education MANDATORY EDUCATION 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 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)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. 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). (2) Specialized Experience: To determine which grade(s) you are eligible for, review the following grade specific details. You will be asked questions as part of your application but make sure to verify how you meet this experience in your resume or you may be deemed ineligible. (3) Upload the appropriate document(s) to your application for verification purposes. (Refer to 'Required Documents' section for additional guidance). Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of the closing date of this announcement. If selected, the final transcript must be received before your start date. Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Transcripts are required for this position. Additional Information This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. Qualified CTAP/ICTAP candidates receive priority and will be referred to the hiring manager.