Telecommunications Specialist

Summary This position is located in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Operational Support Division, Aviation Division. This position(s) serves as the technical expert in the areas of covert surveillance, tracking, and interception to assist Special Agents, personnel internal or external to the agency, and across the DEA world-wide with investigative operations by researching, modernizing, testing, evaluating and integrating the use of electronic communications aerial surveillance equipment. Responsibilities As a Telecommunications Specialist (Aviation), your typical work assignments may include: Participating in sensitive covert activities requiring the installation and recovery of electronic devices. Tracking and intercepting airborne surveillance to assist personnel with investigative operations by integrating the use of electronic communications equipment. Designing and modifying large and diverse inventory of highly specialized state-of-the-art electronics used in surveillance and information gathering activities to support criminal investigations and prosecutions. Participating in maintenance of covert and concealed surveillance equipment. Analyzing networks, including radio frequency-based (e.g., cellular, radio, Wi-Fi) and internet protocol-based, to determine the best technological approach (i.e. electronic surveillance, communication, and interception) to use in support of an investigative operations. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all of the required qualification requirements described below by the closing of this announcement. If you are qualifying based on education or if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application. Basic Qualification Requirements: Education: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: 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 to be filled. Other Education: Communications/electronics or automatic data processing training in technical institutes or business schools above the high school level or in Armed Forces schools that included advanced instruction in addition to basic courses, may be substituted for general experience on a month-for-month basis. OR Specialized Experience: Experience in evaluating, analyzing, developing, managing, or improving communications systems, procedures, and requirements that demonstrated knowledge of current developments and trends in communications concepts and technology. AND Applicants applying for the GS-12 must meet one of the following requirements: A. Have at least one full year of qualifying specialized experience that is at least equivalent in difficulty and complexity to work performed at the GS-11 grade level. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: 1) Using and applying sensitive state-of-the art airborne telecommunications equipment, applications, and computer systems that are used to track, monitor, and intercept radio and digital data signals for active airborne surveillance and data and information gathering activities; 2) Advising on the proper use of highly sophisticated airborne telecommunications equipment and devices for use in active agency operations; 3) Configuring, installing, maintaining, operating and repairing airborne telecommunications equipment; 4) Assisting in the planning and coordinating technical operations requiring covert tactics and strategies to maintain anonymity during criminal investigations; 5) Evaluating new or prototype telecommunication systems, computer applications, or other technologies before utilizing them into agency operations and 6) Monitoring or operating airborne surveillance systems to include operating radio communications and telecommunications intercept equipment. Applicants applying for the GS-13 must meet one of the following requirements: A. Have at least one full year of qualifying specialized experience that is at least equivalent in difficulty and complexity to work performed at the GS-12 grade level. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: 1) Using and applying sensitive state-of-the art airborne telecommunications equipment, applications, and computer systems that are used to track, monitor, and intercept radio and digital data signals for active airborne surveillance and data and information gathering activities; 2) Advising on the proper use of highly sophisticated airborne telecommunications equipment and devices for use in active agency operations; 3) Configuring, installing, maintaining, operating and repairing airborne telecommunications equipment; 4) Planning and coordinating technical operations requiring covert tactics and strategies to maintain anonymity during criminal investigations; 5) Evaluating new or prototype telecommunication systems, computer applications, or other technologies before utilizing them into agency operations; 6) Monitoring or operating complex airborne surveillance systems to include operating radio communications and telecommunications intercept equipment. Specialized 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. Additional information on the position qualification requirements are located in the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Qualifications Standards Handbook. Education See the qualification section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials, visit: www.naces.org/members.php. If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Additional Information For reasonable accommodation at the Drug Enforcement Administration, please contact the Human Resources office listed in this announcement. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to similar positions in any Division/Office listed in this announcement. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions. Recruitment and/or Relocation Incentives may be considered and approved under conditions specified provided the agency has determined that the position is likely to be difficult to fill in the absence of an incentive and funding for such an incentive is available.