Calibration Specialist

Being Age 55 or Older is Good for The Environment The Senior Environmental Employment (SEE) Program offers unique opportunities in Scientific, Technical, and Administrative / Office support for individuals age 55 and over to support the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through a grant administered program through National Experienced Workforce Solutions (NEW Solutions). This is a unique program where your talents, expertise and experience will truly be valued. You'll be working side-by-side with EPA staff that are doing important work every day. Pay rate: $22.21/hr. Benefits: Paid Health Insurance Premium when working over 60 hours in 2 week pay period, Paid Accrued Vacation, Paid Accrued Sick Time, 11 Paid Federal Holidays Plus One Individual Holiday, and optional Vision and Dental Insurance available. This position requires a background security check including 7 year questionnaire, fingerprinting and identification verification prior to start. Please note that due to EPA Policy, this opportunity only applies to United States Citizens.

Minimum of 10 year(s) of experience in calibration and maintenance of electronic instrumentation or other related on-the-job experience_ OR BA/BS Degree in Math, Engineering or Science -related field OR Previously completed training in Fundamentals of Radioactivity or Health Physics

• Experience with instrumentation, electronics and radiation measuring instruments_
• Experience required with Windows, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS SharePoint, MS Teams, MS Outlook, MS OneDrive, Fax, Copying Machine, Scanner
• MS Office 365 ( Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams, Outlook, OneDrive)

Provide independent, high-level technical expertise and consultation to Radiological Emergency Response Team staff and the Field Instrument Program Manager at the National Center for Radiation Field Operations (NCRFO) in Las Vegas. Support the Instrument Manager in maintaining NCRFO?s field radiation instrumentation including evaluation, calibration and repair of radiation survey and monitoring instruments; repair, maintain and track emergency response equipment; conduct inventory of equipment; maintain records on calibration, quality control checks, shipping, maintenance and calibration parameters of instruments. Advise the instrument program lead on field instrumentation, field monitoring and survey techniques, and equipment types. Tasks identified within this PD are generally not portable and enrollee will be expected to report to the office to perform required tasks as directed by their monitor up to 5 days per week.

• Perform specialized radiation survey instrument repair, maintenance & calibration. Follow appropriate guidelines & procedures of the Quality Program to ascertain that calibrations are performed correctly. Perform Quality Control checks on instrumentation as required to assess and evaluate instrument performance and maintain related QA documents associated with tracking instrument performance and reliability. Perform troubleshooting on instrument calibration and QC check issues, which includes presenting collected data, developing strategies, and proposing solutions. Propose, advise, and provide ongoing assistance to the Instrument Manager with developing strategies for QC check protocols when new scenarios arise. Evaluate any instrument damage. Research, recommend, and perform in-house repairs when feasible. These activities require a high level of independent judgement, extensive analytical work, data assessment and calculations (including algebra for decay corrections, unit conversions, and percent error), and in-depth technical knowledge.   40%
• Serves as an expert level technical advisor to NCRFO staff on calibration and maintenance of electronic instrumentation. Advise and assist instrument program leads in research, develop strategies, design, propose, and construct new and custom instrumentation to enhance NCRFO?s field radiation monitoring and scanning systems programs. Train NCRFO personnel in the design, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of these customized systems, and provide ongoing cross-program technical advice and recommendations for the development/testing/ evaluation of NCRFOs field monitoring and scanning systems and to integrate with other Agency emergency response or regional support efforts. These activities require a high level of technical expertise, independent work, and professional judgement.   20%
• Maintain records and instrument tracking databases with current information regarding the status of the radiation instrument inventory. Assist staff with categorizing and transferring EPA equipment data into web-based tracking and management systems as needed to support RERT and Regional emergency response needs. Maintain records of calibration and maintenance or repair frequency. Propose improvements to existing tracking systems as appropriate. Track calibration requirements and verify all equipment has been sent or received, as applicable. Maintain instrument calibration documents and QC check data. Check in and track instruments received back from calibration and other use. These activities require a high level of independent judgement and depth of technical knowledge.   20%
• Assist with shipping and storage of radiation equipment and provide response support for critical project planning and logistics activities (e.g., emergency response and routine sitework deployments). Prepare and ship radiation instruments for shipping to vendors, regions, and incidents. Follow proper handling, packaging, containerizing, marking, labeling & documentation as required & in accordance w/federal regulations. These activities require a great deal of independent work and judgement.   15%
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director, Deputy Director, Center Director, Monitor or Alternate Monitor   5%

• Radiation, Environmental, Health and Safety Training
• Forklift, Equipment-Specific Training
• Travel Requirements: Traveling with EPA staff to work sites away from NCRFO
• Overnight travel: 1-2 Weeks per year
• Air travel anticipated: 1-2 Weeks per year
• Health Safety Training: Enrollee must receive NRC-approved training, "Basic Radiation Worker Training." Individual must also receive training from National Center for Radiation Field Operations (NCRFO) staff on instrument operation, QC checks, maintenance procedures; and quality system documents and procedures
• Health and Safety Considerations: Enrollee will receive this required training prior to related work assignment and participation
• Lifting less than 50lbs, such as moving cases of instruments in preparation for deployment, testing, storage, and or shipping. Possible exposure to hot/cold weather. Physical activities could include conducting maintenance at/near rotating and operating equipment. Potential exposure to radiation sources
• Potential exposure to radiation sources
• Required Safety Gear: Coveralls, gloves, hard hat, steel-toed shoes and safety goggles/glasses as needed
• Safety Gear Use: When lifting and moving radiation instrument cases. When performing minor equipment repair and calibration

NEW Solutions is committed to promoting equal opportunity and to an environment free from discrimination and harassment in any form administering Experienced Worker Programs under cooperative agreements with federal agencies. It is NEW Solutions' policy to comply with all applicable laws that provide equal opportunity and to prohibit unlawful discrimination in enrolling participants in the federal programs.