Summary This position is an Electronics Engineer in the Experimental Licensing Branch within the Electromagnetic Compatibility Division (Division) of the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET or Office) at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington, DC.
RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE PAID.
THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS.
Duties The incumbent serves as one of the Commission's principal engineering authorities on the most technically complex, novel, sensitive, controversial, and precedent-setting matters involving experimental radio operations. Assignments involve emerging technologies and proposed spectrum uses for which established engineering standards, technical precedents, propagation methodologies, interference criteria, or regulatory approaches may be incomplete, inapplicable, or nonexistent.
The incumbent provides authoritative engineering advice to OET management, other FCC bureaus and offices, Commissioners and their staffs, other Federal agencies, industry representatives, engineers, attorneys, research institutions, equipment manufacturers, technology developers, and other stakeholders concerning experimental spectrum use and advanced communications technologies.
The incumbent independently evaluates highly complex and unprecedented engineering issues, develops new analytical approaches and technical criteria, resolves significant spectrum compatibility and interference matters, and provides engineering recommendations that may establish Commission approaches or influence the development of future technical policies, rules, spectrum-management practices, and communications technologies. The incumbent serves as a senior technical authority and expert consultant to OET and the Commission on electronics engineering, radio frequency spectrum management, electromagnetic compatibility, propagation analysis, communications systems, interference analysis, and the experimental use of the radio spectrum.
Provides authoritative engineering advice concerning novel, unconventional, exceptionally complex, sensitive, or precedent-setting experimental radio operations. Assignments frequently involve emerging or developmental technologies for which established technical standards, engineering precedents, propagation models, interference criteria, or regulatory practices do not adequately address the proposed operation.
Qualifications
Interested candidates should be passionate about the ideals of our American republic, committed to upholding the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution, and committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government. Hiring decisions will not be based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.
Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Current Federal employees asking to be considered under Merit Promotion procedures must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Candidates must meet all of the following qualification criteria in order to be deemed as qualified:
A. Education B. Specialized Experience C. Competencies
A. Education
Candidates must meet the following OPM basic requirements: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/electronics-engineering-series-0855/.pdf
Transcripts must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. If transcripts are not submitted the application will be rated as ineligible.
AND
B. Specialized Experience
GS-14
For this position, applicants must have a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service performing the following tasks:
- Independently analyzes the engineering feasibility and spectrum compatibility of proposed operations involving advanced or emerging radio technologies.
- Evaluates proposals involving emerging technologies such as advanced wireless systems, dynamic and adaptive spectrum-access technologies, next-generation communications systems, advanced antenna technologies, high-density wireless networks, experimental satellite and terrestrial systems, autonomous or remotely controlled communications platforms, innovative broadband technologies, sensing and communications systems or other evolving technologies that may significantly affect spectrum use.
AND
GS-14 COMPETENCIES
- Knowledge of matters concerning radio frequency spectrum, and other telecommunications systems to provide technical assistance to the Commission, other government agencies, private sector engineers and attorneys, and the general public.
- Mastery knowledge of the concepts, principles and practices of electronics engineering which includes in-depth knowledge on the propagation models and spectrum management techniques as it relates to telecommunications.
- Expert knowledge to act as technical authority with the ability to resolve unique and controversial problems related to the telecommunications industry and service issues related to the licensing of novel, unconventional or complex uses of radio spectrum.
- Knowledge of the use of spectrum allocated to U.S. Federal government agencies to oversee the activities of applications and issuing licenses in the experimental radio service in part 5 of the Rules.
SME REVIEW
Subject matter experts will be conducting a competency based, scored structured resume review and will be reviewing resumes to determine if candidates meet the required specialized experience criteria in addition to the required competencies to determine which candidates are eligible to be referred for selection to the selecting official. Candidates must meet the required specialized experience criteria in addition to required competencies and receive a score of 80 or higher on the scored competency based resume review to be eligible for referral to the selecting official. Education If applicable, see "Qualifications".
Requirements
See "Qualifications". How you will be evaluated
Optional Four Essay Questions
At the time of application, applicants have the option of answering the following four short, free-response essay questions.
- How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
- In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
- In this role, you will be expected to professionally and efficiently implement executive direction. Provide an example where you implemented leadership direction on a strategy or policy decision that differed from your own recommendation.
- How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.
Applicants will be required to certify that they are using their own words, and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]). The responses to each question cannot exceed 200 words per question.
DEU
The FCC determines the BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES based on the major job related competencies and evaluation of your knowledge, skills, and abilities reflected in your application and supporting documents using the CATEGORY RATING PROCESS. Time in grade restrictions do not apply to DEU hiring procedures.
All eligible applicants under Delegated Examining (DEU) will be placed in one of the following three categories:
- Highly Qualified (Score 80-100) - the applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a superior level of major job related competencies and possession of all specialized experience criteria.
- Fully Qualified (Score 75-79) - the applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a satisfactory level of major job related competencies and possession of all specialized experience criteria.
- Minimally Qualified (Score of 70-74)- the applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a minimum level of major job related competencies and possession of all specialized experience criteria.; and
Application of Veterans Preference: The category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. As this is a professional position above the GS-9 grade level, 10% or more disabled veterans float to the top of their respective category, they do not float to the top of the Highly Qualified category unless they receive a score of 80 or above.
Merit Promotion
If you ask to be considered under Merit Promotion, you will be considered in accordance with the agency's merit promotion plan and union agreement. Time in grade restrictions apply. Under Merit Promotion procedures, applicants must meet the qualifications criteria and receive a score of 80 or above in order to be deemed as Best Qualified. Candidates who ask to be considered non-competitively have to receive a score of 70 or above.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Benefits
The FCC offers a wide range of employee benefits, including:
Health Insurance Life Insurance Dental & Vision Insurance Flexible Spending Accounts Long-Term Care Insurance Holidays and Leave Retirement Thrift Savings Plan Transit Benefit Alternative Work Schedule Telecommuting How to apply To apply to this announcement go to the website: https://www.usajobs.gov/Search/Results?a=FC00&k=Federal%20Communications%20Commission
Your application, including resume, all supplemental documents, registration information and answers to job specific questions must be received no later than midnight U.S. Eastern time of the closing date. For more information on applying federal jobs, please check this webpage https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/process
As outlined in the "Required Documents Details" section of the announcement, resumes must meet be no longer than two pages in length and must meet the resume formatting requirements. If applying online poses a hardship, you may contact either the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement or you may contact the Apply Government Solutions help desk (prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement) via e-mail at fedhirehelp@applygovernment.com or you may reach them directly at 866-656-6831. The Apply Government Sollutions Help Desk is available Monday-Friday 7:00 am to 7:00 pm EST. NOTE: To be considered for an announced vacancy in the area of consideration within which the employee is eligible to compete, the employee must apply online using the Commission’s automated recruitment system. Employees must submit all necessary application materials identified in the announcement by the specified closing date.
If applying as an ICTAP or CTAP candidate...
The Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) are programs designed to afford selection priority to well-qualified Federal employees who meet the definition of a “surplus” or “displaced” employee.
To be eligible for consideration under CTAP you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be a current FCC employee who has received an official notice stating that your position is no longer needed, or that you will be separated by reduction in force (RIF);
- Have a current performance rating of at least "fully successful" or equivalent as substantiated by the submitted/uploaded performance appraisal. This must be submitted with your application package;
- Occupy a position in the same local commuting area of the vacancy;
- Apply for a specific vacancy at or below your current grade level with no greater promotion potential than your current position;
- Meet the application deadline in the announcement; and
- Be deemed as "qualified" by meeting all of the required qualification criteria.
To be eligible for consideration under ICTAP, you must be a displaced Federal employee and have a current duty station within the local commuting area of this vacancy. You must submit a copy of the appropriate documentation such as a RIF separation notice, a letter from OPM or your agency documenting your priority consideration status with your application package. The following categories of candidates are considered displaced Employees:
Current or former career or career-conditional (tenure group I or II) competitive service employees who:
- Received a specific RIF separation notice; or
- Separated because of a compensable injury, whose compensation has been terminated, and whose former agency certifies that it is unable to place; or
- Retired with a disability and whose disability annuity has been or is being terminated; or
- Upon receipt of a RIF separation notice retired on the effective date of the RIF and submits a Standard Form 50 that indicates "Retirement in lieu of RIF", or
- Retired under the discontinued service retirement option, or
- Separated because he/she declined a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area.
The additional following types of candidates are considered displaced Employees:
Military/National Guard Technician--you were a Military Reserve or National Guard Technician and now receive a special OPM disability retirement annuity.
To be eligible for consideration under ICTAP you must:
- Have a current performance rating of at least "fully successful" or equivalent;
- Occupy (or have been separated from) a position in the same local commuting area of the vacancy;
- Apply for a specific vacancy at or below the grade level you are being (or have been) separated from that does not have greater promotion potential than your last position;
- Meet the application deadline; and
- Be deemed as "qualified" by meeting all of the required qualification criteria.
Other information EEO Policy Statement
Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement
Veterans Information
Legal and Regulatory Guidance
Other:
- Before hiring, an agency will ask you to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. The agency will also ask you to sign and certify the accuracy of all the information in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be fined or jailed. If you are a male over age 18 who was born after December 31, 1959, you must have registered with the Selective Service System (or have an exemption) to be eligible for a Federal job.
- If applicable, you will be required to serve a trial period of one year.
- In order for you to be employed at the FCC, there are certain Commission and Federal laws governing the financial interests of you and members of your immediate family. If selected for the position, you must submit a financial disclosure statement upon assuming the position.
In compliance with the OPM Merit Hiring Plan requirements, please be advised that candidates will not be evaluated, selected or hired based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.