Summary This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS), Office of Business Operations and Accountability (BOA), Human Capital Management Division (HCMD), Systems Training Unit (STU), with 1 vacancy in Kansas City, MO.Duties
As an Electronics Technician, you will perform the following duties:
- Serve as an Electronics Technician Instructor within the Systems Training Unit for specialized advanced technical courses covering National Weather Service (NWS) electronic, meteorological, and telecommunications systems. Deliver instruction through a combination of traditional classroom lectures, hands-on laboratory exercises, distance learning, webinars, and self-paced e-learning platforms. Teach complex concepts related to high-power Radio Frequency (RF) and radar transmitters, receiver signal processing, digital signal processors, Linux and Unix-based server hardware, meteorological sensor suites, and network routing equipment. Instruct students in safety protocols, including high-voltage safety, RF hazard mitigation, and electro-static discharge (ESD) procedures. Evaluate student progress through practical bench tests, written exams, and field-simulated fault troubleshooting performance tests and provide objective performance feedback and remedial coaching.
- Research, design, update, and maintain instructional materials, course syllabi, lab guides, training manuals, and interactive training aids. Analyze system engineering modifications, software upgrades, and field retrofit notifications to update instructional content in alignment with current NWS operational baselines. Coordinate with NWS systems engineers and original equipment manufacturers to translate technical engineering documentation into standardized instructional modules. Employ Instructional System Design principles to ensure training addresses identified field skill gaps and meets operational readiness objectives.
- Configure, calibrate, maintain, and repair specialized electronic equipment, test beds, system simulators, and benchtop mockups used in instructional laboratories. Inject hardware, software, and system faults into simulator platforms to test and refine student troubleshooting capabilities under controlled conditions. Evaluate and integrate advanced electronic test equipment (e.g., spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, signal generators, power meters) into laboratory exercises.
- Act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for NWS systems, offering high-level technical assistance and support for complex systems. Participate in agency workgroups, system test teams, and field implementation teams evaluating next-generation observational technologies.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- The work requires a combination of stationary classroom instruction and active physical effort in laboratory settings.
- Requires standing for long periods, bending, crouching, lifting test equipment weighing up to 40-50lbs, and climbing ladders or training structures to access elevated equipment assemblies.
Qualifications
Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/
EDUCATION: There is no positive education requirement for this position.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.
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.
To qualify at the GS-12 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:
- Installing, operating, and maintaining a wide range of electronic, electro-mechanical, data acquisition, communications equipment or related computer systems; and
- Instructing team members and peers on the setup, operation, and maintenance of electronic, electro-mechanical, data acquisition, or communications equipment or related computer systems.
Education Substitution of education for specialized experience is not applicable to this vacancy.
Requirements
Key Requirements:
- Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
- Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
- More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Additional Information.
- Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
- Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
- If you are a Federal employee applying for a promotion (under merit promotion procedures) you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
Additional Considerations:
- One year probationary period may be required.
- Payment of relocation expenses (PCS) is not authorized.
- This position requires Moderate Risk Security Clearance.
- Background investigation will be required. Continued employment is subject to applicant's successful completion of security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, for those required to serve a 1-year probationary period, we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- Your performance and conduct;
- Needs and interests of the agency;
- Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of then Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system. How you will be evaluated Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and a Job Knowledge Test. The Job Knowledge Test is designed to assess technical and professional expertise directly relevant to the requirements of this announcement. This assessment measures the specialized knowledge and skills accumulated over time, which are critical for successful performance in this position. The best-qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.
You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
Education and Training, Electronics Engineering, Teaching Others, and Technical Competence
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13100134 How to apply Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
- Click the blue "Apply Online" button.
- If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile.
- As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application.
- Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
- Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
- If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
Other information During the application process you will have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
ICTAP and CTAP Candidates: Eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition.
ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
- Copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
- Copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;
- Copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
- Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
- Copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
- Copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location;
- Copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
- Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
Non-Competitive Reinstatement to a Higher Grade/Band than Previously Held MUST submit the following documents:
- SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action": You must provide the most current Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) that verifies career/career-conditional status, title, series, and highest grade level held on a permanent basis for your previous position, AND the SF-50 that verifies your separation date; AND
- Performance Appraisal: Most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable.
NOAA participates in e-Verify, an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.
The Federal Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.