Summary This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS), Office of Observations (OBS), Surface and Upper Air Division (SUAD), Logistics Management Branch (LMB), National Reconditioning Center (NRC), with 1 vacancy in Grandview, MO.
This position is also announced under vacancy number NWS-27-13100069-ST, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.
Duties
As a Supervisory Electronics Engineer, you will perform the following duties:
- As the Chief of the National Reconditioning Center (NRC), manage a team responsible for the repair and testing of the complex electronic equipment of all National Weather Service (NWS) programs, such as radars, computers, and remote sensing systems. Coordinate technical activities for the effective integration of all technical elements into a cohesive national Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) and NEXRAD integrated logistics program (ILP) for the NWS and for agencies serviced as NWS Primary Inventory Control Activity (PICA). Provide coordination with technical activities, PICA requirements, and with the design, development, procurement, production, storage, distribution, maintenance, utilization and categorization of spare parts and equipment to be supported by the Office of Observations (OBS).
- Manage, control, and continuously operate automated software programs in direct support of ASOS and NEXRAD. Analyze, develop, and use engineering models and systems to optimize ASOS and NEXRAD logistics through the development of a logistics life-cycle plan. Provide inspections and analyses of newly repaired equipment and systems. Guide and monitor the National Logistics Support Center (NLSC) in the management and operation of a diverse range of ASOS and NEXRAD items, stocked and distributed by NLSC, used to resolve engineering, quality assurance, and other issues.
- Provide strategic planning support to senior management to assist in setting agency and the Surface and Upper Air Division's (SUAD) goals. Direct and develop plans for NRC program teams or other groups in accomplishing and producing projects and studies. Provide recommendations, advice and support to the SUAD Director on the composite impact of common and cross-cutting program issues, and requirements, NWS integrated work team activities, and solutions and proposals for supporting and improving NWS observations programs and projects. Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of line program operations in meeting established goals and objectives. Represent the organization in reaching compromises and agreements. Serve as Contracting Officer Representative Level II (COR), and is responsible for the review of contracts and contracting actions to manage and ensure effective and efficient operations.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
- The incumbent is required to have or obtain within two- year and maintain Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers (FAC-P/PM) Level II.
- Must be able to obtain a FAC-COR Level II Certification within two years of assignment and maintain qualifications after that.
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
BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements:
To qualify for the 0855 series:
EDUCATION:
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
B. 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:
- Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.)
Note: An applicant who meets the basic requirements as specified in A or B above, except as noted under B.1., may qualify for positions in any branch of engineering unless selective factors indicate otherwise.
-AND-
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-15 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:
- Overseeing the development or direction of a project or program for the testing, integration, or repair of electronic systems that acquire radar data;
- Coordinating the logistics for engineering equipment used in a project, such as managing equipment use, planning and budgeting of resources to obtain and maintain equipment, ensuring reliability of equipment, overseeing labor, maintenance or other services, etc.; and
- Providing technical advice or solutions to implement plans or resolve operational issues with a program.
Education Substitution of education for specialized experience is not applicable to this vacancy.College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., Bio 101, Math 210, etc.), name of accredited institution, course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.
Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty.
Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: OPM Foreign Education Evaluation.
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 closing date of the announcement.
Additional Considerations:
- One year probationary period may be required.
- A one year supervisory probationary period may be required (probationary period can be served concurrently).
- 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.
*Note: A one year probationary period will be required unless you are a current Department of Commerce (including NOAA) employee and are in the same line of work and with no more than a 30 day break in service.
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 You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire and/or evaluation through a manual assessment process, and your responses to any additional assessments (i.e. USAHire) required for this position.
Your qualifications will be also be evaluated using 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.
CATEGORY RATING:
Category rating will be used in the ranking and selection process for this position. Within each category, those entitled to Veterans' preference will be listed at the top of the pre-defined category for which they are placed. The quality categories are Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Preference eligible with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category (Gold) depending on the position and grade level of the job. For more information on Category Rating, please go to Category Rating.
Your responses to the application questions and/or assessment method will determine your placement in the appropriate quality category described above. Your responses must be substantiated by your resume and supporting documents. If you do not respond to the application questions you may be rated ineligible. Candidates placed in the "Gold" category will be identified first 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):
Engineering and Technology, Project Management, and Technical Competence
If referred, all relevant documents submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review.
To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13100070How 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 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.
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.