Engineering Technician

Summary The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a Project Section, Engineering Technician. This position works with a high level of independence, with little or no technical guidance received from the Supervisor and/or Chief, Engineering Service. Assignments are broad in scope and performed at both the Medical Center and the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC's) under its control, with goals to be achieved outlined. Duties

Major duties:

• Initiate all required correspondence pertaining to supplemental agreements, specification changes, etc.
• Responsible for all aspects of service contract oversight, including initial development, and installation.
• Inspect construction work, along with Medical Center project work to assure conformance with plans, specifications, and applicable codes. Maintains timely progress records, logs, reports, and documents.
• Prepare project documents for submission to the Network requesting authorization and funding. This includes detailed project description; justification; selection methodology analysis, prioritizing, and scoring; workload and space criteria analysis; environmental impact analysis; estimating project costs, including technical services, construction, impact, equipment, recurring and non-recurring expenses, and contingencies; and other documents necessary to support the validity of the project.
• Administer contracts for compliance, evaluates submissions, and processes payment applications and invoices within required time frames.
• Prepare plans, specifications, and estimates for complex projects, which include multi-disciplinary architectural, fire and safety, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, telecommunication, analog and digital electronics, and hazardous material abatement design.
• Serve as the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and administers contracted projects to ensure contractor compliance with drawings, specifications, regulations, and policy.
• Perform field investigations and measurements to gain first-hand knowledge and to gather architectural and engineering data necessary to document conditions for design, construction, and engineering records.
• Serve as the OSHA certified "Competent Person" to ensure construction work areas and practices

are managed in accordance with the safety standards.

• Assists in conducting engineering, structural and land surveys. He/she does the major portion of the development of initial plans and technical specifications for maintenance, repair, alterations, additions, modernizations, and new construction projects relative to the physical plan of the VA Health Care System and all outpatient clinics including roads, grounds, structures, buildings, utilities, distribution systems, building service equipment, operations equipment, furnishings, and other physical property.
• Research requests for engineering work. Visits site and discusses request with the requestor to assure understanding of work desired and to obtain information on existing conditions that would affect or be affected by the work.
• Prepares working drawings of proposed work and/or existing conditions complete with accurate field measurements, elevations, and other pertinent information and conditions. Makes engineering studies to determine the feasibility and requirements of proposed projects.

Work Schedule: Full time, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm

Telework: Not authorized

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Engineering Technician/PD24014A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not requiredQualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/13/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS 11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS 10. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

• Specialized Experience GS-11: Do you possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-10) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization? Specialized Experience for this position includes but is not limited to: Knowledge and skills necessary to prepare complex drawings, estimates, and specifications for architectural, fire and safety, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, telecommunication, electronic and digital controls, and asbestos abatement on maintenance, repair, alteration, and/or total replacement of facility and building components.; Knowledge and experience with various construction trades, practices, materials, and methods.; Knowledge and experience with AutoCAD, Revit and Microsoft Office Software including Microsoft Word and Excel.; Knowledge and experience with federal, state, and local building codes, standards, and regulations, including various national codes and standards such as the National Electrical Code, National Plumbing Code, Life Safety Code, American Concrete Institute (ACI) Standards, Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), and Joint Commission. Each of these is relevant to a separate field of Engineering.; Knowledge and experience with various construction trades, practices, materials, and methods.; able to prepare, read and interpret engineering and structural drawings and specification.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Project Management
• Quality Management
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Safety Engineering
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork
• Technical Competence

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; religions; 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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: Work involves regular sitting, walking, bending, climbing, and crawling in or around the facility and construction sites. Work hours can vary from the norm depending upon the circumstances surrounding project performance, which can entail night, weekend, and/or extended work hours. Use of motor vehicles to travel to CBOC's.

Work Environment: Work is occasionally performed in construction areas with inherent hazards and can include areas of adverse environments which contain suspended dust and other particulate, have high ambient or impact noise levels, resonate with vibrations, or range in temperature and humidity extremes. Much of the work is involved in clean construction areas and office setting. There may be some exposure to contagious diseases or potential for exposure to asbestos contaminated materials in the Medical Center buildings. There maybe a risk of accident and injury in the inspection process. However, exposures and injuries should be mitigated by following proper safety precautions. Off-Campus Travel: Occasionally travels to other VA-owned/leased facilities/sites located in Wisconsin; satellite CBOC sites, to include annexes and clinics. The incumbent is required to maintain up to date VAMC training that enables the use of government vehicles with the VAMC fleet.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

How you will be evaluated Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Project Management
• Quality Management
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Safety Engineering
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork
• Technical Competence

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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; religions; 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.

During the application process you may 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.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. How to apply Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online questionnaire and submission of the required documentation 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. To preview the application questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13111115. The application process is as follows:

• To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents.
• 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, 11/13/2026.
• If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
• Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
• Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
• Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. NOTE: Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.

Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us.

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.

To view the announcement status or your application status: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.

Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed.

Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.

Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.

Helpful Hints for Creating a Two-Page Resume:

• Prioritize most relevant and recent experience
• Use concise, results focused language
• Align language from the job announcement
• Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies
• Remove outdated or unrelated experience
• Use the USAJOBS resume builder

Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume building tools can be found at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/page-limitOther information The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.