INTERDISCIPLINARY General Engineer-Physical Scientist

Summary

The Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management is looking for dedicated engineers and physical scientists to serve as Facility Representatives and Federal Project Directors to provide onsite contractor oversight at various closure sites around the country.

The cut-off date for the first round of application review is August 30, 2023. Applications received after that date will be reviewed upon closure of the posting.

This job is open to

  • The public

    U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Duties

As the INTERDISCIPLINARY General Engineer-Physical Scientist you will be responsible for

  • Conducting walk-through inspections of the facilities and/or operations for the purpose of identifying hazards, incidents of non-compliance with standards and guidelines, and potential problem areas.
  • Monitoring integrated and complex systems involving unique equipment, facility designs, operations and processes, a variety of human factors, and dangerous operations and processes.
  • Making contractor and site management aware of issues and concerns and recommending potential solutions to regulatory, technical and/or programmatic issues and requirements.
  • Serving as the primary interface between local DOE management and the contractor, and maintaining cognizance of all operational activities, both technical and administrative, in providing technical and policy guidance, direction and interpretation.
  • Observing, appraising, and evaluating contractor performance through surveillance, field observations, and the evaluation of operational integration of production, environmental compliance, maintenance, utility operations, quality of performance, and industrial, radiological and/or nuclear safety.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

CITIZENSHIP: Must be a U.S. Citizen or National

Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12): A selectee’s appointment is contingent upon compliance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12) governing personal identity.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT (OGE 450): If you are selected for this position, you will be subject to the U.S. Department of Energy mandatory requirements and will be required to file a confidential financial disclosure report (OGE-450) within 30 days of entry on duty, and annually thereafter.

SECURITY CLEARANCE: The vacancies filled through these appointments have varying levels of background investigative requirements, up to a Top Secret – DOE “Q” clearance.

DRUG TESTING POSITION: Positions may be designated as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) and subject to testing for illegal drug use. A negative drug test must be obtained prior to being appointed into these positions and will be subject to random testing thereafter.

TRIAL PERIOD: New appointees must successfully complete a trial period of up to two years.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION PROGRAM: Positions may be covered by DOE’s Technical Qualification Program, which is required to meet core, position, and site-specific technical qualification standards within a reasonable period (typically from 12 to 18 months) from the date of placement in the position.

SELECTIVE SERVICE: All males born after December 31, 1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don’t have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.

eVERIFY: New employees to the Department of Energy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.”

Qualifications

This is an Excepted Service position. This appointment will not confer Competitive Service career-conditional or career tenure status. This means that if you are selected, you would have to compete with other applicants in open competition to meet requirements for another Federal position, unless you meet the requirements for reinstatement. Applicants who voluntarily convert from the competitive service, Senior Executive Service, or other pay systems to a non-time limited appointment under this excepted service authority are not afforded “fallback rights” to the pay system assigned prior to conversion.

You must meet both the Basic Requirement and the Specialized Experience to qualify for this series as described below. See the Education section for the Basic Requirement.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidate’s online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade/pay band in the Federal service. For this position, experience must be at least equivalent to the EJ/EK-III or GS-13 level. Specialized experience for this position is defined as:

  1. Advising and evaluating waste management operations, environmental restoration and clean-up activities related to radioactive, hazardous, and mixed wastes; or
  2. Executing related principals, laws, safety and security regulations, practices, and procedures and process improvement initiatives; or
  3. Evaluating contractor environmental, nuclear safety, operations, safety and health contract compliance; or
  4. Reviewing and evaluating program priorities and conduct periodic scientific reviews to evaluate facility performance; and/or analyzing regulations to resolve compliance issues during project execution.

“Experience” refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include volunteer work done through National Service Programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

OPM Qualification Standards for the GS-0801 series can be found at the following website: OPM Qualification Standards for the GS-0801 series.

OPM Qualification Standards for the GS-1301 series can be found at the following website: OPM Qualification Standards for the GS-1301 series.

Education

You must meet the Basic Education Requirement listed below in order to qualify for this series.

BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR 0801 SERIES:

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

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:

  1. Professional registration or licensure Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, 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.
  2. Written Test Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.)

BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR 1301 SERIES: A. Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. OR

B. Combination of education and experience: education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Since this position does have a positive education requirement, you MUST provide documentation supporting any education claims in your application. This documentation can include unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned and final grade. Failure to provide copies of your college transcripts may result in a rating of “Ineligible”.

If selected, official transcripts may be requested.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see Department of Education

Additional information

The Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

If selected, you will be required to complete an OF-306, “Declaration for Federal Employment” form used to (a) determine your suitability for Federal Employment and/or (b) in conducting an investigation to determine your suitability or ability to hold a security clearance.

Applications contain information subject to the Privacy Act (PL 93 579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.

Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of the page or visit the FedsHireVets website. For information regarding veteran’s eligibility to apply: Veteran’s Information

Your position may be eligible for workplace flexibilities which may include remote work or telework options, and/or flexible work scheduling. These flexibilities may be requested in accordance with the DOE Workplace Flexibilities policy. For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov

The selecting official may need to consult Departmental ethics counsel to determine whether any of your former or current employers, affiliations, or financial holdings conflict with your ability to perform the duties of this position. If necessary, ethics counsel will work with you and the hiring office regarding potential mitigation strategies, if available.

Hiring incentives may be authorized in accordance with agency policy and if funding is available.

This is a bargaining unit position.

  • Benefits

    A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

    Review our benefits

    Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

The Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate the responses you provide in the applicant assessment questionnaire. Your application is rated based on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training as described in your resume and applicant assessment. Your credentials are measured against the established duties of the position. The HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to ensure that you have met the minimum requirements.

Successful candidates will possess the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

  • Decisiveness
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Problem Solving
  • Strategic Thinking
  • Technical Credibility

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated “ineligible”, “not qualified”, or your score may be adjusted accordingly..

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (09/18/2023) of this announcement.

Selecting official may check references on those applicants referred for consideration. References will be checked on the selectee prior to an employment offer.

To preview the assessment questionnaire, please click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12091226.

  • Benefits

    A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

    Review our benefits

    Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

  • Required Documents

    As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have – whether you’re a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you’re eligible under their policies.

    Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants. If you are unsure, click the link for each document type to read more.

    ALL APPLICANTS: You must submit a resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire.

    • Your resume should list all work experience (paid and unpaid); you must list the full name and address of each employer.
    • For all types of work experience, indicate the start and end dates (include month, day, and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that you worked.
    • For paid work experience, indicate your starting grade/salary for each position and the highest grade/salary you earned (if different).
    • Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
    • For more information about what to include in your resume, view this USAJOBS Resume Tutorial video on YouTube.

    Most DOE offices will allow you to submit a resume in the format of your choice (as an attached document or as a USAJOBS Resume Builder format). However, some offices may require one specific format. You will be notified at the time you click ‘Apply Online’ which type of resume is acceptable. It is important that you are complete and thorough in your resume. If any of the above information is not included in your resume, we may not be able to fully credit you for your experience.

    Current and former Federal employees: Most recent SF-50 (Standard Form 50 – Notice of Personnel Action). To properly verify status eligibility, your SF-50 must show the following: 1) Full position title; 2) appointment type; 3) occupational series; 4) pay plan, grade, and step; 5) tenure code; 6) service computation date (SCD)

    If specific educational requirements are indicated for this vacancy: Documentation verifying your educational claims which can include unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned and final grade. Please see the Education section for more information.

    Displaced Federal employees who qualify for I/CTAP: If you are a former Federal employee who was displaced due to a Reduction-in-Force (RIF) or surplused by some other means, please submit a copy of the separation letter or RIF notice from your agency. To be selected under I/CTAP, you must still be found well-qualified for this position. Please see the OPM Guide to Career Transition for more information.

    Veterans: Veteran eligibility documentation (DD-214, VA letter, SF-15 as applicable). Please note, if you are a veteran who has not yet been discharged, you may provide a statement of intent to discharge from your agency which will allow you to apply under the (Veterans Opportunity to Work) VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011.

    Persons with Disabilities: Individuals with intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities may apply for appointment through Schedule A hiring authority. Certified verification of a disability from a licensed medical professional; a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist or any Federal, state or District of Columbia agency or US territory that issues or provides disability benefits will be required.

    If you are selected for this position, you may be asked to provide additional documentation to verify your responses.

    If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

    Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

    Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

  • 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 submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted online by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration. Faxed or e-mailed applications and/or resumes will not be accepted. Requests for extensions will not be granted.

    All statements made in this application are subject to investigation and any false or dishonest answer to any question may be grounds for disqualification and loss of consideration. If your resume does not support the responses in your application questionnaire, or if you fail to submit required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated ‘ineligible’ or ‘not qualified’.

    The application process is as follows:

    1. You must have a login.gov account to sign into USAJOBS: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/.
    2. To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button.
    3. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.
    4. You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.

    You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account, select Update Application: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.T

    o verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each application status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

    If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/

    If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible, to aid technical support.

    Agency contact information

    Julie Dock

    Phone

    240-234-0566

    Email

    Julie.dock@hq.doe.gov

    Address

    Office of Environmental Management – Headquarters P.O. Box 5088 Oak Ridge, TN 37831 US

    Next steps

    After each step in the recruitment process, your status will be updated in our application tracking system. Once this happens, if you have elected to receive e-mail updates, you will be notified through your USAJOBS registered e-mail address. If you have not elected for e-mail updates, you can review your current application status in USAJOBS at any time. Please check that your USAJOBS profile contact information is current and correct each time you apply to a jobthis will ensure we are able to contact you as quickly as possible. In addition to changing your status online, we will send you e-mail notifications at each major step in the process, to include: application received, eligible or not eligible, referred or not referred, selected or not selected.

  • Fair and Transparent

    The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

    • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
    • Reasonable accommodation policy
    • Financial suitability
    • Selective Service
    • New employee probationary period
    • Signature and false statements
    • Privacy Act
    • Social security number request

Required Documents

Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants. If you are unsure, click the link for each document type to read more.

ALL APPLICANTS: You must submit a resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire.

  • Your resume should list all work experience (paid and unpaid); you must list the full name and address of each employer.
  • For all types of work experience, indicate the start and end dates (include month, day, and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that you worked.
  • For paid work experience, indicate your starting grade/salary for each position and the highest grade/salary you earned (if different).
  • Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
  • For more information about what to include in your resume, view this USAJOBS Resume Tutorial video on YouTube.

Most DOE offices will allow you to submit a resume in the format of your choice (as an attached document or as a USAJOBS Resume Builder format). However, some offices may require one specific format. You will be notified at the time you click ‘Apply Online’ which type of resume is acceptable. It is important that you are complete and thorough in your resume. If any of the above information is not included in your resume, we may not be able to fully credit you for your experience.

Current and former Federal employees: Most recent SF-50 (Standard Form 50 – Notice of Personnel Action). To properly verify status eligibility, your SF-50 must show the following: 1) Full position title; 2) appointment type; 3) occupational series; 4) pay plan, grade, and step; 5) tenure code; 6) service computation date (SCD)

If specific educational requirements are indicated for this vacancy: Documentation verifying your educational claims which can include unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned and final grade. Please see the Education section for more information.

Displaced Federal employees who qualify for I/CTAP: If you are a former Federal employee who was displaced due to a Reduction-in-Force (RIF) or surplused by some other means, please submit a copy of the separation letter or RIF notice from your agency. To be selected under I/CTAP, you must still be found well-qualified for this position. Please see the OPM Guide to Career Transition for more information.

Veterans: Veteran eligibility documentation (DD-214, VA letter, SF-15 as applicable). Please note, if you are a veteran who has not yet been discharged, you may provide a statement of intent to discharge from your agency which will allow you to apply under the (Veterans Opportunity to Work) VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011.

Persons with Disabilities: Individuals with intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities may apply for appointment through Schedule A hiring authority. Certified verification of a disability from a licensed medical professional; a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist or any Federal, state or District of Columbia agency or US territory that issues or provides disability benefits will be required.

If you are selected for this position, you may be asked to provide additional documentation to verify your responses.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

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 submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted online by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration. Faxed or e-mailed applications and/or resumes will not be accepted. Requests for extensions will not be granted.

All statements made in this application are subject to investigation and any false or dishonest answer to any question may be grounds for disqualification and loss of consideration. If your resume does not support the responses in your application questionnaire, or if you fail to submit required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated ‘ineligible’ or ‘not qualified’.

The application process is as follows:

  1. You must have a login.gov account to sign into USAJOBS: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/.
  2. To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button.
  3. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.
  4. You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.

You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account, select Update Application: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.T

o verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each application status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/

If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible, to aid technical support.

Agency contact information

Julie Dock

Phone

240-234-0566

Email

Julie.dock@hq.doe.gov

Address

Office of Environmental Management – Headquarters P.O. Box 5088 Oak Ridge, TN 37831 US

Next steps

After each step in the recruitment process, your status will be updated in our application tracking system. Once this happens, if you have elected to receive e-mail updates, you will be notified through your USAJOBS registered e-mail address. If you have not elected for e-mail updates, you can review your current application status in USAJOBS at any time. Please check that your USAJOBS profile contact information is current and correct each time you apply to a jobthis will ensure we are able to contact you as quickly as possible. In addition to changing your status online, we will send you e-mail notifications at each major step in the process, to include: application received, eligible or not eligible, referred or not referred, selected or not selected.

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request
Job Category
Science and Engineering
Job Type
Full Time/Permanent
Salary
USD 116,393.00 - 185,096.00 per year
Country
United States
City
Lexington
Career Level
unspecified
Company
Department of Energy - Agency Wide
JOB SOURCE
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/743799700