General Engineer
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — Gulfport, Mississippi, United States
Job description
This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO), Uncrewed Systems (UxS) Operations Center, with 1 vacancy in Gulfport, MS.
Duties:
As a General Engineer, you will perform the following duties: Support oceanographic and hydrographic data collection missions by designing, integrating, testing, evaluating, and operationally employing uncrewed platforms and associated sensor systems. Contribute to the development and refinement of engineering standards, maintenance strategies, configuration control processes, and quality assurance practices for uncrewed marine systems. Plan, execute, and evaluate engineering test and evaluation (T&E) activities across the full system lifecycle. Develop test methodologies, performance criteria, acceptance standards, and operational validation processes for classes of uncrewed systems and sensor payloads. Evaluate system status and performance during operational deployments, including underway operations, and assess system performance, identify limitations, and recommend engineering improvements to enhance reliability, maintainability, and mission readiness. Provide engineering oversight of assigned uncrewed systems workspaces and support areas. Support evaluation modification, acceptance testing, and quality assurance activities. Coordinate with vendors and contractors for system repair, sustainment, and upgrades. Support the introduction and evaluation of new or modified uncrewed systems and subsystems by assessing engineering impacts to safety, performance, logistics, and operational integration. Maintain effective coordination with engineers, technicians, scientists, and operational staff. Monitor progress of assigned engineering tasks and ensure alignment with operational schedule and mission requirements. Support uncrewed systems training programs by providing engineering input into operational procedures, system limitations, and performance expectations. POSITION REQUIREMENTS: This position requires the operation of a Federal motor vehicle. Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license. This position has physical requirements. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Supports required travel for uncrewed systems deployments. Involves extended periods aboard NOAA vessels or in remote operational environments. Subject to work that includes exposure to varying weather conditions, irregular hours, and physically demanding environments associated with maritime operations. Requires capability to safely operate small boats and government vehicles in support of fieldwork, logistics, and system deployment activities. This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band. The ZP-3 is equivalent to the GS-11/12. 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.
Location: Gulfport, Mississippi
Education:
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.
How you will be evaluated:
We will review your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. Additionally, you will 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. Veteran's Preference does not apply to direct hire recruitment procedures. To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13047004
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 the applicant is well qualified. 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.
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.