This General Engineer/Physical Scientist public notice announcement may be used to fill many vacancies across NNSA as needed.
Therefore, applicants must meet the qualifications at the time the applications are submitted. This public notice may or may not result in a referral or selection.
Note: The salary range listed reflects base pay only. The actual final salary will be based on the geographic location (to include locality pay) and pay band for which selected.Note: Vacancies filled under this public notice may have varying levels of promotion potential, if any.
As the employee progresses in the position, they are delegated a higher degree of responsibility for independently making decisions concerning both technical and administrative policies and for resolving controversial problems and/or conflicting points of view.
The duties performed as a General Engineer/Physical Scientist are based on the organizational program office selected for. Some of the duties may be to:
NN-02:
- Monitor project operations, performance, and quality assurance and advise about National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) policies and regulations.
- Participate in program or project information planning sessions, phase, milestone and final project reviews.
- Prepare, provide, and evaluate plans, design specifications, designs, and related documentation.
- Develop project materials and executing project plans.
- Prepare technical correspondence, reports, briefings, and presentations outlining methods used, findings, and conclusions.
NN-03:
- Provide technical guidance and assistance to senior agency program managers in the application of the advanced principles, practices and techniques of a specialized field of engineering/science.
- Review and interpret headquarters' guidance, program plans and strategies.
NN-04:
- Provide scientific/engineering advice, guidance and assistance to NNSA program offices or site managers on the interpretation and application of technical requirements and policies, execution of priorities and schedules, implementation of data exchanges and standardization, evaluation of significant modifications and/or alternative approaches, and initiation of revisions or corrective actions as required.
- Review budget input from contractors, make revisions as appropriate.
- Recommend revisions to program schedules and resource information.
- Establish and track performance against technical milestones.
- Review progress of engineering/scientific technical activities; compare costs and schedule to established baseline; and provide timely and accurate status reports to management.
*Vacancies filled under this public notice may be filled at the NN-02, NN-03, or NN-04 grade levels. There may or may not be promotion potential depending on the position being filled and the office making the selection.
**Positions may be filled at varying levels of leadership (i.e., Team Lead, Manager, Supervisor).Note: Educational transcripts must be submitted with your application package, unofficial transcripts will be accepted during the initial phase of application.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements listed under the Education section, you must possess the following specialized experience depending on the grade you're applying for:
NN-02:
A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA pay band level or GS grade level (NN-01 or GS-09) in the Federal Service.
Specialized experience for this position is defined as:
Experience applying general engineering or physical science principles and practices to address portions of engineering and/or scientific programs and projects; analyzing facts, conditions, and data to draw conclusions and making recommendations; and drafting technical reports, papers, and or memoranda and orally communicating technical findings.
-OR-
Completion of three full years of graduate level education or all of the requirements for a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a field directly related to Engineering or Physical Science;
-OR-
A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience.
NN-03:
A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA pay band level or GS grade level (NN-02 or GS-11) in the Federal Service.
Specialized experience for this position is defined as:
Experience in applying at least two of the following: ensuring regulatory compliance of programs and projects; reviewing guidance, program plans and strategies; developing review plans for assessments; familiarity with processing systems and equipment in a nuclear or non-nuclear facility; recommending solutions to scientific, engineering, or program management problems and issues; or evaluating operating practices and procedures against regulatory requirements.
NN-04:
A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA pay band level or GS grade level (NN-03 or GS-13) in the Federal Service.
Specialized experience for this position is defined as:
Experience in at least three of the following: applying engineering or physical science disciplines to enforce regulatory compliance of programs and projects; independently providing guidance to program plans and strategies; recommending solutions to complex scientific, engineering, or program management problems and issues associated with nuclear and non-nuclear projects or facilities; demonstrating knowledge and ability to evaluate mechanical, electrical, and/or chemical process equipment issues in a nuclear or non-nuclear facility; demonstrating knowledge in root cause analysis and various industry codes and standards; or demonstrated experience evaluating operating procedures and practices against regulatory safety standards for a nuclear facility.
Your application and resume should demonstrate that you possess the following competencies. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your application how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the KSAs identified below. Cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. DO NOT write "see resume" in your application!
- Communication
- General Engineering
- Partnering
- Project Management
- Technical Competence
"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 qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.0801/1301:
To qualify for the (0801) Engineering series, you must possess:
A degree in professional engineering. The curriculum must: 1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology as a professional engineering curriculum; 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-
A combination of education and experience- for more information, please refer to the OPM Qualification Standards at Professional Engineering Qualifications (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/all-professional-engineeringpositions-0800/).
To qualify for the (1301) Physical Science series, you must possess:
A degree in 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-
A combination of education and experience. For more information, please refer to the OPM Qualification Standards at Physical Science Qualifications (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1300/general-physical-science-series-1301/)
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
EDUCATION: Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. A written evaluation of any foreign education must be provided with your application in response to this vacancy announcement or be received by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to provide this evaluation will result in you being found unqualified for the position. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education, see the Department of Education website, and for a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, visit The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
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.
**If you are selected, official transcripts will be required.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. A written evaluation of any foreign education must be provided with your application in response to this vacancy announcement or be received by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to provide this evaluation will result in you being found unqualified for the position. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education, see the Department of Education website, and for a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, visit The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. Please Note: If your foreign education has already been accepted by an accredited U.S. educational institution as part of a degree program with that institution, you do not need to provide an evaluation of foreign education but must submit a copy of the transcripts listing the degree from the U.S. accredited institution that accepted your foreign 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.