Civil Engineer - Direct Hire

As a Civil Engineer, you will:

• Provide routine advisory services in the planning and design process, and engineering management services for design, construction, sustainment, and decommissioning projects.
• Interpret the design documents and oversee the proper execution of construction work. Take part in original and applied research activities conducted in laboratory settings or for organizations primarily concerned with testing, technology transfer activities, materials and instrumentation development, and modeling and computational analysis.
• Perform professional or technical duties such as: design equipment, structures, or systems using established criteria or specifications; test material, equipment, or systems for compliance with specifications or for evaluation in terms of operational use; review technical aspects of applications, designs, or proposed plans for compliance with laws, regulations, standards, specifications, or other requirements and criteria.
• Perform administrative duties such as: review, coordinate, and monitor implementation of policies governing the program area; develop and carry out local directives and guidance; maintain program records and prepare and submit reports; develop information papers and briefings.

The ideal candidates are seeking challenging assignments to perform professional engineering and scientific work involving: construction, renovation, decommissioning, and/or demolition of structures, infrastructures, and their environmental systems above or under the earth's surface; and transportation, utilities, building and construction industries.

To meet the basic qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Mandatory Education Requirement for the series, AND (2) provide a copy of your transcripts or other applicable documentation for verification and (3) meet the specialized experience requirements for each grade you are applying to. Please review the following information: 

(1) All applicants must meet the education requirements under A or B to qualify for applying to an engineering position:

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 the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); or (2) that included differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced that first year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials; (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials; 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 or training: college level education, training and/or technical experience that has 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), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE).
2. 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.
3. Specified academic courses - Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences which included the courses as specified in Paragraph A above.
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 had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. There should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering type experience. This must be clearly described in your resume.

For additional information, please refer to the OPM qualifications standard for GS-800: All Professional Engineering Positions qualifications at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf.

(2) Upload the appropriate document(s) to your application for verification purposes.

(3) Specialized Experience: To determine which grade(s) you may be eligible for, review the following grade specific details.  You will be asked a few questions as part of your application but make sure to verify how you meet this experience in your resume or you may be deemed ineligible.  

For the GS-07: You qualify for this grade level if you meet one of the following experience and/or education requirements.

 On Experience, at least one year of specialized experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-05 grade level, which included:

• Experience supporting higher level civil engineers in the planning and design process, and engineering management services for design, construction, sustainment, and decommissioning projects.
• Experience using established criteria or specifications; tests materials, equipment, or systems for compliance with specifications or for evaluation of terms in operational use.

On Education, you must have:

• 1 full academic year of graduate education or law school or a Bachelors degree with Superior Academic Achievement*.
• Or, you can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

*Superior Academic Achievement is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. (In order to be creditable under this provision, superior academic achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled.)

1. Class standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.

For the GS-09: You qualify for this grade level if you meet one of the following experience and/or education requirements.

On Experience, at least one year of specialized experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-07 grade level, which included:

• Experience supporting higher level civil engineers in the planning and design process, and engineering management services for design, construction, sustainment, and decommissioning  projects.
• Experience using established criteria or specifications; tests materials, equipment, or systems for compliance with specifications or for evaluation of terms in operational use.
• Monitoring, analyzing, and improving program planning and execution.

On Education, you must have:

• 2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or masters or equivalent graduate degree or LL.B. or J.D.
• Or, you can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following area:

1. Civil Engineering - Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and methods required to plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain facilities such as buildings, transportation systems, water and sanitary systems, and other public works systems.
2. Oral Communication - Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed.
3. Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.

For all types of 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; 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.

See the Qualifications section for Mandatory Individual Occupational Requirements. 

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within three months of the closing date of this announcement. If selected, the final transcript must be received before your start date.  Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.