Interdisciplinary General Engineer/Physical Scientist

Duties
The Department of Energy is seeking motivated and highly-qualified candidates for exciting positions available in multiple locations throughout the United States.
The mission of the Energy Department is to ensure America's security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.
This series covers interdisciplinary 0801/1301 General Engineer/Physical Scientist positions which are managing, supervising, leading, and/or performing professional engineering work or work in the physical sciences and may include work in a combination of physical science fields.
As an interdisciplinary General Engineer/Physical Scientist, at minimum you will perform one or more of the following:

• Serve as an expert for a significant segment of a specific area in one or more of the following: advanced scientific computing research; basic energy sciences; biological and environmental research; fusion energy sciences; high energy physics; nuclear physics; and workforce development.
• Work closely with a team, perform assessments, clearly and concisely document assessment results, and present findings orally and in writing to the approval authority.
• Use sound technical judgment and initiative to resolve the challenges of changing conditions and other problems relative to the assigned projects and programs.
• Provide scientific advice and guidance to officials, managers, scientists, and engineer.
• Coordinate with related engineering and physical science fields adequate to effectively discuss technical points and to recommend acceptable engineering solutions to problems.
• Provide technical guidance on proposed research projects and programs of interest.
• Assemble essential information on topics of assigned segments of research through various source materials.
• Perform and interpret calculations, analyses, and computations for unknown factors or relationships primarily in the matters of factual nature of involving well understood mechanisms.
• Analyze situations, identify problems, probe causes, and recommends courses of action or solutions.
• Coordinate, implement, and evaluate segments of research programs in the assigned area of responsibility.
• Use physics or mechanical, nuclear, electrical, chemical, civil, or industrial engineering theories, principles, and practices.

Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Positions are located agency-wide and may be filled as permanent, term, or temporary with a full-time or part-time work schedule. Pay will vary by geographic location.
• Subject to satisfactory security and suitability requirements.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• The vacancies filled through these appointments have varying levels of background investigative requirements, up to?a Top Secret -?DOE "Q" clearance.
• Positions may be covered by a bargaining unit. Bargaining unit will vary by departmental element, grade, and/or location.
• Appointments made with this authority may be processed as a new appointment into the Civil Service.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• May be required to successfully complete a 1-year probationary period.

Qualifications
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
The specialized experience listed are the minimum requirements for the series, each particular vacancy may have additional experience necessary to meet the applicable grade level.
Specialized Experience For These Positions Are Defined As
A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service.
GS-11: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Experience includes EITHER (1) providing support in the planning, development and implementation for components within the assigned programs/projects; assisting with the performance of assessments, and design reviews to evaluate contractor performance; prepares written evaluations to identify inadequacies or weaknesses; and assisting in identifying and resolving issues which could have an impact on the program/project; OR (2) conducting site investigations and surveys to determine compliance requirements; participating in policy and guidance development to enable organizational implementation of policy or program initiatives; assisting in preparing technical reports, standard operating procedures, correspondence, and local guidance documents to achieve and support compliance with Federal and local guidelines; and providing research and science support information for program policy or program management.
OR
3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
OR
Combination of education and experience as described above. Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first two years of full-time study may be credited).
GS-12: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Experience includes EITHER (1) applying engineering practices to ensure the project systems meet performance objectives; planning, and conducting projects/studies to evaluate and recommend ways to improve the efficiency of operations; providing recommendations to ensure projects/programs are coordinated in an efficient and cost-effective manner; and participating in the resolution of issues affecting assigned project; OR (2) communicating progress, status, and approval in order to evolve efficient and technically adequate responses; providing assistance in the planning, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of research programs; analyzing regulations to resolve environmental compliance issues during project execution; leading a research group and/or project; and/or assisting with monitoring program implementation and making recommendations on the allocation of resources.
GS-13: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Experience includes EITHER (1) conducting engineering research and studies to determine and recommend appropriate solutions to issues, interpret designs, and evaluate adequacy; conducting projects and /or studies within established financial and time constraints; developing and utilizing data collection techniques to assess project and program effectiveness; and interpreting and evaluating engineering drawings, specifications, and technical data packages; OR (2) communicating progress, status, and approval in order to evolve efficient and technically adequate responses; preparing reports to recommend solutions to compliance issues; performing consulting or other professional, scientific, technical, administrative, fiscal, or other specialized work; and/or performing management planning duties such as concept development, master integration planning, and programming design for programs or projects, taking into account feasibility, costs, and economics.
GS-14: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Experience includes EITHER (1) analyzing the application of experimental theories and/or new applications and developments for research and development; developing strategies and tactics for future activities and to meet technology development goals; developing requirements, long term goals, objectives, and schedules for the accomplishment of applied research and development, and deployment of technologies; and preparing briefings , presentations, newsletters, and other communications to convey the status of research, project, or program; OR (2) performing consulting or other professional, scientific, technical, administrative, fiscal, or other specialized work; reviewing and evaluating program priorities and conduct periodic scientific reviews to evaluate facility performance; preparing, justifying, and supporting the portions of the budget relating to the program; and/or analyzing regulations to resolve compliance issues during project execution.
GS-15: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service. Experience includes EITHER (1) developing and documenting research plans including associated budget plans in a timely manner; monitoring projects and providing high-level guidance to help resolve any project-related issues, including project modifications; developing and negotiating major agreements with other government agencies in the assigned new business areas; clarifying and making authoritative recommendations leading to decision making and resolution of critical issues; and evaluating complex technical issues and research results associated with the integration of technologies and recommend future program research needs; OR (2) evaluating the effect of technical developments on fundamental policies, objectives and goals; developing new concepts, plan, and evaluate long-range programs and projects; planning and executing specialized programs on scientific, technical, administrative, and fiscal matters; and/or developing and managing funding for scientific research programs, determining funding levels, and recommending proposal, denials and program determinations for assigned programs.
NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12 through GS-15 levels.
"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.
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.
CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.
This public notice may be used to fill multiple positions as needed; therefore, applicants must meet the qualifications at the time the applications are reviewed.
Education
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
The Adequacy Of Such Background Must Be Demonstrated By One Of The Following
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.

• 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.
• 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.)
• 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.
• 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.

BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR 1301 SERIES

• 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

• 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.

This vacancy has a positive education requirement. In order to be rated as qualified, you must provide copies of your college transcripts. Failure to provide copies of your college transcripts may result in a rating of "Ineligible".
If substituting education for specialized experience you must submit proof of your qualifying education. Failure to provide college transcripts may result in a rating of 'Ineligible'.
Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization 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 the Department of Education website.
Additional Information
The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• Hiring incentives may be authorized in accordance with regulation and policy.
• All males born after December 31st 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.
• 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.
• If you believe that you are eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), please visit the OPM ICTAP/CTAP website for more information. In order to be considered under the ICTAP program, your application must score within the pre-established "well qualified" category as stated in the Qualifications section.
• Reasonable Accommodation Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Reasonable_Accommodation_Policy_Statement
• For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov
• Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website.
• Pay will be determined based on the duty location of the position. Remote employees will receive the locality rate associated with the location of their remote worksite, typically the employee's place of residence. For more information on locality and pay scales, click here .
• Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov
• 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
• Veterans Information: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Veterans_Information
• This public notice is to gather applications for current and future vacancies that may or may not result in a referral or selection.
• Positions may be filled at varying levels of leadership, ie Team Lead, Manager, Supervisor.
• Many positions require successful completion of a background investigation.
• More than one selection may be made under this hiring authority.
• EEO Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/EEO_Policy_Statement
• Position may require you to submit a Financial Disclosure Statement, OGE-450, Executive Branch Personnel Confidential Financial Disclosure Report upon entering the position and annually (5CFR Part 2634, Subpart I USOGE, 6/08). For additional information and to obtain the form, please visit the Office of Government Ethics.
• Supervisory positions may require a 1-year probationary period, if not yet completed.
• There may or may not be promotion potential depending upon the actual position filled.
• Applications will expire 90 days after receipt.
• Status and Non-Status applicants from outside DOE selected under this authority are required to serve a mandatory one (1) year probationary period. A DOE career status employee selected for this position may be required to serve a new one (1) year probationary period, pursuant to 5 CFR 315.802.