Engineering Technician

This probationary or trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest meet the organization goals and mission of the agency and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the determining if your employment advances the public interest the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies in writing that the individuals employment should continue and that their appointment should be the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary or trial your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 10/07/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300 Subpart F.

For current Federal employees if hours worked per week are not included on your resume you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees your resume must state either full-time (or 40 hours a week) or part-time with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.

Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: You must meet the minimum basic specialized experience requirements for Engineering Technical Series GS-0802 addition you must have at least one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the next lower level in the federal service.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE (for positions at GS-4 or equivalent and above): Examples of qualifying specialized experience include technical work in: drafting surveying construction estimating physical science mathematics aerospace architecture chemicals electrical or mechanical systems mining petroleum or nuclear systems

TRADE: Experience in a trade or craft may be credited as specialized experience when the work provided intensive knowledge of engineering principles techniques methods and precedents. Examples are trade positions with substantial developmental test or design responsibilities such as: Planner and estimator who analyzed designs for production purposes. Instrument maker or model maker who performed design or development work on devices fabricated.

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CERTIFICATION: Engineering technicians may be certified by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies an organization sponsored by the National Society of Professional Engineers. Certification by the Institute will be helpful as a measure of the technicians quality of experience.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual Qualification Standards for Technical and Medical Support Positions GS-0802 & IOR).

For the GS-09 Level: Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-08 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing at least three (3) of five (5) of the following: 1) preparing general layouts for electric civil and mechanical engineering design drawings; 2) preparing general layouts for geology drawings.; 3) using general topographic data to prepare survey drawings; 4) performing engineering computations and checking computations performed by division engineers by compiling and computing quantities from final drawings; and 5) utilizing Autodesk Data Platform (ADP) and Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) systems to develop methods to accomplish engineering oriented work.

For the GS-10 Level: Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing at least four (4) of five (5) of the following: 1) utilizing Autodesk Data Platform (ADP) and Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) systems to develop methods to accomplish engineering oriented work.; 2) identifying and evaluating alternative engineering plans for accomplishing project purposes established by engineers; 3) listing and extracting engineering data from records specifications drawings tabulations etc.; and 4) receiving direction from Reclamation engineers/geologists and higher graded technicians when significant deviation from standard practices are required.
For the GS-11 Level: Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-10 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing the following: 1) developing and using state-of-the-art methods with PCs CADD Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and other specialized engineering software to accomplish duties; 2) working with and maintaining contacts with higher graded technicians computer specialists engineers geologists to accomplishing duties; 3) utilizing Autodesk Data Platform (ADP) and Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) systems to develop methods to accomplish engineering oriented work; 4) preparing narrative statements explaining methodology of calculations and sources of data as needed; and 5) exercising judgment and making recommendations to engineer on most effective plans for accomplishing the project purpose.


Volunteer Experience: 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.